Storm’s Buchinger to miss 6-8 weeks

The Guelph Storm announced over the weekend that 19-year-old defenceman Michael Buchinger will be out of the lineup for approximately 6-8 weeks as he undergoes surgery to repair a torn tendon.

A third-year veteran from Markham, Ont., Buchinger leads Storm defencemen with 39 points (9-30–39) over 40 games this season. He recorded his 150th career point in Friday’s 5-3 win over the Flint Firebirds.

Buchinger attended Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp prior to the holidays. The 6-foot, 191Ib. left-shot defender was a third-round (88th overall) pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2022 NHL Draft. He signed an entry-level NHL contract with St. Louis on Mar. 1, 2023.

Buchinger’s injury is the latest on a Storm blue line faced with some hard luck in the injury department this season. Washington Capitals prospect Cam Allen, who has yet to play this season, eyes a return in the second half along with rookie Quinn Beauchesne, who has been sidelined with an injury since late October.