The Amerks finished up their morning skate today after a day off yesterday and Ron Rolston gave us some updates on injuries to the team.  The only “new injury” was Derek Whitmore who sat out today with a muscle strain but is expected back tomorrow.

Jonathan Parker was suspended for one game for the high stick that broke the nose of Grand Rapids Griffins forward Brent Raedeke in the first period.  There was no penalty called on the play, the referee had called the play accidental.  The American Hockey League on the other hand says that players need to be in control of their own sticks and handed down the one game suspension.

The Amerks will be down a forward for tomorrow’s game due to the suspension of Parker and Marcus Foligno.  Rolston said that a defenseman will likely move up to fill in the role of the 12th forward.

Paul Szczechura has no real time frame to return.  Ron Rolston had said early November but it really comes down to when the doctors clear Szczechura to play.  He had been injured last April in game three of the playoff series between the Norfolk Admirals and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and had to be helped off the ice.  He had surgery on his ACL and today he said it’s now down to the frustrating process of waiting for the doctors to clear him but also not rushing a return.  It’s not where he wants to be but he said watching the games has given him a chance to watch from another view and share that back with the team.

Drew Schiestel will probably try and get back onto the ice next week but is still a couple of weeks away.  Based on that it sounds like the original report from Hamilton is somewhat true of 4-6 weeks, a time frame originally denied by the team.

Dennis Persson is still a couple of weeks away as well.  He was injured in practice and has not been seen.

Michael Ryan and Shaone Morrisonn were on the ice this morning and unless something happens overnight they’ll be playing this weekend.  Ryan missed the last two games, Morrisonn just the game on Tuesday night.

Also worth noting, the Amerks did not send any video to the AHL from the Syracuse Game on Tuesday night.  The Griffins had sent in video from three different plays but it sounds like as long as no one was injured the Amerks just want to play, not get into the habit of hunting for “supplementary discipline.”

Last bit is that Matt Ellis not expected down here and Rolston said that he has not heard of any updates.