Ottawa Citizen
September 19, 1998

WHISTLER, B.C. -- Bryan Allen was on the ice Thursday after missing the first segment of the Vancouver Canucks' training camp with a strained right knee, and head coach Mike Keenan liked what he saw.

"Bryan looked sharp,'' Keenan said of the 6-foot-5 defenceman selected in the first round of the entry draft in June.

"It was my first time seeing him and he certainly demonstrated that he has talent and ability.

"But it was tough for him to step into the middle of that kind of training when everybody else had four days under them.

"It was a step for him to be on the ice but a non-descript step until he becomes healthy and is able to compete and see what it's all about.''

The Canucks haven't decided to keep Allen around to practice with the NHLers or send him back to his OHL junior club in Oshawa.

"It was about what I expected,'' Allen said of his first workout with the team.

"My being in shape wasn't up to par with the other guys, but my knee felt pretty good."

"We'll take it day-to-day to see how it reacts to different things.''

Said general manager Brian Burke: "It's nice to see him out there. He's a big part of our future.''



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