Kindersley Klippers

Klippers’ Captain Cole Plotnikoff was injured in last Monday’s game against Weyburn. He isn’t expected back until the new year.

Kevin McBain
of The Clarion

The Kindersley Klippers score a 5-3 win over the Weyburn Red Wings last Monday but it came with a price.

The Klippers lost their captain, Cole Plotnikoff, to an injury that may keep him out of the lineup until the new year, although no timeline has been set.

Head coach Geoff Grimwood said that Plotnikoff severed his Achilles tendon on Monday.

“He will be missed,” he said. “He is a great player and a great leader and the guys will just have to step up and fill in for him until he gets back.

“I know it is disappointing for him, personally, to suffer such a setback,” he added.

The team finished off the SJHL showcase in Saskatoon on Wednesday with a tough 7-3 loss to the Nipawin Hawks.

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Special teams played a huge part in the outcome.

The Klippers scored all three of their goals on the power play and the Hawks scored three shorthanded and two power play goals in the win.

The score was tied at two after the first period and 4-2 after two.

Scoring for the Klippers were Curtis Peck, Noah Turanski and Jordan Funk. Justen Close faced 30 shots in goal.

The loss dropped the Klippers’ record to 2-3-1 for the season, for five points.

The Klippers are now on the road and were scheduled to take on La Ronge last night and tonight. The Ice Wolves have a 1-4 record.

They then head to Flin Flon to take on the Bombers on Friday and Saturday. The Bombers have a 4-1 record.

Grimwood said that they will be working on their special teams in the coming weeks and stresses that they are very important to the team’s success.

“We definitely want to improve our special teams,” he said. “As we do that, everything else will fall into place.”

He said the coaching staff is very pleased with the rookies on the team.

“They are playing better than expected. The guys like Devon Cry and Will Van der Sloot have really stepped up for us,” he said.

On Monday as he prepared for the road trip, Grimwood said he’s happy to get the northern trip done early.

“Hopefully we can get some wins and move up in the standings,” he said. “It’s one of our longer trips of the season, and it’s good to get it done early.

“It’s good for the guys to get away from town for a while and they all get to know each other better,” he added.

The Klippers return to home ice against the Melville Millionaires on Saturday, Oct. 14.

Notes

The Klippers have 23 players on their roster including two goaltenders, eight defencemen and 13 forwards.

On Thursday, Oct. 12, the team will hold their 12th annual NHL draft and men’s night at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church beginning with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and supper at 6.

The next day, at 8:30 p.m. the Klippers will hold a calcutta shootout player auction, with cocktails. You can bid on your favourite player and see how they do in a shootout after Saturday’s game versus the Millionaires.

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