The Clarenville Caribous could use a little help after losing the first two games of the 2013 Herder Memorial Championship to the Conception Bay North CeeBees Stars and they may be getting it in the form of returning captain Dustin Russell.
Russell played in all 24 regular-season games for the Caribous and was seventh in team scoring with 22 points. Russell played in just two playoff games against the Western Royals before breaking his hand.
Caribous head coach Ivan Hapgood told the Packet that Russell would be available for Game Three in Harbour Grace but Russell, while optimistic, considers himself a game-time decision.
“I’m hoping to (come back for Game Three),” Russell said.
“No guarantees. I’m getting my cast off in the middle part of this week and I’ll play it by ear. I’ll be a game-time decision.”
Russell has assumed assistant bench-boss duties since his injury and admits that watching the game from the bench has been a challenge.
“It was tough against the Royals and it was excruciating this past weekend,” Russell said in an interview on Monday.
“When things are going well, it’s not so bad. It’s still tough, but you’re still happy for the team. But when things aren’t going so well, that’s when you want to be out there.
Russell is confident that he will be able to slip back into his usual place in the lineup but he won’t know anything until his cast comes off.
“It’s tough to say because when it’s in the cast, you can’t move it,” he said.
“I really don’t know what to expect when I take it off. Given the score of the series and where we are in the Herder, I’m willing to take some risks. I’ve done it in the past and haven’t got burned so hopefully I have the same luck this time around. I’m generally a quick healer and I have a good pain tolerance.”
