Big Ben on the mend
Prize goalie Ben Gaudreau, who the Sarnia Sting took in the first round of the 2019 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft from the North Bay Trappers of the Great North Midget Hockey League, continues to recover from an off-season injury.
Gaudreau, who was the seventh overall selection at this year’s OHL minor midget lottery, remains sidelined by a knee injury that the 6-foot-2 goalie sustained back in May while playing for Team NOHA (Northern Ontario Hockey Association) at the OHL’s Gold Cup prospects tournament.
Gaudreau has started to skate as of late but has yet to have a full practice with the OHL Sting.
“He has been through the first 20 to 30 minutes of practices,” Sarnia head coach Derian Hatcher told Postmedia. “He is still limited on what he can do, motion-wise. But he seems to coming along really well. Hopefully in about four weeks time he’ll be ready (for games). … I would expect to see Ben in a full practice by (early October) barring anything unforeseen.”
Gaudreau’s light schedule is a precautionary move by doctors, according to Hatcher.
“Ben is a young kid (with a 2003 birth date), a goalie, and they find themselves in some pretty funny positions out on the ice,” he said. “I think it’s (the doctors) just making sure he is absolutely ready.”
Despite the injury to Gaudreau and what has been a lengthy recovery process, Sarnia does have depth at the goalie position.
Holdover starter Ethan Langevin and veteran backup Cameron Lamour give Sarnia a pair of experienced goalies.
PHOTO: Ben Gaudreau, while suiting up for Team NOHA.