Martin Frk returns to lineup for Halifax Mooseheads

Saturday, 12.10.2011 / 12:28 PM

By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer / Road to 2012 NHL Draft

Share with your Friends


Road to 2012 NHL Draft
Martin Frk returns to lineup for Halifax Mooseheads
One of the top prospects eligible for the 2012 Draft, Martin Frk of the Halifax Mooseheads, made his season debut on Friday against P.E.I. Rocket after sitting out the first 29 games with a concussion.

Frk, who hadn't played since suffering his head injury in August, was medically cleared to return to the lineup on Tuesday according to Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell.

Frk, who is rated No. 2 among skaters in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League by NHL Central Scouting, had 22 goals and 50 points in 62 games as a QMJHL rookie last season and 4 goals and 2 assists in three pre-season games in August before his injury. His return wasn't memorable, however, as the Rocket came away with a 6-1 victory.

Frk didn't register a point but took two shots and even delivered one hit.

According to Willy Palov, who covers the Mooseheads for The Chronicle Herald, Frk played approximately 15-to-17 minutes and looked good for a skater who hadn't played in three months. Palov also felt Frk's timing wasn't quite "there" and he needed at least two periods to get his bearings. That's expected though. Read Palov's recap of Friday's game right here.

First-year coach Dominique Ducharme had his 18-year-old Czech Republic sniper on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Alex Grenier on the team's top line to open the game. MacKinnon, a rookie center, would leave the game with an injury in the third period after suffering an apparent shoulder injury. He was scheduled to be re-examined on Saturday.

It remains to be seen if Frk will join the Czech Republic at the 2012 World Junior Championship. As the youngest player to represent the Czech Republic at the 2011 WJC, the 6-foot, 203-pound right wing led the team with 3 goals and 6 points in six games. Frk also competed in the 2010 and '11 Under-18 World Championships, tying for the team lead in scoring in 2010 (2 goals, 7 points) and in 2011 (4 assists, 5 points).

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale
 
2012 NHL Draft