BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan
03-19-2008, 10:29 PM
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen has been cleared to rejoin the team six months after having open heart surgery.
Numminen will practice with the Sabres on Thursday after completing a two-day evaluation. The team made the announcement during the first intermission of their game against Tampa Bay
Wednesday night.
For Numminen, it will be his first time back since he practiced with the team in early January. However, he was informed by team doctors at that time that he wouldn't be cleared to play until mid-March, at the earliest, to allow his sternum additional time to heal.
Numminen had surgery in September to repair a faulty valve, which was discovered during a routine checkup ahead of his 19th NHL season and third with Buffalo.
His return can't come at a better time for an injury-depleted Sabres team that has three regular defenseman out of the lineup.
http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=56433
Numminen will practice with the Sabres on Thursday after completing a two-day evaluation. The team made the announcement during the first intermission of their game against Tampa Bay
Wednesday night.
For Numminen, it will be his first time back since he practiced with the team in early January. However, he was informed by team doctors at that time that he wouldn't be cleared to play until mid-March, at the earliest, to allow his sternum additional time to heal.
Numminen had surgery in September to repair a faulty valve, which was discovered during a routine checkup ahead of his 19th NHL season and third with Buffalo.
His return can't come at a better time for an injury-depleted Sabres team that has three regular defenseman out of the lineup.
http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=56433