The Sports Corner

Hurt Hand, Hurt Chances

The best opportunity to make the Vancouver Canucks for Jannik Hansen was taken away by a … broken thumb.

What a blow to the young forward, who has a great chance at filling the right-wing position. Of course, Hansen will probably still be given a chance, just not at the start of the season.

“He’s got serious upsides to him and his game,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “It’s unfortunate he get hurt. There are only two weeks before the regular season, so it’s probably safe to say that he’s not going to start with us depending on if he has a miraculous recovery.”

This injury, which occurred during the Calgary preseason game, adds to the list of injuries piling up for Vancouver. This will surely hinder the Canucks’ decision in filling their needed offensive holes.

In other hand injury news, Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews broke his index finger during a preseason game Wednesday.

”A crack in his finger. It’s nothing very serious,” Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said, ”but he’ll probably be out 2-3 weeks.”

It’s not good news for the 19-year-old star, as the injury will delay his NHL debut.

Overall, it’s a very unfortunate incident for this pair of young forwards, but hopefully, we’ll be seeing them back on the ice soon enough.