NEWS FILE PHOTO
Medicine Hat Tigers winger Ryan Jevne battles for a puck during a Western Hockey League game at the Canalta Centre on Oct. 3, 2018. Jevne is expected to return to the lineup this weekend after missing time with an upper-body injury.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
The Medicine Hat Tigers could be getting a sorely-needed boost with the potential return of veteran winger Ryan Jevne this weekend.
Jevne suffered an upper-body injury on Feb. 16 and has been forced to watch from the stands as his team’s losing streak reached six games last weekend. But after a six-day break, Jevne will be a game-time decision for tonight’s key matchup against the Central Division leading Oil Kings in Edmonton at 7 p.m.
“It was good for me to have these extra days to try to get back,” said Jevne. “We’re at the rink every day so it gives me that extra time to do everything right and hopefully push up the timeline as fast as I can.”
Tigers winger Hayden Ostir also recently came back from injury after missing 18 games with a knee issue. While it was a long road back, Ostir made an impact less than four minutes into his return by setting up Corson Hopwo’s opening goal in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“It feels really good. Obviously I’m happy to get back out there,” said Ostir. “Obviously it’s tough coming off any injury but it’s good to get back out there. The first game is exciting, but then it’s just back to work.”
While the Tigers ultimately dropped both games since Ostir’s return in a home-and-home sweep at the hands of the Hurricanes, Hat captain James Hamblin says it’s Ostir’s presence in the lineup provides a boost that extends past the scoresheet.
“It’s been awesome,” said Hamblin. “He’s brought some physicality back, some hard work and he’s even contributed points-wise as well. It’s been great having him back.”
While Jevne’s return could be what the Tigers need to get off the schneid at a pivotal time of the year — Medicine Hat is down to eight games left in the regular season and sits just two points inside the playoff picture — assistant coach Ryan Smith says they’ll still be without centre Brett Kemp for a few more days.
“He’s been progressing fine. He’s on track,” Smith said of Kemp, who suffered an upper-body injury Friday in Lethbridge. “He won’t be playing this weekend, but we’re taking care of him and he’s getting better every day, so optimistically next week.”
