Highmore Still Recovering

Matthew Highmore, the Saint John Sea Dogs’ top pick in last month’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft, is still recovering from shoulder surgery.

“It’s just a matter of recovery,” said Matthew’s father, Dave Highmore, to Metro Halifax. “No question (he’ll be back) early in the regular season. We just don’t know if it’s going to be the start of the season or two weeks later.”

Highmore was left off Team Atlantic’s under-17 evaluation camp roster. He can still make the team though with a solid first half with the Sea Dogs. The tournament doesn’t take place until December.

Metro’s Matthew Wuest writes that Highmore “is unlikely to be ready for a full dose of upper-body training until mid-August.” Saint John begins their pre-season play on Friday, August 17 against the PEI Rocket at Harbour Station. They open the regular season at home on September 20 against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

The Sea Dogs were aware of Highmore’s shoulder issue (EDIT: they were aware. Apologies for earlier typo). At the draft, the 16-year old from Dartmouth couldn’t shake hands with his dominant right. Obviously, the Sea Dogs don’t believe his shoulder will cause many problems in the future.

The forward, selected eighth overall in the QMJHL Entry Draft, registered 13 goals and 13 assists in 25 games with the Dartmouth Major Midgets last season. He added another 11 points in 16 playoff games.