Two Yukon hockey players attempting to play pro this season in the United States saw their tryout bids end early last month.

Reid Campbell, 25, of Haines Junction suffered a concussion in his first preseason game with the East Coast Hockey League’s (ECHL) Rapid City Rush – an injury that ended his training camp.

Meanwhile, Whitehorse native Jordan Lane, who spent last season in an enforcer role with the Quad City Mallards, was cut by the Bakersfield Condors, an ECHL team in California.

Campbell’s injury came in the second period of a game against the Colorado Eagles Oct. 11 in South Dakota.

“I just went to battle with a guy on the sideboards in the offensive zone,” Campbell said when reached by the Star yesterday. “I don’t know if he did it on purpose, but he went to brace himself and just got his elbow up and it collided with the side of my head. I don’t really remember exactly what happened, to be honest with you.”

The five-foot-10, 185-pound blueliner said he had an “instant headache” but remained on the bench for the rest of the game on a team doctor’s advice.

Campbell said he was cut by the Rush following his injury, but the club continues to hold his player rights. He may yet receive a second chance to crack the roster this season.

“It’s frustrating because I never got to prove myself in half a game,” he said. “It’s the first concussion I’ve ever had. ... I just want to be careful before getting back into the swing of things again.”

Campbell finally returned to his regular workouts last week alongside physical therapy.

“I’m feeling quite a bit better,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to get back into practice and contact within the next week. But it’s kind of hard to say. It’s all day-to-day.”

Campbell said the injury was a tough blow, as he was feeling “pretty confident” heading into his first pro training camp.

Last season, the defenceman won his third national championship with the NCAA III St. Norbert Green Knights.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Lane has returned to Whitehorse where he is exploring his hockey options.

“I just got back to town last week,” the six-foot-eight, 240-pound forward said yesterday. “I’m just waiting to hear back from a couple of other teams, seeing what happens.”

Lane said his agent has put out feelers with teams in Europe and the ECHL.

“I’ll figure out something for hockey, whether that be I go to school again. ... There’s lots of options. I’ll be playing hockey again somewhere soon,” he said assuredly.

Lane said his release by the Condors was simply a matter of numbers.

“That’s the way it works sometimes,” he said.