Kitchener's Matia Marcantuoni suffers injury

Friday, 01.13.2012 / 12:04 PM

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

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Road to 2012 NHL Draft
Kitchener's Matia Marcantuoni suffers injury
Kitchener Rangers forward Matia Marcantuoni, who was ranked No. 42 among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting's midterm report, will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering an upper body injury in a victory over the Erie Otters on Jan. 7.

"He's dealing with injury problems right now which may cost him the rest of this year," Kitchener coach and general manager Steve Spott told NHL.com. "We'll know more this week."

The injury shouldn't affect Marcantuoni's draft status -- he is projected to be selected in the second or third round. It remains to be seen whether or not Marcantuoni will attend the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, scheduled Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Kelowna, as a spectator.

Marcantuoni was invited to the Top Prospects Game along with Kitchener teammate and No. 4-ranked North American, Radek Faksa. Both players were placed on Team Orr.

"Whoever drafts Matia is going to get a world-class prospect," Spott said. "You cannot teach the skating and power that comes in his game."

The 5-foot-11.75, 194-pound center has 9 goals, 14 points and a plus-2 rating in 24 games for the Rangers this season. As a rookie in 2010-11, the Toronto native had 11 goals, 27 points and a minus-7 rating in 42 contests.

"He might be the best pure skater in this draft, in my opinion," Spott said. "He's explosive, powerful, and physical. He has an NHL shot and release."

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