Forward making a scene at Ice camp

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This article was published 07/09/2021 (1493 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You can forgive James Form if he’s trying to make up for lost time.

Sidelined by a serious neck injury as a WHL rookie in 2019-20, the 19-year-old Winnipeg Ice forward has been making a scene in training camp.

On Monday morning, he scored a nifty breakway goal while under duress and added an assist to help Team Krebs defeat Team Stoll 9-6 during the annual showcase intrasquad game at the Rink Training Centre.

The 6-2, 179-pounder from Saskatoon missed 32 games as a rookie with a fractured C6 vertebra after taking a routine hit in a game. He wore a neck brace for eight weeks during his recovery and returned to the lineup at mid-season, scoring three goals in 36 games.

“It was one of the harder times in my life, for sure,” said Form on Monday. “It restricted daily things, especially driving — that was an interesting task — but even coming to the rink when you prepare all summer and then just seeing the team practise and train without you, that’s another thing in and of itself.

“So through conversation with family, parents and teammates, they kind of coached me through it and helped me see the better side of things.”

Managing the ailment is an ongoing process. Form has regular physiotherapy and massage to keep his neck from tightening up and he’s worked to overcome the fear of a recurrence.

“There are some times where I’ll take a hit and it’ll click or it’ll pop, which is which is normal, but it does remind me that it happened and that it’s there,” said Form. “So, coming back originally, I was a little hesitant. But I’ve been shaking that off throughout the years and throughout the summer and I’m pretty much 100 per cent confident that nothing will happen.”

Last spring, he scored three times in 17 games during the Regina hub but he has aspirations for something more impactful in 2021-2It helps that he’s getting good reviews from club decision-makers.

“James was for me one of the three most noticeable guys in the game today,” said head coach James Patrick. “I think he’s had an outstanding camp. … Coming into the bubble and since the bubble he’s been top three in (team) fitness categories. He’s a 19-year-old this year and I know he wants more ice time he’s going to push for more ice time but he’s (also) really good character kid who brings a lot of the intangibles, on and off the ice.”

Form, chosen by the Ice in the third round of the 2017 WHL Draft, want to pitch in wherever possible on a deep forward corps.

“My goal is just to be strong on the puck, minimize my turnovers, be two-way, be powerful, strong on draws,” said Form. “I’m not necessarily going to count on myself to be the guy who’s going to score all the goals but I think I’m coming back this year with more confidence and a little bit more desire in my game.”

Defenceman Anson McMaster, a second-rounder from the 2017 draft, hopes to take another step towards becoming a top-four defenceman.

“I definitely feel like I’ve improved quite a bit ever since the bubble,” said McMaster, a 6-6, 194-pounder from Siksika First Nation in southern Alberta. “I feel like I’m better skater, a better puck handler. I feel like I see the ice a lot more better than I used to.”

“He got an opportunity to play a lot of hockey in the (Regina) bubble when we lost Nolan (Orzeck) and Carson (Lambos to injury),” said Patrick. “I’m seeing him certainly in our top six. I want him to be a big beast, a physical defenceman and be real tough to play against.”

Patrick held a number of veterans out of Monday’s game, including Lambos and forward Owen Pederson.

The club’s four 20-year-olds, including defenceman Mike Ladyman and Orzeck and centres Jakin Smallwood and Cole Muir, also did not dress. Only three overagers will make the club’s final roster.

“They’re so important in the dressing room,” said Patrick. “The four of them are real big leaders and very popular on this team and they’re all fantastic people. Whatever happens, it’s gonna be a real tough decision.”

BLUE-LINES: The ICE have announced the signing of rugged 19-year-old left-winger Sequoia Swan Monday. Swan played for MJHL Winkler last season… Goaltender Gage Alexander (Anaheim) and right-winger Connor McClennon (Philadelphia) are currently attending NHL rookie camps… Winnipeg has four pre-season games coming up including Friday’s game with the Pats in Regina. A day later, the teams travel to Winnipeg for a rematch at the Rink Training Centre. The Ice go to Brandon for a Sept. 23 meeting with the Wheat Kings before hosting Brandon on Sept. 25 to close out the pre-season slate. Both home dates start at 7 p.m.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14