Don’t count on receiving much information about Thunder injuries this season. It’s not because I’m not asking. Coach Brent Bilodeau is stingy about giving out such details. He reasons that opposing teams might read about injuries and try to use that info to their advantage. (My wife doesn’t even read my stories. Who knew CHL coaches did?)
Former Thunder coach Derek Laxdal approached things much the same way, but he would at least specify the general area. “Upper body injury,” he would say. Which could mean anything from a concussion to a strained shoulder.
On topic, Stan Yanchishyn won’t play this weekend and Chris Greene’s status is uncertain. Upper body injuries, probably.
There’s hope: Mike Batovanja, who tore the ACL and MCL in his knee, is holding out hope that he can play again this season. The team captain, who suffered the injury in a collision in the home opener, recently received encouraging news from team doctors.
He can begin light skating in three months.
“My goal is to be back for playoffs,” he said. “At first I was pretty down and out and expecting to miss the whole year. When you get good news like I did, it definitely picks you up and gives you something to shoot for.”
Hey, Cadillac Williams wasn’t available: There is a fantasy football hell. I know this because I’ve been there. Allow me to describe. FF hell is having a team so thin at running back that you’re reduced to picking up Kenneth Darby. And starting him. He finished with 32 yards on Sunday, but 14 of those came on one rush. Kid’s got a burst!