Colts’ Jelsma out with shoulder injury until November

The Barrie Colts are expected to be without their captain until at least November.

Beau Jelsma, who was a free agent invite to training camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is expected to miss anywhere from four to eight weeks after suffering a shoulder injury in a scrimmage game against the Buffalo Sabres last weekend.

“He got hit,” said Colts general manager and head coach Marty Williamson who was at the game. “He got hit pretty hard and hurt his shoulder. It’s like a separation, so he’s going to be out 4 to six weeks or six to eight weeks. He’s out for a while.”

The Colts are expected to get a full medical report from the Penguins.

The overage forward and leader on and off the ice is expected to have a big year with Barrie this season and is coming off a career-best 37 goals and 44 assists for 81 points in 67 games last year.

Barrie opens its regular season next Friday night (Sept. 27) in Sudbury before kicking off its home schedule the next night against the North Bay Battalion.

The loss of Jelsma is a tough blow.

“It is,” said Williamson, ahead of Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Brampton Steelheads at Sadlon Arena. “You’d be silly to say you don’t want Beau Jelsma in your lineup every night, but for me I get to play some of the young kids a little bit more off the start.

“I know Beau is going to be healthy sometime in November, whether it’s the beginning of November or the end of November.”

While you never want to lose one of your top players, all things considered the timing of the injury isn’t too bad, says Williamson.

“I know how long the season is. It’s just one of those things that happened and it’s not like we lost him for the year or anything like that,” Williamson told Barrie 360. “We’ll get him healthy and get our captain back, and in the meantime guys who wouldn’t have gotten as much ice we continue to grow and develop these guys.

“There’s always a little bit of a silver lining in these things. When the timing happens like this, it’s not March we’re talking about, it’s a bit of a silver lining for me.”

The injury will allow other forwards to show they belong in the top six forward group.

“The Bode Stewart’s and Carter Lowe’s had a great training camp and to give these guys extra ice and extra opportunity gives me a lot of education of where my team is at,” said Williamson. “I know where Beau Jelsma is at and what he brings to the team and what he’ll do for us, but if I’m not playing one of these guys and he’s not getting much ice it’s tough for him to show me a lot.

“Well, here it is. You’re going to get a lot of ice; you’re going to get some power play time, now show me what you can do.”

The injury will also allow Williamson to keep all four overage forwards around with the team. A decision on getting down to the maximum three overagers won’t have to come until November.

“That will allow us to play the three other guys,” said Williamson of Zach Wigle, Tai York or Roenick Jodoin.

With nine players away at NHL camps, the Colts still have 20 forwards, eight defencemen and three goaltenders remaining with the club, though those numbers are expected to dwindle over the next week as players return from camp.

In goal, Ben Hrebik will backup starter Sam Hillebrandt, while rookie Arvin Jaswal will return to play U18 hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).

Hillebrand, a free agent invite, has impressed at Philadelphia Flyers prospect camp.

“Hrebik is going to be the guy who is going to backup Sammy,” said Williamson. “We believe Sammy is at the stage where Anson Thornton and Mac Guzda were at and he’s going to play a lot of the games, and whenever he needs a break then Hrebik is ready to go. We’re pretty set there.”

Williamson says the Colts also appear set on the blueline. Beau Akey, Kashawn Aitcheson, Triston Bertucci, Grayson Tiller, Evan Passmore and Justin Handsor have locked up spots.

Rookie Noah Barton will play with the Barrie U18 team and practice regularly with the Colts and fill in when needed, while Teague Vader is returning to Listowel.

There have also been rumours of the Colts acquiring Ottawa Senators prospect and Swedish import Gabriel Eliasson from the Niagara IceDogs.

“This the depth of our team where it’s really going to help us next year,” said Williamson. “We lose some players, but we don’t think the drop off is going to be that severe. We got capable players coming in.”

The Colts still have rookies Sam Black, Jonah McCormick and Mason Goodfellow with the club. Fifth overall pick Parker Vaughan has earned a roster spot after an impressive camp and exhibition run.

Players have to be returned from NHL camps by September 23 if they aren’t signed. Signed prospects like Cole Beaudoin, Bertucci and Emil Hemming could see some NHL exhibition play.

“They might not be back for the first weekend, and we might have to struggle through that for a little bit, but that’s OK,” said Williamson. “They don’t hand out any trophies in September and October. We’ll live with whatever happens.

“We know they’re coming back, and we’re excited about this group when we get it all back.”

With the start of the season just around the corner, Williamson says he can feel the excitement from the players. With the additions of Hemming, Bertucci and Brad Gardiner, the Colts head into the season as one of the contenders.

“I could tell this team was very excited about being together as a group,” said the Barrie bench boss. “And even though they went off to their NHL teams, they were really excited about being together and playing that one (exhibition) game together against Brampton. They were looking forward to that.

“They’re all keeping in touch of how things are going. Jelsma is phoning Tiller on how the guys are looking, so it’s a pretty exciting group to be around. I’ve really enjoyed this camp.”

Game time tonight against the Steelheads is 7 p.m.

ICE CHIPS: The Colts dropped a 4-2 decision in exhibition play Wednesday night in Owen Sound. Jodoin and Handsor scored for Barrie, while Barton, York, Nolan Newton and Jaiden Newton drew assists. Stewart (ankle) made his preseason debut in the loss. . Barrie also introduced their 30th anniversary jerseys. The white jerseys with blue and yellow trim will be worn at select home games this season. . . While he didn’t make the club, Williamson had high praise for 2024 third-round pick (50th overall) Cole Emerton. “Emerton is going to be a real nice defenceman,” he said. “He’s doing extremely well in Tier II.”