The Westlock Wolverines confirmed Tuesday that starting goaltender Marc Delacroix has been placed on the injured reserve after leaving practice early with a lower-body injury. No timeline for his return has been announced.
Delacroix, who has been the backbone of the Wolverines' net all season, went down midway through Tuesday's skate after a collision with a teammate during a drill. He was seen leaving the ice with the assistance of the training staff and did not return.
"It's a significant loss for us, there's no sugarcoating that," said head coach Dale Morrow. "Marc has been outstanding this year. But we have confidence in the guys behind him, and this is an opportunity for someone to step up."
Backup goaltender Russ Talbot is expected to get the start in the next game. Talbot, 24, has appeared in four games this season, posting a .901 save percentage. He'll now be asked to carry the load for what could be a stretch of several weeks.
The timing is far from ideal. The Wolverines are currently sitting in second place in the conference with the playoffs approaching, and every game in the standings race with the Sylvan Lake Scorpions matters.
The team is reportedly evaluating options, including a potential emergency call-up from their affiliate roster, should Talbot need additional support.
Updates on Delacroix's status will be provided as more information becomes available.
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