The Province
September 10, 2000
By Ben Kuzma

Bryan Allen knows it's time.

"It's time to just play hockey and get the injuries out of the way,'' the hard-luck Canucks defenceman said Saturday on the eve of the team's prospects and minor-league camp at Burnaby 8-Rinks.

"Everybody develops differently and it's hard to say where I'd be if not injured the last two years. But there's no point thinking about it. You just have to deal with it.''

Dealing with knee, shoulder and foot ailments has put the 20-year-old, the team's first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 1998 entry draft, on the development backburner.

Last year, when it appeared the 6-foot-5, 226-pound defenceman was finally making strides at camp, Allen needed arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early October to clean up previous ligament damage. He rehabbed most of the season and spent nine games with the minor-league Syracuse Crunch before a short stint with the junior Oshawa Generals.

Not exactly the express route to the NHL.

You wonder if Allen, who likely needs a solid season of seasoning in Kansas City with the Canucks' new International Hockey League affiliate, will be timid when the bodies start banging today.

"You can't think about injuries or you'll just open yourself up to more injuries and be more vulnerable on the ice,'' reasoned Allen. "Any camp you want to make the team and I think I'm definitely going to make the (Canucks) team.''

Stan Smyl appreciates that resolve.

"What's important for him is actual game time,'' said Smyl, the Kansas City head coach. "Just the pace of the NHL. His pivoting and (lateral) movement is something he has to work on but he moves the puck well, has a great shot and makes that solid first pass.''



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