Ready to Return

After missing the entire month of November, Bryant Christian
is ready to return to action in the BCHL

After missing a dozen games due to a broken jaw and returning to his home in Moorhead Minnesota for surgery and recovery, Bryant Christian has returned to the team.

Meeting his team mates on Tuesday night when they arrived in the Lower Mainland for a pair of games against the Coquitlam Express, Christian is excited to get back on the ice and into the action.

"Nobody wants to get back more than I do," said an excited Christian. "This has been a long time to be away from the game."

Christian's last game was back on October 26 against the Cowichan Valley Captials. In that Spruce Kings 3-2 win, Christian took a puck up high to the face and knew he had taken a hard shot. At the time he didn't know just how hard that shot was and played out the rest of the game. It wasn't until the following day that the full diagnosis could be made.

"There was a lot of bruising," explained Christian. "I was hopeful that was all it was, but the doctor determined it was more. After consultation, we decided that it would be best for me to return home for the surgery."

For the entire month of November, Bryant Christian had his jaw wired shut making eating nearly impossible. After losing ten pounds, the twenty year old forward has already started getting some of that weight back and is appearing leaner and fitter.

"I was working out almost every day and as soon as I could get back out on the ice, I was," added Christian. "I believe I'm ready to go but have been told it will be a game time decision at least for this game."

The coaching staff wants to get a good look at the team's captain before making any commitment to whether or not he will be in the lineup.

"We all want to see Bryant Christian suit up and get back out there," said Spruce Kings assistant coach, Colton Buffie. "We don't want to put a player out there too soon and risk a further set back to his return."

"(Bryant) is a very important part of this team and its success this season," added Buffie. "This is also an important season for him personally as a twenty year old trying to secure a NCAA scholarship."

Prior to his injury, Christian had been talking to a couple of schools and is hoping to pick up where things were left off at the end of October.

The Spruce Kings (17-9-2-2) play tonight in Coquitlam against the Express (14-13-0-2) in a matchup of Mainland Divisional teams. The game is the next PG Motors Feature Game of the Month on 99.3 the Drive and will be broadcast live on the Prince George radio station and online [click here].