Breaking News: Wrist injury sidelines Emery
January 17, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Press Connects.com

Wrist injury sidelines Emery

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- He's the player the Binghamton Senators can least afford to lose, but for one weekend, at least, they'll have to try winning without him.

Ray Emery, the Senators' all-star goalie, didn't dress for Friday night's game against the last-place Albany River Rats and won't be in uniform tonight at the Arena against the Norfolk Admirals. A right wrist injury has quietly bothered Emery since late last month and hasn't healed as quickly as expected.

Emery has a 2.25 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in 26 starts this season and was named to the Canadian team for the AHL All-Star Game on Feb. 9 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Emery yielded five goals Wednesday night against Syracuse, but had been red-hot prior to that. In his previous seven starts, Emery had stopped 209 of 220 shots and posted two shutouts against first-place Bridgeport.

With Emery out, the Senators brought ex-Buffalo Sabres goalie Tom Draper out of retirement to back up rookie Billy Thompson.

Draper, 37, has been practicing with the Senators and signed a tryout contract Friday. He played 53 games in the NHL for Winnipeg, Buffalo and the New York Islanders and 175 AHL games in a 14-year career that ended last season.