Hamonic Suffers Facial Fracture in Fight with Gudbranson

The Calgary Flames announced defenseman Travis Hamonic is out week-to-week with a facial fracture. Hamonic suffered the injury in Wednesday’s game during a fight with Canucks’ defenseman Erik Gudbranson early in the first period.

Hamonic returned wearing a face shield late in the first period and played the remainder of the game. The fight was in response to a hit Gudbranson had made on rookie Dillon Dube earlier in the game. Dube was appreciative of the sacrifice.

“That shows how big of a leader he is, I can’t thank him enough for what he did,” said Dube. “You go after Gudbranson, he’s a pretty big dude…I just hope [Hamonic] can get back as soon as he can.”

Hamonic had one goal and ten assists in 74 games for the Flames last season. He played the second most shorthanded minutes of any Flames’ defensemen and was set to assume a larger role this year after the Dougie Hamilton trade.

In a corresponding move, the Flames recalled defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Stockton Heat (AHL). Andersson was selected No. 53 overall by the Flames in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He has zero points in 11 NHL games but has been a productive offensive-defenseman in the AHL. He has 12 goals and 49 assists in 110 career AHL games.

Andersson was not at Calgary’s practice on Thursday and his status for Saturday night’s game against Vancouver is undetermined. Defenseman Dalton Prout skated in Hamonic’s spot on the second pair at Thursday’s practice.