Third-year forward Michael Milne is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury sustained during his off-season training.
The injury occurred in late 2020, around the time of the CHL Memorial eCup, but it’s still impossible to project how long he’ll be out.
The 2021 season will be 24 games, but as there’s no schedule set for the East Division, it’s unknown how many games Milne will miss. However, the farther back the start date gets pushed, the better it bodes for Milne’s chances to play this year.
His coach James Patrick says Milne has begun skating and doing light upper-body work over the past week. He’s been rehabbing back home in Abbotsford, BC, and has been progressing smoothly. Milne, like everyone on the Winnipeg ICE, is looking forward to another shot at a championship.
“He’s excited about the possibility of playing this year,” said Patrick.
Milne is hungry for a chance at a Memorial Cup, but this year’s also important for his personal development. He’s a prospect eligible for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and hopes to draw significant NHL interest.
Milne’s 13 goals and 33 points last season represented a significant step in his development. Complemented by his excellent work ethic and defensive acuity, he’s an intriguing option for NHL teams. NHL Central Scouting lists him as a C-rank prospect on the preliminary players to watch list, indicating a player expected to go in the fourth round or later. TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button compared him to Carolina Hurricanes’ forward Warren Foegele.
NHL scouts face one of their toughest years this season. Patrick believes last year’s play will have a heavy impact on player evaluation, something that can only help Milne.
“He’s a real good skater, he plays with energy, he forechecks as well as anyone, and that’s what I expect from him [when he returns],” Patrick said.
Milne’s legs and core, the engines of his body, are healthy and by training them hard he can give his upper body extra time to catch up.
As Milne continues rehab at home, it’s unknown if he’ll join the team for training camp. Even if he’s not ready to go right away, the ICE have options to replace his scoring until he returns. There’s no need to rush him back.
Patrick is excited for the start of an all-East Division season. Recent reports place Regina as the frontrunner for a Bubble, with Winnipeg and Brandon as other contenders. This gives Milne time to heal at home at the right pace before hopping into the bubble.
The Winnipeg ICE believes they’ll have a definitive timeline by training camp.
