ALEX BURMISTROV'S NHL developmental road, which has taken him from Atlanta to Winnipeg to St. John's over the last three years, has hit a bit of a speed bump.

Burmistrov returned to Winnipeg this week along with IceCaps teammate John Albert to have Jets doctors examine what team officials are calling an "upper-body injury."

The extent of the injury is not known, but an IceCaps spokesman said Tuesday night that with a four-day break in the schedule before the club returns to the ice again Friday night in St. John's against Springfield, the team opted to have Burmistrov checked out by the Jets medical staff. The spokesman said the IceCaps hope to have both players back in the lineup soon.

Burmistrov's arrival in Winnipeg became public when he used his Instagram account to post a picture of his airline ticket here.

He has played in all 22 games with the IceCaps this year, including last Saturday's 5-3 road loss in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The 21-year-old Russian is trying to grow his game in the American Hockey League after scoring 13 goals with the Jets last year but struggling with consistency.

 

-- Ed Tait

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 5, 2012 D1