Just when he would prefer to be going for the jugular, Jim MacLean finds himself becoming a juggler.
The Comox Valley Glacier Kings’ bench boss, whose team is vying for first place in the Vancouver Island Junior League and has avoided the injury bug all season, now must rejig his lineup at a critical point of the season.
Two players suffered off-ice injuries this week (Stewart Lee and Jeff Crisp) and two more (Jackson Garrett and Derick Nicholson) are unavailable this weekend due to prior commitments.
That leaves MacLean with 10 forwards and six defencemen for tonight’s home game against the Saanich Braves (7:30 p.m. Sports Centre Arena No. 1).
While Garrett and Nicholson (who are at a road hockey tournament in Victoria) will rejoin the team for the last regular season game next Friday in Saanich, the return of Lee (ear and ribs) and Crisp (thumb) is uncertain.
MacLean said he would inquire about the possibility of picking up a couple of Midget affiliate players, but notes the Midgets are currently in the middle of their playoffs and players might not be available.
Compounding the Yetis’ woes, a couple of players are sick and missed practice this week.
“We were short staffed last weekend and we’ll be short staffed this weekend,” the coach said, adding that players will have to step up to fill in for their missing teammates if they hope to keep their drive for a first-place finish alive.
MacLean said either Corey Allen or Tyson Rennie will move up to join Kelin Hrycuik and Mitch Ball on the first line tonight, which will mean juggling personnel on both the second and third lines.
While finishing first is still possible, MacLean notes both the Victoria Cougars and Peninsula Panthers have three games in hand. Winning their remaining two regular season games is essential for the Icemen, who could finish as low as third depending on how things go over the final week of the season.
MacLean said the team was happy to have a good-size crowd out for last Saturday’s game with Victoria and hopes to see lots of fans in the seats for tonight’s must-win contest with the Braves.
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