Jaromir Blagr: The Hockey Blog

Roundup: Dubinsky has surgery; Richard back for Aces, Conklin, etc.

Tough news first thing today: Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky of Anchorage underwent abdominal surgery today in Philly and is out six weeks, according to the Columbus Dispatch. You can read about it here.

Tough break for Dubinsky, one of Columbus' top players and leaders.

Meanwhile, here in Anchorage, the Alaska Aces haven't yet announced it, but ECHL All-Rookie defenseman Brad Richard has returned to the club. We know this because he is on the ice at the moment for the game-day skate that precedes tonight's exhibition finale against the Indy Fuel at Sullivan Arena.

Oh, and now that these old eyes look down on the rink at Sullivan Arena and see some dude working with Aces goaltender Aaron Crandall, we realize, hey, that's former NHL goaltender Ty Conklin of Anchorage. Conklin, one of the really good dudes, is the goaltender development coach for the St. Louis Blues, one of the Aces' affiliates.

Speaking of the ECHL, former UAA goaltenders Chris Kamal and Rob Gunderson, who graduated in the spring, are both in training camps. Kamal is with the Gwinnett Gladiators in Georgia, where he's from, and Gunderson is with the South Carolina Stingrays, who are coached by former UAA winger Spencer Carbery.

Doyle Woody

Doyle Woody covered hockey and other sports for the Anchorage Daily News for 34 years.

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