SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton Eagles can say they have had their fair share of injuries this season.
Since August, the Eagles have had a number of players miss time due to injury including forward Mathias Laferrière, who missed more than a month with an upper-body injury.
Although Laferrière has since returned to the team’s lineup, Cape Breton has yet to ice its full team this season and is currently without the services of goaltender Kevin Mandolese, defenceman Adam McCormick, and forward Cole Fraser.
Mandolese has missed the team’s last eight games with a lower-body injury suffered on Oct. 31 against the Moncton Wildcats, while McCormick has missed five games with an upper-body injury.
As for Fraser, he’s been out the club’s lineup since early October after suffering an upper-body injury during a game against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in Chicoutimi.
Despite the injuries, Cape Breton is among the top seven teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and hope to have the remaining injured players back soon.
“McCormick and Mandolese are progressing well and both are on the ice and skating — these guys are close,” said Eagles head coach Jake Grimes.
“They could be back before Christmas if they can get a significant amount of games in and it’s worth it or they could take more development time, but it’s in or around that area.”
McCormick and Mandolese are currently not practising with the team but are skating on their own.
Grimes said McCormick has been on the ice for some time, while Mandolese began his on-ice work in the last week.
As for Fraser, he’s practising with the team but is not taking part in contact drills. No timeline was set for his return to the team’s lineup.
Other players who have missed games with injuries include Derek Gentile and Shawn Boudrias. Both are currently in the club’s lineup.
Meanwhile, overage defenceman Antoine Crête-Belzile is still in Quebec and remains on concussion protocol. The 20-year-old has not played a game this season with the Eagles but remains on the team’s protected list.
INJURED EAGLES
• Kevin Mandolese – Lower-body injury
• Adam McCormick – Upper-body injury
• Cole Fraser – Upper-body injury
Twitter: @CBPost_Jeremy