The season that started out with such promise for Canucks prospect Hunter Shinkaruk is over. Today, his junior club, the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, announced the 19-year-old will have hip surgery in early January.
Shinkaruk was the 24th overall pick by Vancouver in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He nearly made the big club out of training camp, only to be a late cute. A couple of months later, he was one of the last cuts from Canada’s World Juniors team.
“I’m sure it is extremely disappointing for Hunter [to be cut by Canada],” Canucks assistant general manager Laurence Gilman said last week, per the Vancouver Sun. “Unfortunately for him, he has had a tough year. He sustained two different injuries that have clearly impacted his performance. It is a testament to him and his skill set, and what Hockey Canada thinks about him, that they brought him to Copenhagen for their pre-tournament.”
Nux GM Mike Gillis confirms prospect Hunter Shinkaruk will have hip surgery in Colorado in about 10 days and is out for season. #Canucks
— Elliott Pap (@ElliottPap) December 27, 2013