Latimer eager to contribute after lengthy injury
After nearly two full months of being a spectator, Carson Latimer returned to the Red Deer Rebels lineup in Saturday’s 2-1 win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.
From a spectator to a participant. It seemed like a long time coming for the now 21-year-old.
“It felt like an eternity being gone,” said the veteran forward, who suffered a fractured tibia in his right leg in a Nov. 28 game versus the Calgary Hitmen.
“It’s a terrible feeling being away from the guys, especially when they’re on the road and you’re at home. It’s not ideal for sure. It feels like a long time.”
Latimer underwent surgery and was on crutches for four weeks.
“It was kind of a unique injury. They (doctors) hadn’t seen too many of those,” he said. “While I was on crutches I could only do quad contractions to keep the muscles somewhat moving.
“But we have a great staff here and I was also able to do pilates with Colleen (Manning, Rebels director of high performance and fitness) when the guys were gone.”
Latimer was finally able to skate with Rebels skills coach Erik Lodge earlier this month and two weeks later had one practice with the team before making his return.
“It was just an awesome feeling being back,” he said. “Obviously the first couple of shifts . . . it’s a fast game out there. You don’t see it from up top, you forget about how fast it is when you’re away for a significant period of time.
“After the first period or so I got used to it and felt more comfortable. It was better than I thought for the first game.”
Latimer, who’s blessed with blazing speed and contributed 10 goals and 19 points in 24 games before being placed on the injury list, wasn’t impactful in his first game back, but that’s understandable after being out for such a long stretch.
As Captain Obvious might suggest, it can take awhile to get into game shape, that skating and practicing are different than actually playing.
“Obviously there’s a huge difference,” said Latimer, a regular on the Rebels’ first power play unit prior to his injury. “It usually takes maybe five games or so to get back to where you were before.”
Latimer speaks from experience. He was sidelined for a long stretch last season with a torn medial collateral ligament — which also required surgery — while a member of the eventual Eastern Conference champion Winnipeg Ice.
“Every time is different, but I feel decent enough right now,” he said. “Obviously it’s not exactly the same as when I was playing before, but in time I’ll get back.
“We have a good stretch of games here going down the stretch before playoffs, so it’s good.”
Latimer, who started his WHL career with the Edmonton Oil Kings before being dealt to Prince Albert, Winnipeg and now Red Deer, said his time as a spectator was somewhat entertaining with the Rebels winning the vast majority of their games while he was out.
The Rebels won 14 of 20 games while the six-foot-one, 194-pound winger was out of commission, have emerged victorious in 20 of 25 outings since returning from a BC Division trip in early November and are currently riding a seven-game win streak.
“It’s been entertaining to watch,” said the White Rock, BC native, who was acquired from the Wenatchee Wild — formerly the Ice — in July of last year. “I think it would have made it worse if I was out and we weren’t winning games.
“Fortunately we’ve figured out our game, we’ve done a really good job. The boys are buying into all the systems and we’re playing a very structured game.
“We’ve not giving up much out there. It’s actually been really impressive to see and now I can rejoin and help contribute to what we’ve been building here. It’s really, really special.”
The Rebels have two home games — Friday versus Edmonton and Saturday against the Brandon Wheat Kings — before heading east for five games in seven days starting next Wednesday in Prince Albert. The trip also includes stops in Brandon, Moose Jaw, Regina and Swift Current.
(Photos by Xander Holcomb)
