Cap News: Evan Bloodoff update
r Marissa Baecker photo
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r By Warren Henderson – Kelowna Capital News
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r Sitting out the majority of his fourth Western Hockey League season isn’t exactly Evan Bloodoff’s idea of a good time.
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r It is, however, reality for the 18-year-old forward from Castlegar who will likely be sidelined at least another three months with an injured right knee.
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r Bloodoff underwent surgery in September to repair a tear to his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and damage to the meniscus, and has slowly and methodically been working the knee back into shape.
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r It was a disappointing turn of events for the speedy 5-foot-11 forward who was coming off his breakout season in junior hockey. Not only was he a key figure in Kelowna’s six-game victory over Calgary in the WHL final, but Bloodoff caught the attention of big-league scouts and was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL entry draft by the Phoenix Coyotes.
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r But Bloodoff didn’t get a chance to show the Coyotes his stuff this fall as the full severity of the injury was diagnosed shortly after he arrived at Phoenix’s rookie camp.
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r “I first hurt (the knee) in Game 6 against Calgary, and it wasn’t fully torn, but I kept playing and working out over the summer and slowly it got worse,” said Bloodoff. “(Last year) was a good season for me and I was really looking forward to building on that, going to NHL camp, and then coming back here and helping the team win.
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r “It’s been frustrating, but I need to stay focused and take it day by day. I know it’s going to get better, it’s just going to take time so I have to be patient.”
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r While Bloodoff has yet to resume any aggressive weight training on the knee, he does plenty of strengthening exercises, balance work, and rides the bike daily to keep his cardio on track.
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r Considering the seriousness of such an injury, Rockets’ athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn said Bloodoff is progressing well.
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r “The muscles around the knee are very weak after that kind of injury and it’s a real progression of exercises to get that strength back,” said Thorburn. “It’s only been six weeks, but he’s already making good progress and I’d say he’s doing very, very well.”
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r While his physical rehabilitation is in good hands, Bloodoff is doing his best to also keep his mind occupied. With so much spare time on his hands these days, Bloodoff finds that helping out at practices and being a mentor to the younger players is the best mental therapy there is.
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r “I like to be around the team, help out at practices, get the guys gear, water, tape, whatever I can do,” he said. “I like to help out the younger guys if I can, feed them back some positive comments.
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r “When you watch from the stands, you see things you don’t see when you’re playing. I can help out the guys with a few tips, tricks of the trade I guess you could say.”
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