Warrior Injury Update

Riding a three game slide, the Moose Jaw Warriors are getting ready for a three game in four day schedule against East Division teams this week.

It starts Wednesday at Mosaic Place with their second meeting of the season against the Prince Albert Raiders, and that night could mark the return of several key players.

Quinton Howden and Joel Edmundson have been sidelined since suffering injuries while at NHL rookie camps, and Kendall McFaull missed games last weekend with a hip flexor.

Edmundson's was a high ankle sprain while with St. Louis at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament. Director of Hockey Operations Alan Millar says Joel has been making good progress the last couple of weeks.

"Joel's doing very well. He's very close to getting back into the lineup, and will probably be a game day decision on Wednesday for the game here against Prince Albert."

Howden sustained an upper body injury September 13th while with Florida in a rookie game against Nashville. Millar says Howden has worked hard to get to this point.

"He's made great progress here in the last 10 to 14 days. We're looking for him to have a real good couple of days here in terms of practice and getting ready for Wednesday."

"That's by no means etched in stone. I think it's probably safe to say that he'll play on the weekend, but we'll make a decision Wednesday if it's ready to go against Prince Albert," added Millar in regards to Howden's situation.

Millar says that all three are listed as probable for Wednesday, but again says their status will be a game day decision.

Howden and Edmundson haven't played this season, while McFaull missed the last two games on the teams Central Division road trip last week.

Millar says they've been patient will all of their injured players. "I think everybody's been very diligent in the process, and I think the players have worked extremely hard here in the last seven to 10 days with the understanding that they were close."

"When ever you're in those situations, sometime's it's about confidence, sometime's it's about testing your injury, sometime's it's pushing the limit in practice and your conditioning," added Millar.

The team is also without import overage forward Sebastian Svendsen, who was on the receiving end of a "knee on knee hit" back on October 10th against Prince George.

Millar says that Svendsen's status is listed as week to week, but adds that he's a little bit ahead of schedule. "He came out of that hit with an injury, but nothing real serious, which as you know the danger of those hits can sometimes result in a tear and a significant injury."

"He came out of it with a minor to mild type of strain. Originally it was anywhere from three to six weeks depending on how he's coming along and what he can tolerate in terms of battling thru. He's ahead of schedule, he's probably within a couple weeks of getting back and may be even day-to-day by the weekend," added Millar on the Svendsen injury.

Depending on when Howden, Edmundson, and McFaull return, Millar says everyone needs to be patient with their expectations.

"Them jumping right back in and being the best that they can be is probably going to take a little bit of time. As I've said in the past, they're very good players who can make an impact by not only contributing in some ways, but they'll certainly make everyone else around them better. We look forward to that whether it's Wednesday or on the weekend."

Wednesday's game against the Raiders will be there second meeting of the season, the Warriors won their only meeting 6-5 in a shootout back on September 30th.

Coming up on the weekend, the Warriors will head to Brandon Friday and then hook up with Regina Saturday at Mosaic Place.