Asked Wednesday for a rundown of the injury report heading into Minnesota Duluth’s showdown with Minnesota this weekend in Minneapolis and Duluth, Scott Sandelin just had this to say:
“Both day-to-day.”
Aren’t we all.
The “both” Sandelin confirmed he was referring to are freshman forward Quinn Olson and sophomore wing Tanner Laderoute. Neither has been ruled out for the 7 p.m. game Friday at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis or the 7:07 p.m. rematch Saturday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, but one appears more likely to suit up than the other.
Olson, who has missed the last three games with an upper body injury, practiced Tuesday and Wednesday with the team at Amsoil. The 2019 third-round Boston Bruins draft pick went down midway through the season opener against UMass-Lowell on Oct. 11 after going hard into the boards off a check.
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Laderoute hasn’t returned to practice yet this week after missing Saturday’s series finale against Wisconsin in Madison. Laderoute left the opener last Friday during the third period with a left leg injury after going hard into the end boards behind the Badgers’ net. He had to be helped off the ice and to the UMD locker room, but has been seen walking and skating since the injury.
In news that should help “Bulldog Country” sleep well, junior defenseman Scott Perunovich has been a full participant in practice this week after briefly leaving Saturday’s game in Madison clutching his back during a Bulldogs’ power play. The Hibbing native and two-time All-American was shown by Fox Sports Wisconsin cameras having his back attended to afterward, but Perunovich did return and finish Saturday’s game.
“Well, he was well-rested from the night before,” Sandelin said of Perunovich’s return, referring to the face masking major and game misconduct Perunovich took 2:32 into Friday’s game. “It wasn’t bad enough to keep him out, so he went and played. That’s what guys do. You have an injury and can’t play, you can’t play.”
Sandelin said Perunovich, who battled a back injury late last season, has been fine this week.
A 2018 second-round pick of the St. Louis Blues, Perunovich has a goal and two assists in four games this season.
The Bulldogs will take next weekend off before opening NCHC play Nov. 8-9 against Denver at Amsoil Arena.
