Back in August, the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs learned that their incoming freshman forward Riley Tufte had broken his wrist. Tufte suffered the injury during the 2016 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp in Plymouth, Michigan. The initial report on Tufte’s status is that he would be out six to eight weeks.
Luckily for the Bulldogs, Tufte’s broken wrist didn’t require surgery and his injured wrist is healing nicely. Tufte will be ready to go when the Bulldogs open the 2016-17 season against the Michigan Tech Huskies on October 1.
On Wednesday, Matt Wellens of the Duluth News Tribune caught up with the Bulldogs incoming freshman forward.
“The wrist is doing good,” said Tufte, “I got my cast off a couple weeks ago. I’m in a brace when I play. I can take it off when I’m walking around. When I’m home I can do exercises on it. It’s feeling really good on the ice so far.”
And an ICYMI for the UMD men: Tufte ready for Bulldogs' season opener, but Peterson must sit https://t.co/2I4j1hVsRn
— Matt Wellens (@mattwellens) September 15, 2016
For those that are wondering, shooting the puck isn’t going to be a problem for Tufte.
“It doesn’t hurt when I shoot at all,” Tufte said. “It’s kind of hard to shoot with the brace. That’s normal. I’ll get used to it.”
Last season, Tufte played with the Fargo Force of the USHL. In 27 games with the Force, Tufte scored 10 goals and 14 points and he was also a minus-five. The Dallas Stars selected Tufte in the first round (25th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
