Former Whitehorse rep hockey player on road to recovery in UAA program

The last few weeks have been pretty stressful for Yukoner and University of Alaska Anchorage hockey player Jared Tuton.

The last few weeks have been pretty stressful for Yukoner and University of Alaska Anchorage hockey player Jared Tuton.

The former Whitehorse rep hockey player faced the likely possibility of missing his entire third season in the UAA Seawolves program as a result of an awkward fall that he suffered while running home on a trail located close to his residence in September.

Tuton ended up landing on his right knee and said he knew right away something was wrong.

“It went numb,” Tuton said. “Right away my season went through my head.”

After taking a couple minutes to get up, Tuton made his way back onto the road where, thankfully, he was picked up by his girlfriend, who drove him the rest of the way home.

About an hour after arriving home, Tuton made the wise decision to go to the hospital after the pain in his knee didn’t subside and after getting some advice from a few of his teammates.

Tuton’s main concern was the possibility of a tear in his knee, which would require ACL surgery. The initial X-ray revealed a broken fibula and an MRI done a few days later was inconclusive on how bad Tuton’s ACL was torn.

Tuton didn’t end up having the ACL surgery and instead went through arthroscopic surgery, which revealed no significant ligament damage with his knee and only limited cartilage damage.

Tuton said it was a relief not to lose a whole season.

“It was pretty minor compared to what could have been, so I just want to get back on the ice, it’s been my goal for a while now,” he said. “I think I would have a lot of regrets if I didn’t get to play in my last couple of years and try and improve.”

Presently he is making tremendous progress rehabbing his knee with both cardio and strength training, which he said has been a big help in recovering from the injury.

“There’s been big differences that a lot of people have noticed,” he said. “A lot of my goals right now have been centred on getting back. A lot of my focus has been on rehabbing my knee and getting back, really kind of checking out the schedule and just hoping that I don’t miss to many games.”

Just last week, Tuton received some positive news about his progress and expects to be back on ice by mid October.

Tuton admits that being back on the ice isn’t quite the same as being able to play a game with the team, but it would be a good start.

“I think just the skating part is not getting back with the team,” he said. “It’s just getting on the ice and getting the muscles used to skating again and gaining the confidence on the ice and everything.”

Tuton is one of the more versatile players on the Seawolves and gives the coaching staff the additional options each game of using him either on the wing or as a defenseman. He finished last year’s campaign with two goals and five assists.

Tuton said he is optimistic heading into the season.

“I think considering that a lot of people thought I was going to have to be out for a whole year,” he said.  “I am really optimistic with my knee, how it feels right now that I should be back in no time.”