Injuries curtail Lofty expectations
Liam Loftus must be wondering if he perhaps walked under a ladder, broke a mirror or had a black cat run in front of him.
The 19-year-old Thornhill native has endured a string of bad luck this season dating back to the Thorold Blackhawks lone pre-season game.
Loftus badly strained his hip in that game and tried to play through it, but was only able to suit up for 10 games before finally shutting it down.
“It’s been a really frustrating year personally and from the team’s struggles as well,” the talented forward said. “I love to play so not being able to and sitting on the sidelines and not even being able to practice was tough.”
Loftus, who turns 20 on Valentine’s Day, admitted trying to grind through the injury was almost impossible.
“It was never really better,” he said. “It’s really hard mentally because you know you’re not healthy and you’re still trying to do the best you can and at some point during the games, I just couldn’t go any further.”
Loftus finally began to feel some improvement after receiving treatment from Ridley College athletic therapist Lenny Ferraro.
“He really helped me get back to health and the break (lockdown) was really helpful,” Loftus said.
Loftus finally returned to action last week versus the St. Catharines Falcons as the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League resumed play.
“I felt pretty good the first period but then obviously the legs were a bit heavy because I haven’t been on the ice in a while,” Loftus said.
But it couldn’t be that easy.
During practice last week Loftus tripped and fell into the boards injuring his knee which forced him to miss a game in Hamilton Friday.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating,” he said.
Thorold owner/coach Scott Barnes is eager to see Loftus at 100 per cent.
“It’s been a tough year for him and unfortunately it set us back too,” Barnes said. “He’s a guy right from the get-go was pegged to be our No. 1 centre, a point-a-game guy. He’s a guy we’ve needed in our lineup all year who hasn’t been available to us.”
Loftus, a sports management student at Brock, was back on the ice Monday as the Blackhawks blanked the Welland Junior Canadians 3-0 at Thorold Arena.
“Obviously the hope would be just to stay healthy,” he said. “I just want to play the best I can play and play to the ability I know I can and I haven’t been able to do that yet. I love going on the ice just to see what’s the best I can do.
“I feel if I play to my best I can help the team. Hopefully I can remain healthy for the rest of this season and build on that for next season.”
The Hawks will be without forward Wyatt Gibson for the foreseeable future after he broke his thumb last week after taking a slapshot from Falcons defenceman Mason Howard off his hand.
“It’s just par for the course for this season,” Barnes said.
Barnes is hopeful the Hawks have seen the last of any major injuries.
“We’re hoping that maybe the first time we will be healthy all season will be the playoffs. For all the stuff our team has been through this year, maybe it changes for the playoffs.”
Monday’s win improved Thorold’s record to 8-22.
“We’re just to the point now where we’re putting a system into place for the guys to play and getting everyone to buy in,” Barnes said. “We’re playing towards the playoffs. We have 19 games to get ready. As much as I want to win — I hate losing — but the wins right now aren’t what we are concerned about. We’re more concerned about the development.”
STATS PACK
Thorold goaltender Noah Fortuna with 27 saves for the shutout.
Blackhawks 3 Junior Canadians 0
Thorold Blackhawks: Sam Tonelli (9); Adrian Diodati (4); Dylan Pergentile (3).
Welland Junior Canadians: No scoring.
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Thorold on Nico Balice/Keegan Jackson (32), by Welland on Noah Fortuna (27); Power plays: Thorold 1-for-3, Welland 0-for-2; Penalty minutes: Thorold 6, Welland 18.
Up next: The Blackhawks are in St. Catharines Friday.
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