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Thursday, October 21, 1999
Healthy Wiemer prepared to return
Perhaps as early as tomorrow, Wiemer will be able to release his frustrations at being sidelined with a knee injury. He's close to returning to the Flames lineup.
This team desperately misses his presence as both a physical player and one who can shut down the opposition's best players.
"Wiemer is a very important guy on our team," said coach Brian Sutter.
"We need more down the middle and from our skilled guys."
What Wiemer brings is some much-needed size and an attitude.
"I was looking for a big year from me -- and I still am," said Wiemer, who has been practising with the team on this six-game road trip.
"I want to contribute in whatever role Brian wants to put me into. I enjoyed the defensive role last season but I still have so much more to improve on. I just want to pick up from last year and continue to build on that."
A knee injury in the early stages of training camp kept him out of the lineup while they tried to rehab the knee rather than undergo surgery that could keep him out for an extended time.
"This is frustrating as hell," said Wiemer. "It's tough when you are struggling, especially games like St. Louis where there are a lot of mental errors that shouldn't be happening.
"I'm hoping I can add a little spark.
"Physically, if I can create more room by crashing and banging for guys like Iggy and Val. Defensively, if I can keep them off the scoreboard, that gives our gunners a better chance to get us out on top."
Getting on top has, of course, been the problem without Wiemer in the lineup.
Meanwhile, defenceman Denis Gauthier is questionable for tomorrow's game against the Panthers after suffering a charleyhorse when he was smacked into the boards from behind by St. Louis' Lubos Bartecko.
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