Stan Butler admits sometimes he feels like he's a Western Conference team located in the eastern part of the province.
The Battalion head coach was commenting on yet another busy Western trip the Battalion is undertaking this weekend.
The Troops face the Windsor Spitfires on Thursday night, followed by a Friday night trip to Sarnia to face the nationally ranked Sting and then finish things off with a trip to London to take on the Knights on Saturday night.
“You are playing three games in three days and I would be lying if I said it will be easy,” admitted Butler during his weekly media conference held today at the Gardens.
The Troops have won two of their past three but struggled somewhat in a loss to the Barrie Colts at home Sunday night dropping the Troops record to 8-14-3, leaving them in last place in the Eastern Conference.
“In the game against Barrie I don’t think we were bad but we weren’t as good as we were in the games just before that so obviously this road trip is a pretty difficult road trip if you are in first place let alone where we are, so we just have to go this weekend and find ways to win games and you know once we get through this weekend I think our schedule becomes a little bit more friendly is probably the best way to put it,” said Butler.
The Troops have a few reinforcements on the way. Injured goalie Christian Propp took part in regular practice this week and may see some action on the busy road swing.
“It is a day-by-day thing right now and every day he gets a little better but he is practicing now without a red jersey on which is promising and if he’s needed to play in a game he is capable of doing it,” said Butler.
Defenceman Travis Mailhot who hurt his shoulder early in the season and then suffered an ankle injury in practice right about the time he was ready to go from the upper body injury, is set to play this weekend, while local product Eric Allair is still on the shelf suffering from an unusual back ailment that kept him out of the lineup long term last year.
“I don’t know where we are with Eric Allair it is kind of a mystery what is wrong with his back and I know our trainers are trying to deal with that as well,” said Butler.
Meantime injured forward Daniel Walker and Rhys Forhan both continue to nurse their injuries as both will likely not see action again until the new year.
