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Tigers awaiting MRI results for Mason Shaw

Sep 13, 2017 | 5:04 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Tigers are still waiting to find out the extent of the injury to forward Mason Shaw.

Shaw, who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in this year’s NHL entry draft, injured his right knee while playing with the Wild during a prospects tournament in Michigan this weekend. The injury happened Saturday during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and occurred after a player fell on Shaw’s leg.

He was scheduled to undergo an MRI in Minneapolis on Wednesday, but the team is still awaiting the results, which will determine the amount of time in the regular season Shaw will miss. Some outlets, including The Athletic, are reporting Shaw could miss up to six months, though nothing has been confirmed.

Assistant coach Bobby Fox says the team is trying to stay positive on the injury news.

“It’s part of every season, you’re going to run into a little bit of adversity, and we’re running into it early,” he said. “That’s not a bad thing. It’s going to allow guys to step up and play bigger roles.

He adds, “It’s a trickle down. It bumps everybody up, say a line, a role. The more minutes for younger guys the better. That’s how we’re going to look at it. Moving forward here for Saturday in Red Deer, we’re going to play everybody in every situation, we’re going to make sure guys are playing themselves in the appropriate roles.”

Fox cites Josh Williams, who is currently leading the team in scoring during the preseason, as a player who has stepped up in the early days of the season.

The Tigers wrap up the preseason on Saturday, travelling to Red Deer to battle the Rebels. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

Shaw finished second in Tigers scoring last season behind WHL graduate Chad Butcher, reaching career marks in goals (27), assists (67), and points (94), while also improving his rating by 15 notches to a +12. The 18-year-old from Wainwright, AB collected 12 assists in 11 playoff games last spring.

In his rookie season, Shaw saw action in only 23 games, before being sidelined due to surgery on his left knee.