The Blue Devils are looking for the right lines after being hit hard with injuries during opening weekend.

Nick Hopper (G)

Nick Hopper (Fr. – G) (3-4 weeks)

Nick Hopper got the starting position for opening weekend against St. Norbert College.  Near the end of the 2nd period Hopper went down to make a kick save and never got back up.  Hopper found out this week that he had a mild groin strain and will be out 3-to-4 weeks.  He started rehab on Monday of this week.   Hopper’s injury puts stress on the crease which Head Coach Terry Watkins just a few weeks ago called ‘stacked’.  Hopper’s injury and Pischlar’s departure from the team leaves Freshmen Tom Lescovich and Sophomore Mike Morgan, who has yet to log a minute in his collegiate career, to man the pipes.

Jared Britton (Jr. – F) (3-4 weeks)

Jared Britton (F)

Jared Britton suffered a separated shoulder on his first shift of the season opener on Friday night.  Britton found out he will not need surgery but will be out to rehab the next 3 weeks.  Britton is hoping to be ready for ice time during the PrimeLink Tournament over Thanksgiving break in Vermont.  “I was pretty happy when I got the x-ray results back about my shoulder” said Britton.

Mike Hartviksen (Fr. – F) (2-4 weeks)

Mike Hartviksen (F)

Mike Hartviksen is the most highly touted of the Blue Devils recruiting class this season.  Hartviksen originally received a deep laceration during game 1 on October 30th that required stitches during an intermission.  However, Hartviksen also received a strained MCL in that series.  The injury will keep him out 2-to-4 weeks.

Bobby Kuehl (Sr – D) (Season)

Bobby Kuehl (D)

Bobby Kuehl received a clean hip-check from Mike Bernardy of SNC during game 1 of the series last weekend.  Bobby Kuehl was seen on crutches in the Dunn Co. Saturday night and  found out Monday that he has a torn ACL in addition to a partially torn MCL.  Kuehl’s collegiate career has likely ended due to this injury.

The Blue Devils started the season 0-2 and looked very out of sync last weekend.  The devils have an opportunity to right the ship against two non-conference opponents this weekend against St. Mary’s on Friday and St. Thomas on Saturday.  The injuries will shape some new lines for the Blue Devils and the season ending injury to Kuehl should leave Jeff Stone and Brandon Larson fighting for time on the blue line.  Eric Scovill will see an increased roll with Kuehl’s departure and he will need to stay healthy or the blue line could really start to hurt.