Vancouver Giants lose leading scorer Marek Tvrdon for rest of season

A tough season for the Vancouver Giants got even worse with news today that leading scorer Marek Tvrdon will miss the remainder of the year after surgery to remove a blod clot from his left shoulder. It's a disappointment for the 6-13 hockey club, which is mired in last place in the Western Hockey League's Western Conference standings, but the positive news is that the problem was detected now and dealt with successfully.

“Marek had a small blockage isolated to a single vein in his left shoulder,” says Giants’ General Manager & Executive VP, Scott Bonner in a team-issued statement. “It was completely and rapidly dissolved and he is doing very well. Marek is under the excellent care of numerous specialists and he is recovering quickly. He will not be returning this season but he is expected to have a full recovery and future career as a hockey player. Right now our priority is Marek's health and well-being and we would like to respect his and his family's privacy.”

Tvrdon leads the strugging Giants in scoring with eight goals and 22 points in 18 games. The 19-year-old was a fourth-round selection of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2011 NHL draft.