Anchorage Daily News

Good injury news sounds like a contradiction in terms, but that's just what the UAA hockey program received Friday.

Arthroscopic surgery on Jared Tuton's right knee revealed no significant ligament damage and only limited cartilage damage. The junior, who also suffered a broken fibula when he fell while running three weeks ago, could be ready to play in two months or so, according to UAA assistant trainer Kevin Lechtenberg.

The worst-case scenario entering Friday's procedure was it would reveal ligament damage that would require reconstruction and effectively end Tuton's season before it even started.

That would have dealt a blow to the Seawolves because Tuton, who joined the program as a walk-on two seasons ago, has proved indispensable. He plays both wing and defense, delivers energy to the lineup and consistently competes at a high level.

Following surgery, Tuton said he was relieved to hear his injuries were relatively minor.

"It was a big monkey off my back,'' he said. "I was worried for a while.''

UAA coach Dave Shyiak was likewise comforted that Tuton may only be out for as many as 10 games. UAA, which plays an exhibition game against the U.S. Under-18 team Thursday in Wasilla, opens its regular season on Oct. 10.

"He does a good job plugging holes,'' Shyiak said. "Baseball teams have utility players, and he's ours. You can play him at forward, play him at D, have him kill penalties. He plays physical and, positionally, he's sound.''

Tuton said he was injured about three weeks ago after friends dropped him a block from his house and he jogged the rest of the way home on a trail. He said he stepped in a hole, fell and landed on his right knee.

Tuton, of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, last season scored two goals and five assists for seven points in 35 games. He has proven so versatile that he is the rare forward who can effectively drop back to play on the blue line. Tuton played defense last season in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs.

Though he came to UAA as a walk-on, he has played in 71 of the program's 73 games since his arrival.

"You're always looking for surprises,'' Shyiak said. "He came out, and after one or two practices, you thought, 'You can't take this guy out of the lineup.' ''

Now, Tuton will likely be able to resume training in three or four week. He won't miss nearly as much time as he feared.

"I'm real happy now,'' he said.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com or call him at 257-4335.

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