Injuries hamper two key Tigers

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Dec 2, 2004 | by JESSICA DELOS REYES THE GAZETTE

The Colorado College hockey team will be without senior defenseman Richard Petiot for at least six weeks, and freshman forward Scott McCulloch is probably out for the season, team trainer Richard Quincy said Wednesday.

The timing of the news isn't good. The fourth-ranked Tigers (10- 2, 4-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) host No. 1 Minnesota (10-3, 6-2) this weekend at Colorado Springs World Arena in a series between the two teams with the best winning percentages in Division I.

Petiot tore a groin muscle, and the team expects him to be out for the next six to eight weeks. McCulloch is out with a "complete dislocation" of his left shoulder, Quincy said.

Petiot, a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder, injured his groin shortly after he scored the first goal in Saturday's victory over Boston University.

Quincy said he is unsure of how the injury will affect Petiot's skating. Petiot, who missed a few games earlier this season with a sore shoulder, had three goals and an assist with three penalties for six minutes in eight games. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 2001 NHL draft.

Coach Scott Owens plans to rotate his defensemen but said all are at a good comfort level since they've all played. He hopes to have Petiot, the only senior defenseman, back in the lineup after Christmas.

McCulloch (6-1, 196) injured his left shoulder in Friday's win over Massachusetts. McCulloch probably will have surgery in the next two weeks.

In his 11 games, the sixthround selection by the Chicago Blackhawks scored four goals and three assists, including a hat trick Nov. 19 against Michigan Tech.

Freshman Derek Patrosso has played right wing with McCulloch's usual linemates of Scott Polaski and Aaron Slattengren since Saturday.

Owens said the news on McCulloch was particularly difficult because he'd been playing so well.

Calgary scout in area

CC goalie Curtis McElhinney had another winning game against Boston University, but he wasn't the one Ron Sutter was there to see.

The former star of the Calgary Flames is a scout for the organization, which owns McElhinney's rights.

McElhinney said he didn't talk to Sutter nor has he heard anything from the Calgary organization but understood that Sutter was in town to see Calgary's prospects on Boston University's David Van der Gulik and Brian McConnell.

McElhinney is 7-0.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0178 or jdelosreyes@gazette.com