麻豆社区

Two Yukon hockey players attempting to play pro this season in the United States saw their tryout bids end early last month.

Reid Campbell, 25, of Haines Junction suffered a concussion in his first preseason game with the East Coast Hockey League鈥檚 (ECHL) Rapid City Rush 鈥� an injury that ended his training camp.

Meanwhile, Whitehorse native Jordan Lane, who spent last season in an enforcer role with the Quad City Mallards, was cut by the Bakersfield Condors, an ECHL鈥坱eam in California.

Campbell鈥檚 injury came in the second period of a game against the Colorado Eagles Oct. 11 in South Dakota.

鈥淚 just went to battle with a guy on the sideboards in the offensive zone,鈥� Campbell said when reached by the Star yesterday. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if he did it on purpose, but he went to brace himself and just got his elbow up and it collided with the side of my head. I don鈥檛 really remember exactly what happened, to be honest with you.鈥�

The five-foot-10, 185-pound blueliner said he had an 鈥渋nstant headache鈥� but remained on the bench for the rest of the game on a team doctor鈥檚 advice.

Campbell said he was cut by the Rush following his injury, but the club continues to hold his player rights. He may yet receive a second chance to crack the roster this season.

鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating because I鈥坣ever got to prove myself in half a game,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first concussion I鈥檝e ever had. ... I just want to be careful before getting back into the swing of things again.鈥�

Campbell finally returned to his regular workouts last week alongside physical therapy.

鈥淚鈥檓 feeling quite a bit better,鈥� he said. 鈥淗opefully I鈥檒l be able to get back into practice and contact within the next week. But it鈥檚 kind of hard to say. It鈥檚 all day-to-day.鈥�

Campbell said the injury was a tough blow, as he was feeling 鈥減retty confident鈥� heading into his first pro training camp.

Last season, the defenceman won his third national championship with the NCAA鈥圛II鈥圫t. Norbert Green Knights.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Lane has returned to Whitehorse where he is exploring his hockey options.

鈥淚 just got back to town last week,鈥� the six-foot-eight, 240-pound forward said yesterday. 鈥淚鈥檓 just waiting to hear back from a couple of other teams, seeing what happens.鈥�

Lane said his agent has put out feelers with teams in Europe and the ECHL.

鈥淚鈥檒l figure out something for hockey, whether that be I go to school again. ... There鈥檚 lots of options. I鈥檒l be playing hockey again somewhere soon,鈥� he said assuredly.

Lane said his release by the Condors was simply a matter of numbers.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the way it works sometimes,鈥� he said.