The Manitoba Moose have lost one of their most important players.
Defenceman Nolan Baumgartner is expected to miss between four and six weeks after breaking the pinky finger on his left hand Wednesday night.
Baumgarther, who might require surgery, suffered the injury when he got hit by a puck in Manitoba's 2-1 win over the Rockford Ice Hogs.
"It's tough to be out of the lineup," Baumgartner said yesterday from Peoria, Ill. "I hate missing practice, missing games, preparation and all that. I just gotta try and get healthy."
Baumgartner, 33, is Manitoba's leader on defence who eats up approximately 27 minutes of ice time per game. He has a goal and six assists in 24 games this season, and his presence is going to be missed.
"Any time you lose experience when you don't have a lot of it on your team, it hurts," he said. "But we still have Keaner (Mike Keane), Marty Murray and (Matt) Pettinger."
Baumgartner was asked who he sees stepping up and taking on a larger role on defence for the Moose, who have won four of their last five and lost the other in overtime.
"Travis Ramsey comes to mind," he said. "I play a lot of power play minutes, so he might have to step in there now. He's a right-handed shot, too.
The Moose take on the Peoria Rivermen tonight, and Baumgartner believes the Moose will be able to keep their winning ways going without him.
"For the most part, we have our team together right now and we're starting to play better," he said. "It sucks to be out, but we've been playing all right."
KING SCHENN: Brandon Wheat Kings star Brayden Schenn made a pit stop in the NHL on his way back to the Wheat City.
The Los Angeles Kings, who drafted the centre fifth overall in this year's NHL draft, signed Schenn to an amateur tryout contract yesterday due to a rash of injuries. The 18-year-old Saskatoon native was scheduled to make his NHL debut last night against the Vancouver Canucks.
Schenn played in Victoria on Wednesday night in the WHL's annual Super Series against Russia. He is expected to be back in Brandon tonight for the start of a home-and-home series with the Swift Current Broncos.
Schenn, along with Wheat King teammates Colby Robak and Scott Glennie, helped Team WHL secure a 2-1 win over Russia on Wednesday. Schenn assisted on the first goal.
Winnipeg goaltender Calvin Pickard, who plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds, made 19 saves to pick up the win.
kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca
