DePape has date with surgeon

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Jordan DePape has his date.
DePape, a right-winger with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, will undergo surgery on his left shoulder on Nov. 4.
The operation will take place in Winnipeg with Dr. Peter MacDonald, an orthopedic surgeon who is well known in the sporting world, at the controls.
DePape, 19, was injured on Oct. 10 during a fight with winger Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers. DePape has said he used his left hand to grab Etem but when he yanked on the jersey the Kamloops player heard and felt a loud pop.
It later was determined DePape had a dislocated shoulder.
DePape returned to Winnipeg on Friday and met with Dr. MacDonald on Monday morning.
DePape said Tuesday that the recovery time is “four to five months.”
That means the best-case scenario would have him back early in March. The Blazers have eight games in March, including a home-and-home series with the Kelowna Rockets on March 2 and 3.
Last season, DePape totalled 48 points, including 21 goals, in 54 games with the Blazers. He spent most of his time playing on the right side with centre Chase Schaber, who was limited by injuries to 46 games, and Brendan Ranford.
This season, head coach Guy Charron had hoped those three would be able to recapture that chemistry.
With DePape gone, it would seem that J.T. Barnett will ride shotgun with Schaber and Ranford.  At least, that was the case for the club’s last two games — a 3-0 victory over the Prince George Cougars and a 3-2 victory over the Kelowna Rockets, both at Interior Savings Centre on the weekend.
The Blazers will have Cam Lanigan in goal tonight as they begin a three-game Alberta road trip against the Red Deer Rebels tonight. They also will play the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday and Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday.
These are the only three games the Blazers will play in Alberta this season. Last season, they were 7-1-1 in games played in Alberta.
Lanigan last played Friday when the Blazers beat the host Portland Winterhawks 5-4 in overtime.
Freshman Cole Cheveldave went the distance in the weekend victories over Prince George and Kelowna.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
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