Brian Kilrea is steamed.

Kyle Wharton is hurt and disappointed.

Chris Neil is sorry.

That is the aftermath of an incident Tuesday in which Neil, the Senators' enforcer, fractured the left wrist of Wharton, one of the 67's top defencemen, with a two-handed slash during an informal scrimmage.

Wharton, who, along with Will Colbert was going to be a leader on the 67's blue line this season, is now out for 4-6 weeks and will miss the 67's training camp, which gets under way early next week, and the start of the regular season.

As you might expect, that doesn't sit too well with Kilrea, the 67's coach and GM.

"That's what happens when you get too good," said Kilrea. "You can't be checked by a junior player. Neil was just letting him know you can't take the puck off him.

"It's not something you really expect to happen. Everybody is just there to get in shape. Nobody is going to catch you with your head down, they'd step out of the way. If you lose the puck, you lose the puck. I just feel it's one of those things where it's unnecessary to prove how tough you are. He had to prove he's Chris Neil. Who's Chris Neil?"

The incident happened at a conditioning camp being run by former NHLer Garry Galley. The high-calibre players -- pros and juniors -- have an hour of drills followed by a one-hour scrimmage to prepare for the season.

According to witnesses, Wharton's stick got caught in the net as he and Neil went behind the net after a loose puck. Wharton was knocked off balance and bumped into Neil. Wharton passed the puck and a couple of seconds later, Neil whacked him over the left arm.

"I feel terrible. I wish I could take it back," said Neil. "I called him up and apologized a million times. It wasn't like Todd Bertuzzi. It was just instinct to give him a whack. I had no intention of hurting him. I feel bad for (Galley), too, because it happened under his supervision."

Neil, who led the Senators with 194 penalty minutes last season, said he reacted to getting Wharton's stick in the midsection.

"It's summer hockey and I'm just out there to work on my skills. I'm not trying to fight anyone. (Wharton's) tall, but he's not filled out yet. It's not like I was going to drop the gloves and fight him.

"He caught me pretty good with a butt end in the ribs, but it was accidental. I was in front of him and I didn't know that. I went to whack his stick to say, 'keep your stick to yourself,' and I hit him on the arm. I wasn't intending to break his arm."

Neil said he understood Kilrea's frustration.

"I've met him a couple of times and he's a decent guy," said Neil. "I'd tell him I wasn't trying to hurt (Wharton). I feel terrible."

Wharton didn't want to discuss the incident, but did say an upset Neil called him the next day to apologize and Wharton accepted his apology.

Wharton, who was drafted in the second round (59th overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets in June, was looking forward to attending their rookie camp and training camp (if there was one).

He still plans on attending the camp, though he won't be able to take part in any on-ice drills.

This continues a string of injuries for Wharton, who has missed a good chunk of the last two seasons because of abdominal and rib injuries.

"This should be an exciting time for him, going to his first NHL camp," said Neil. "I know what it was like for me. It's unfortunate, but it did happen. I wish I could take it back."