Patrick King

Star players are returning from injury for the Moncton Wildcats and Brandon Wheat Kings.

A pair of Memorial Cup contenders received some good news on the injury front as some star players are set to return.

The Moncton Wildcats will have Russian rookie forward Kirill Kabanov back in their lineup Friday when they take on the Rimouski Océanic.

Kabanov, a highly-touted prospect for this summer's draft, has been limited to 11 games this season with the Wildcats and has not played since November. He underwent surgery on the scaphoid bone in his right hand prior to the holiday break, and was cleared earlier this week when it was determined he would not need a second surgery.

"Up until a couple days ago we were fearful he would be lost for the season," said Danny Flynn, Moncton's head coach and director of hockey operations. "We had our fingers crossed and fortunately he was given the green light. He's going to be in some discomfort, but he's excited about being back on the ice and getting ready to play."

Meanwhile, Canadian world junior defenceman Travis Hamonic has been cleared to practice with the Memorial Cup host Brandon Wheat Kings.

Hamonic had been sidelined since the world junior tournament. He separated his shoulder in the semi-final against Switzerland when he was knocked head first into the corner boards by Swiss forward Jeffrey Fuglister.

Hamonic has not played for the Wheat Kings since Moose Jaw traded his rights prior to the Jan. 10 trade deadline. Brandon sent young defenceman Dallas Ehrhardt, along with a first- and two second-round picks in exchange for the world junior star.

"We're excited about him getting into game action, but at the same time we want to make sure that his conditioning and his timing - his confidence are at the level they need to be at to step back in the lineup at this time of the year," Wheat Kings head coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon said.

Brandon's prized trade-deadline acquisition began full-contact practice this week. McCrimmon said the team was informed he would be out eight weeks, and Hamonic is right on schedule to return near the beginning of March.

Although his star defenceman has not played with his team, McCrimmon does not believe chemistry will be an issue moving forward. Hamonic joined the Wheat Kings immediately upon notified of the trade, and has joined the team on all the road trips.

"He's been as much a part of our team as any player," McCrimmon said. "He's so excited about the opportunity in front of him. He's really enthusiastic and really brings a level of excitement to our team."

Obtaining chemistry will be one of a few challenges for Kabanov. The 17-year-old began skating shortly after the Québec Major Junior Hockey League's Jan. 6 trade deadline in anticipation of returning, but was not cleared to play until Wednesday.

Moncton made several significant trades since Kabanov's injury. The team added forwards Gabriel Bourque, Nicolas Deschamps and Kelsey Tessier in three separate moves and Flynn said the team is unsure which line combinations the team will go with on Friday.

"Chemistry is trust and trust takes time," he said. "It's been a process for our guys as they get to know each other and come together as a team.

"The biggest challenge for Kirill will be to shake off the rust. He's missed virtually the whole season and for him to get back to speed and catch up with the group after being off for close to three months is a significant challenge. He has lots of talent, but how quickly he gets his timing and gets back in the flow of the game - that will be key."

It's been a long and tumultuous process for Kabanov to suit up for the Wildcats. Moncton was involved in a seven-week dispute over his rights with his Kontinental Hockey League team, Salavat Yulayev Ufa.

The International Ice Hockey Federation deemed he was not under a valid and binding contract in the KHL, and thus free to join Moncton.

"It's been a rollercoaster season for him," Flynn acknowledged.

The process may not have been as frustrating where Hamonic was concerned for the Wheat Kings, but McCrimmon said he had been an intriguing player dating back to last season's trade deadline.

The decision to trade Hamonic was not made easily by the Warriors, and perhaps helped by his absence due to injury.

"From our perspective, we could afford to wait," McCrimmon said. "We paid a very high price."

The Wheat Kings coveted Hamonic's versatility, along with his right-handed shot. Hamonic led the Western Hockey League in scoring by a defenceman prior to leaving for the world junior selection camp.

In the tournament, however, he thrived while assuming the role of a shutdown defenceman.

"He is a premier player," McCrimmon described. "He's a guy that's definitely going to help us in all aspects of our game."

When asked if his team would have made the trade had they not been hosting the Memorial Cup, McCrimmon recalled a similar scenario in 1995.

McCrimmon, also the general manager on that team, added defenceman Bryan McCabe in a deal with Spokane. His team eventually won the league championship and advanced to the Memorial Cup semi-final.

"We paid a big price to add (McCabe) and yet it was one we were comfortable in paying based on the depth we had in our organization and the confidence we had in the player we were going to be acquiring," he said. "When you have a chance to add a player of (Hamonic's) caliber then you do everything humanly possible to try to make that work."

The wait may have been long, but for two Memorial Cup contenders, the return of their star players is a welcome sign before playoffs.