CC hockey's leading scorer is out of action

The Colorado College hockey team’s leading scorer last season, Jimmy Kilpatrick, had hip surgery last month and might not be able to play until late November.

“From what I’ve been led to believe, he’s rehabbing it extensively,” said coach Scott Owens, who described the injury as a torn labrum. “Hopefully, he will be able to play by Thanksgiving.”

Kilpatrick was not among the players who skated in Sunday’s first informal practice at Honnen Ice Arena.

Kilpatrick said the injury occurred “during the last third” of last season but went undiagnosed until he had a magnetic resonance imaging test in July.

“I hemmed and hawed over whether or not to have the surgery,” Kilpatrick said. “I talked it over and I decided I couldn’t play my senior year with it.”

Kilpatrick had seven goals and 25 assists last season.

“My goal is to get back ASAP,” Kilpatrick said. “Right now it looks like it will be sooner rather than later. I’m feeling better every day. I am rehabbing two times a day, seven days a week.”

CC starts the season with exhibition games against the University of Calgary on Oct. 6 and the U.S. Under-18 national team Oct. 12 at World Arena. Minnesota visits Oct. 19-20 to start the regular season.

CC was 18-17-4 last season and did not make the NCAA Tournament. CC and World Arena will host one of four NCAA Tournament regionals in March.

Sophomore Bill Sweatt, chosen 38th by Chicago in June’s NHL draft, practiced with his teammates Sunday.

Sweatt was unable to participate in a pre-draft workout for scouts in Toronto because of a injury to his right wrist. TSN, which is the Canadian equivalent of ESPN, reported that Sweatt cut his wrist by punching out a window in a fit of rage.

Sweatt, who has a slightly-raised red scar on that wrist, previously declined to confirm or deny the report, but said Sunday his wrist is healed.

Sophomore left wing Dan Quilico, who appeared in eight games last season, showed up with his right foot in a boot, the result of a rafting accident in late July. Quilico had surgery to repair his broken ankle and has started doing water workouts and lifting weights.

“I’d like to be back by the first game,” Quilico said of the Calgary exhibition. “I worked pretty hard to improve this summer, so it’s frustrating.”

New athletic trainer

Jason Bushie, who worked for six years as an athletic trainer at Minnesota State-Mankato, was hired to replace long-time trainer Richard Quincy, who resigned in July to take a job with U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.