Sporting a molded cast and crutches, Prince George Cougars winger Koehn Ziemmer was in Prince George this past weekend to pick up his vehicle and give the Cougars an update on his medical condition.
So far it appears Los Angeles Kings draft pick is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a serious ankle injury suffered during a game Nov. 27 at CN Centre.
Ziemmer suffered torn ligaments and a cracked tibia when he fell awkwardly to the ice during a fight with Everett Silvertips defenceman Eric Jamieson. That happened 10 days after he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings, who picked him in June in the third round, 78th overall.
The Kings’ team doctor connected him with an ankle specialist who operated on his ankle Dec. 7.
“The surgery went well in L.A., they did a very good job of it there and I’m going down there every couple weeks for checkups,” said Ziemmer.
“I could feel it break there. The ligaments were both torn and I had to have that repaired, they put a rope through my ankle and tightened it together, so it’s all stable. I haven’t had any pain the whole time since.”
Ziemmer can’t put any weight on his right leg yet but anticipates he’ll soon be able to do that. He hopes to be back on skates in early March, about a month earlier than expected.
The Cougars (29-12-0-1) have continued to win in his absence and are still leading the Western Conference standings heading into two-game set at CN Centre against the Portland Winterhawks this weekend. The ‘Hawks are just two points behind Prince George.
“It’s hard watching games and not being able to play but it’s nice watching the boys succeed - everyone’s playing their role and it’s going our way now,” said Ziemmer.
While he was in California, Ziemmer spoke with Kings general manager Rob Blake and also spent time with veterans Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar.
“Growing up watching them, it’s pretty surreal to walk in the room and see them there and see how they go about their lives and the work they put in,” he said. “Talking to Kopitar, he had the same surgery I did a couple years ago, so it’s pretty reassuring seeing that and seeing what he’s done.”
