Winkler sidelined again, Boivin among 6 other injured Tigers

BEMIDJI, Minn. – For Colorado College right wing Scott Winkler, it’s that time of the season when pain is supposed to be more manageable, when bumps and bruises shouldn’t be as big of a deal, when a minor injury becomes a major concern if you’re not on the ice. He still can’t play.

“You don’t have much of a choice,” said Winkler, who was sidelined Saturday at Bemidji State, not dressing for the third time in four games because of an upper-body injury.

Joining Winkler on the injury list was defenseman Mike Boivin, who was knocked out of a 4-2 loss Friday in the first period with a concussion when he was drilled into the boards. The No. 10 Tigers also are missing center Nick Dineen, right wing Dakota Eveland and goaltender Josh Thorimbert because of upper-body injuries, while defenseman Eamonn McDermott (left knee) and left wing Michael Morin (right ankle) remain out as well.

Morin is probably gone for the season following surgery this month, and it’s possible that Boivin, Dineen, McDermott, Thorimbert and Winkler could return next weekend against Nebraska-Omaha. It will take a while for Winkler, with 21 points, including 15 assists, in 23 games, to revert to his old form, and “I don’t think I’m quite there yet,” he said.

Winkler missed 18 games last season after surgery to repair a tendon in his right wrist, so playing injured should be small potatoes. “Every hockey player goes through this at one point,” he said, adding that “it’s harder to watch games from the stands this time of year.”

Skalbeck still making an impact

Last season, Archie Skalbeck centered a line that included Eveland and the now-departed Tyler Johnson, and “points were easy to come by,” said Skalbeck, who marked nine goals and nine assists in 33 games. Now, he’s the left wing on a line featuring David Civitarese at center and Andrew Hamburg at right wing, and he has three points in 24 games.

“I just try to do what I can,” Skalbeck said, “and if it’s not points, it’s drawing penalties and just skating hard and just doing my best. … Whatever I can do to help the team win.”

Skalbeck doesn’t back down from contact, even though he’s “not going to be one of those big-hitting, checking forwards that’s going to lay a huge body on someone,” he said. He noted, “I like it because it wakes me up, gets me into the game. That’s a part of hockey. I’ve always loved contact. Usually, I’m on the wrong end of it, but that’s all right.”

DiGiando focused on improvement

Jordan DiGiando wants to model his game after CC’s other centers, and since his playing time has been limited, appearing in only six games, he has had plenty of chances to learn.

DiGiando called Civitarese a “really good defensive center. But he’s both ways, and he’s good on draws.” He took notice that Dineen also is “both ways, and he’s very solid in the (defensive) zone.” And he likes the fact that Tim Hall is a “very quick, agile forward.”

This is “a year to develop,” said DiGiando, who traveled for the first time since October. “That’s really what I’ve been going for. Hopefully, next year, it plays out as a factor, and all the work I’ve put in this year and what I’ve learned from watching the guys helps.”

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/cchockey. For the CC blog, visit http://cchockey.freedomblogging.com.