WHL NOTEBOOK: Stallard’s roller-coaster season ends early

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This article was published 22/02/2017 (3320 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jordy Stallard has had quite a year.

The 19-year-old Brandonite was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets last June, traded from the only Western Hockey League he had ever known in January and undergone season-ending surgery in February.

Stallard, who watched both games the Brandon Wheat Kings played on the weekend alongside his injured buddy and former minor hockey teammate Tanner Kaspick, started his hockey season with rookie camp and main camp with the Jets.

“It was really good,” Stallard said. “It was an unbelievable experience. Rookie camp was awesome. Those guys that have been through that the first couple of years they help you through it. I was pretty nervous at main camp but those older guys really bring you in and make you feel at home.”

Stallard was selected by the Jets in the fifth round last June, eight picks after Kaspick was chosen by the St. Louis Blues.

The six-foot-one, 185-pound Stallard, had 21 goals and 28 assists in 68 games with the Calgary Hitmen last season with a pair of goals in five post-season games. In 166 career WHL games, he has 41 goals and 71 assists.

He wasn’t happy with his first half of the season this year — he had eight goals and added 19 assists in 32 games with Calgary — but it all changed for him on Jan. 10.

Stallard was sent to the Prince Albert Raiders for left-winger Luke Coleman and a fourth round pick in the 2018 bantam draft.

“I was surprised and shocked,” Stallard said. “To me, Calgary was home but it’s a business. It worked out great for me. I couldn’t be more happy. I was able to take on a strong role in P.A. It was great.”

Stallard quickly found his stride with the Raiders, scoring six goals and adding four assists in eight games while taking on additional duties on the penalty kill that he didn’t have as a member of the Hitmen.

“I think in Calgary I had a bit of a slow start and I wasn’t exactly able to produce the way I wanted to produce and play the way I wanted to play,” he said. “When I went to P.A., I felt all of that confidence shift and I felt great.”

It all changed again on Jan. 22, ironically in his first visit back to Calgary after the deal.

At the end of the second period at the Saddledome, he went for a puck in the corner and had his stick lifted. He fell into the boards, and with his arm in a vulnerable spot above his head, his shoulder dislocated and he tore a muscle.

The Jets flew him out to Winnipeg to have an MRI and meet the surgeon.

“It was great,” he said. “It just shows that they care for you and shows that they want you to get better and make the steps to produce as a Jet one day. It’s good to have that.”

He had surgery on Feb. 5.

The recovery is expected to be three to four months, which should have him ready for Jets development camp in early July. He’s hoping to be training in May but admits it’s a day-by-day recovery.

“I go for my followup in a week here so we’ll get all that figured it,” he said. “I just have to focus on getting rehab and getting it back to 100 per cent.”

Stallard’s goal is to play pro hockey next season, but a return to Prince Albert for his overage season is his Plan B.

The Regina game at Westman Place on Friday was his first outing after the surgery.

He hasn’t been able to work out at all, even riding a stationary bike, until he gets his followup.

“I’m getting pretty antsy just sitting at home,” he admitted.

TOP BIDDER: Congrat-ulations to the Regina Pats for landing the 2018 Memorial Cup, which will be the 100th edition of the Canadian Hockey League’s major junior championship. The news was announced on Saturday. Regina’s bid topped those of the Hamilton Bulldogs and Oshawa Generals. Regina last hosted in 2001. The Windsor Spitfires are hosting this year’s tournament.

TOP STOPPER: The CHL named Zach Sawchenko of the Moose Jaw Warriors goaltender of the week for the second time this season.