Barrie Colts’ forward Tanner Pearson suffers injury scare on way to professional hockey league-NHL News
This year’s top draft prize on the National Hockey League (NHL), Barrie Colts’ forward, Tanner Pearson, is reported to be out of the junior hockey league’s current season with a broken leg but it is not clear if the injury is going to have an impact on his
professional league prospects.
Colts are going to start their playoff run with a game against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, which the player will not be joining in any case.
Pearson has not been picked by any professional hockey team during the past two draft seasons.
However, his rather weak form and performance has been linked to his two-time failure in the past.
This year, while coming on top of the junior league, he is expected to have brighter chances.
He has a mid-term ranking of 22 on the NHL Central Scouting and with 36 goals, 53 assists and 89 points, he ranks third in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
The forward was expected to be the main part of Barrie Colts’ playoffs chase but it now stands affected, after he suffered the injury on Sunday, March 18, 2012.
He lost balance due to a check and fell on the ice. He rolled over his ankle and later it was confirmed that he suffered right fibula in the process.
Since the injury is reported to be a season-threatening one, the current NHL season is almost over for Pearson.
He is most likely to join the squad next season, provided he is unable to find a professional side by then.
He is at top of this year’s draft list and finding a potential suitor during the draft season, which starts later this year.
Also, since there is nothing much elaborated around the chances and timeline of his recovery, it is difficult to ascertain if Pearson will be available well before the draft season.
In case of a delayed recovery, his future plans may be affected adversely.
Meanwhile, Pearson, while expressing satisfaction over his form in the current year’s run, credited support from his teammate, centre, Mark Scheifele, who joined the NHL franchise, Winnipeg Jets, in 2011 draft season.
Pearson said:
"I've been seeing buddies of mine like (Scheifele) and other people I play summer hockey with, a lot of people I played hockey with growing up, getting drafted into the NHL. I didn't want my hockey career to be over. I wanted to do everything I could this
summer to help me get noticed. I believe I had a good summer of training. It’s showing on the ice and it’s helping me.”
He also praised the contribution of the coach, Dale Hawerchuk, towards the improvement in his performance this year.
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