Grand Forks, N.D. – University of Denver coach George Gwozdecky was relieved to hear that Friday’s injury to freshman forward Brock Trotter was a 4-inch cut on his right leg and not a broken leg.
But the skate blade of North Dakota defenseman Matt Smaby did far more damage than first thought in a 3-1 Pioneers loss. After Trotter was carried off the ice on a stretcher at Engelstad Arena and transported to a hospital, doctors learned the rising star had severed his Achilles tendon.
Trotter came out of surgery early this morning and will be lost for the season.
“I feel bad about that,” Gwozdecky said about delivering false news to his team after the loss. Trotter, from Brandon, Manitoba, was tied for the team lead in goals (three) and points (five). He was playing on a line with All-America center Gabe Gauthier and with the No. 1 power-play unit. Trotter led the team with two power-play goals.
“He’s got some special gifts that you could really see developing,” Gwozdecky said. “He was becoming a real trigger man on the power play. … I feel really bad for Brock Trotter.”
