March 23 notes: Brodzinski leaves big shoes to fill; Auger, Bissonnette still out

Stick taps out to Joey Zakrzewski for providing a video with head coach Mike Stothers today which included some newsy bites about the team. Here’s a bit of what was in there.

–In case you missed it, Jonny Brodzinski has been recalled to Los Angeles. That’s leaving the Reign without their leading goal scorer for likely the final 10 games of the regular season.

“Going to miss his 25 goals here at our level but it’s well deserved. Brodz has had a really good year,” Reign head coach Mike Stothers said.

For more on his recall, and when he could debut, catch up on those links via LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen.

For Ontario, it’s a big loss as Brodzinski was on a career-high eight-game point streak (five goals, six assists).

“Nobody’s going to fill that role,” Stothers said. “Nobody’s capable of doing that. It would be unfair to ask them to do so. What Brodz brings is pretty special. That’s why he’s going up.”

For now, it appears that veteran Sean Backman has resumed Brodzinski’s second-line right wing role on the line with center Mike Amadio and Brett Sutter. The Reign also recalled Quentin Shore from ECHL-Manchester on Wednesday to provide the team with another forward in Brodzinski’s absence.

–There’s no good news on Justin Auger (upper-body) as Stothers said, “He’s unavailable.” The 6-foot-7 winger was injured last Friday against Charlotte blocking a shot and did not play the following day.

“It’s unfortunate for Augs that he got injured, but he did it doing what Augs does,” Stothers said. “Playing well defensively, gets in the shooting lane, gets hit by a puck. Sometimes the result is not exactly what you’re looking for. Again, another guy that we’re gonna miss.”

Auger has 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points in 56 games this season and is a valuable penalty killer for Ontario.

–Also on the injury front, Paul Bissonnette (lower-body) remains out and is not close to returning, despite traveling with the team and taking warmups in both games last week in Charlotte.

“Biss isn’t even close to being ready to play,” Stothers said.

Here’s the full video where Stothers also discusses Ontario facing a red-hot San Antonio team on Friday and Saturday: