The Philadelphia Waterdogs again will be without No. 1 overall draft pick CJ Kirst in Friday night’s clash against the Utah Archers.
Kirst injured his wrist during Cornell’s Ivy League and NCAA championship run this past spring, during which he set the NCAA’s all-time scoring record and won the Tewaaraton Award, and has yet to suit up for a PLL game.
The rookie was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list earlier in June following surgery to repair a hand injury.
“I broke my hand in the middle of the year this spring, and I was able to play through it,” Kirst told me in June. “I’m going to get surgery later this week and then be out and doing PT for three to four weeks and hopefully be back as soon as possible.”
Before the All-Star break, Kirst said he started to pick up a stick again and move around more as his wrist healed. Both he and Waterdogs head coach Bill Tierney are optimistic he’ll be able to return in mid-July.
“Just not quite ready yet,” Tierney said. “We’re anticipating and hoping for next week, but we’re not going to risk one of the best players in the world, risk another injury for one game.”
Philly faces a tough challenge against Utah’s No. 1 scoring defense in the league (10.0 scores against average). It’s headlined by two of the PLL’s best on the defensive end in Defensive Player of the Year front-runner Graeme Hossack and Goalie of the Year front-runner Brett Dobson.
The club hopes to integrate Kirst into their system once he’s fully healthy, whether he slots in as a starting attackman or as a versatile offensive piece rotating in the system.
The next time we could see No. 15 on the field is when the Waterdogs face the Maryland Whipsnakes on July 19.
“Only CJ will determine how and where he’s played,” Tierney said. “The team is excited to have him back, especially [Michael] Sowers.”
