When fans in attendance at the Whittemore Center at the University of New Hampshire Saturday the 18th saw defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk took a check into the boards against Union and wasn't able to skate off the ice, everyone all knew it was bad.
Last Wednesday coach Dick Umile said exactly how bad the situation is for van Riemsdyk. Talking to the media for the first time about the injury, Umile confirmed a fractured left ankle, and said that his recovery would take six weeks. This would bring his return to the end of the regular season and start of the Hockey East playoffs.
"We might not get Trevor back until the playoffs," Umile said. "It's going to be that long... Maybe it will be sooner, maybe it will be a week later. I don't know."
Earlier reports said that the defenseman would be out the entire year and Umile said that the junior didn't suffer any additional damage to the ankle and will not require any surgery.
This injury is a major blow to a team that is already suffering without some key players. They are hoping to secure one of the byes that go to the top five teams at the end of the season. Van Riemsdyk has been the top defensive pairing with Eric Knodel and leads the team with 19 assists and has been a vital offensive player.
"Other people have to step up and fill roles. Are we capable of doing that? I think we are," Umile said. He indicated that Matias Cleland and Harry Quast are possibilities for the open power play spot.
"That doesn't mean that we're not going to miss Trevor. He might be one of the best defensiveman in the country, let alone Hockey East, and he does a lot for you."
Reference: Concord Monitor.
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