Langnau's Toms out for season

The Langnau Tigers, who are battling EV Zug for the last play-off spot in the ice hockey NLA, received a set-back when it was announced that their star Canadian forward Jeff Toms would be out for the rest of the season.

 

34-year-old Toms had an operation on Tuesday to repair a damaged meniscus and interior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee – an injury he suffered in their win over Rapperswil-Jona last Friday. Toms had racked up an impressive 32 points in 23 matches so far this season after finishing as top scorer for the Tigers in 2007-2008. Langnau coach Heinz Schlatter now finds himself desperately looking for a goal-scorer and a leader to bolster his line-up in the three days before the transfer window shuts on 31 January.

 

Zug face Langnau on Saturday and also on the penultimate match-day of the season, and Toms' absence could well be a crucial factor.

 

Closer to home, the option on forward Patrick Oppliger's contract has been excercised, keeping him with the club for the 2009-10 season which will be his 12th in Zug colours. Oppliger has played as both a defensively minded centre, usually on the third line, and also as a defenceman this season when Jay Harrison was returning from injury, and has proved his worth as an all-round team-player.

 

Drew Lilley