Albert eying a return to action
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Brad Albert now can measure his return to the Brampton Battalion lineup in days rather than weeks.
Defenceman Albert, who hasn’t played since a Dec. 9 home date with the Sudbury Wolves, was admitted to hospital with mononucleosis two days later. Left winger Cory Emmerton, diagnosed with mono the same week, missed nine games before returning to action.
“I had a sore throat, and it just kept getting worse,” Albert, who has missed 15 games, said recently. “One morning it hit me, and my throat was really swollen. I went to the doctor, and he sent me to the hospital. They did some blood tests and told me I had mono.”
Albert, who returned to practice two weeks ago, was to undergo an ultrasound on his spleen Tuesday. If he gets a clean bill of health, he’s expected to be back for the Troops’ next Ontario Hockey League game, a visit to the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors on Friday night.
“I’ve been waiting a long time and training hard to get back. Hopefully my spleen will be back to its normal size and I’ll be able to practise with contact. I’m working out pretty hard off the ice. Right now I think I’m pretty much over it. I just want to get back in the lineup and help any way I can.”
The affliction came at a bad time for the Nepean, Ont., resident. Defenceman Alexander Eriksson had suffered a season-ending knee injury, and fellow blueliner Bobby Sanguinetti was preparing to go to the World Junior Championship with the United States team.
“With Alex out and Bobby leaving, it was an opportunity for me to step up,” said Albert. “But it gave lots of opportunities for guys like Ben Alavie, Zack Shepley and Jaroslav Hertl. They’ve played really well.”
Albert has one goal and three assists for four points in 28 games this season.
“I felt like I was just getting comfortable. I’ll just have to work hard to get back to playing the way I was before.”
A fourth-round pick in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection, Albert had one goal and seven assists for eight points in 48 games as a rookie last season.
