Moore, Alavie eager to return to play
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Craig Moore and Ben Alavie, still sidelined with medical issues, are glad to be back with their Brampton Battalion teammates while working to return to the Ontario Hockey League club’s lineup.
Centre Moore is recovering from surgery Dec. 18 to remove bone spurs on both heels. Defenceman Alavie has lost 11 games to mononucleosis.
No firm date has been established for their return to action with the Battalion, which entertains the Guelph Storm at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Moore, who has one goal and five assists for six points in 34 games, took in the Troops’ 3-2 overtime loss Wednesday night to the host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, watching from a wheelchair.
“I got to see the guys before the game, and it was good to get caught up with them,” said Moore, an 18-year-old resident of Orleans, Ont. “I hate watching the guys play, because I want to be out there. It’s tough to be doing rehab, but I want to get it over with as soon as possible so I can get back playing.”
Moore met Wednesday with Dr. Pradeep Alexander, an orthopaedic surgeon and member of the club’s medical staff, who performed the surgery. Moore received two walking casts that will get him out of the wheelchair.
“I’m feeling great now. The surgery went well. I’m wearing what I call ‘moon boots’ now, and I’m working on getting my range of motion back. From there, I’ll start working on getting my strength and mobility back. I’m aiming to be back skating with the team by the middle of January. I think I’m ahead of schedule.”
Alavie, whose ailment has had him isolated from the team, worked out before the New Year’s Eve rematch with Mississauga, which the host Battalion won 4-1.
“It’s good to be on my feet again. I’ll do as much as I can tolerate as far as workouts go. I’ll get an ultrasound on my spleen every couple of weeks, and we’ll see how that’s coming along. I’m just doing light riding on the bike and some stretching to get my legs back, but I don’t know when I’ll be back skating.”
Alavie, who has two assists in 16 games, said he hopes to play as soon as his spleen returns to normal size.
“All of my symptoms are gone. It’s just a matter of time now. My conditioning is something I can control. I need to be in good enough shape to play right away.”
Alavie, a Richmond Hill, Ont., resident who turns 20 on Jan. 31, missed eight games earlier this season with a concussion.
“There’s nothing you can control when it comes to the injuries I’ve had. I just try to stay positive. Given where we are in the standings, the latter part of the season will be very important. Every game will be huge, and I want to be back for that and the playoffs.”
The Battalion won 5-2 at Guelph on Nov. 18.
