Injury updates

Komets General Manager David Franke said today that forward Eric Giosa is trying to shoot for coming back after the Reading/Wheeling trip at the earliest. He tweaked his ankle again a couple of weeks ago and the team doctor decided to shut him down and rest it all the way so he could totally heal before coming back.

I still can't wait to see a line of Giosa, Beauregard and Smith play.

Matt Kennedy is back in Norfolk working on an upper leg injury and hopes to go on the ice next week. Once he gets in shape, the Admirals will decide if he's coming back or not.

Marco Cousineau is back on the ice and is 85-to-90 percent, Franke said. He should be ready to go in the next 10 days or so.

Brett Smith is a little sore with his groin, but he's probably 90 percent. No decision has been made on him playing this weekend, Franke said, though he did go on the trip. If he still has issues on Friday, the Komets may shut him down so this doesn't become a long-term injury.

Kaleigh Schrock is suspended for Friday, but Stephon Thorne could come off reserve and play if necessary.

Franke said he's still looking for an offensive defenseman, and thinks some things could change dramatically in the next week or two depending on the NHL lockout. If it doesn't get resolved, he thinks there could be NHL players looking for contracts. That's also putting pressure on players in Europe looking to come home.

``I really feel that if they don't play, if the NHL doesn't go back to work there will be guys in the NHL who want to play, maybe guys who aren't making as much money who need to play,'' Franke said. ``If they cancel this totally, then there will be some movement with AHL teams, too. More guys are being sent down because they are tired of guys sitting and not playing.''