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BY MICHAEL HAYAKAWA 1 ml:ayakawu®yrmg.mm Stephen Weiss has incurred a variety of injuries during his lengthy National Hockey League career that was launched during the 2001-02 campaign with the Florida Panthers. But none of them have been more frustrating for the now 30-year-old Stout‘fville resident and Detroit Red Mngs' forward than one he's in the throes of trying to overcome this seaâ€" son. Diagnosed with a sports hernia in December. Weiss underwent surgery just before Christmas. After undergoing rehabilitation. Weiss had a target date to make a return to active duty with the Red Wings just after the Olympic break. That did not happen. The injury resurfaced and placed him back on the sidelines where he remains to this day. With the regular season winding down. Weiss revealed it's unlikely he can return in time make a contribution with the Red Mugs in their push for the playofis. ' In fact. the ailment could place him Year 1 in Detroit has been a pain for Weiss on the shelf for the ms! of this year. ‘ Needless to say. it's been a frustrat- ing season for Weiss. who was inked by the Red Mugs this past offseason as an unrestricted free agent after spending the rest of his NHL career with the Pan- thers. He was their first round pick and fourth player chosen overall in the 2001 NHL entry draft. ‘ “This (injury) is definitely the worst one that I've had for sure." he said. “It's been tough and not being able to recover. Sometimes the body just doesn't agree with you." Amassing two goals and two assists in 26 games while making his debut with the Red Wings. Weiss revealed the injury he's battling surfaced rather innocently during training camp and continued to progress from that point forward. Weis‘xs said he probably should have taken cumctive measures earlier on. But in joining a new team and trying to get acclimath to new teammates and coaching stafi, Weiss conceded he might have pushed through things a little too much. "It was probably my own fault.“ he said: “I played with it a little too much SPORTS HERNIA SPORTS and when we got into the season it was sore at the start of the year. I was wrap- ping my groin for the first ID to 15 games of the season. Then I took a week off and tried to let it heal. It felt a little better. but it ended up getting progressively worse where it got into my stomach. Then in late December we had surgery." To this day. Weiss said he does not know how or what caused the injury to nesurface. In the meantime though. he's just try- ing to find the right mix of rest and treat- ment with the hope of retuming to full health. Uncertain as to when he will be able to panicipate in full practices. Weiss said he will have further consultations with the club's medical staff to see what direc- tion to take. But in any event. he vows to get over his latest setback and try to assist the Red Wings whether it be if they can play well into this spring or next season. “Right now. I don't have a definitive plan if I will shut it down for the ms! of this year or go in for another minor surgery. "Hopefully. we can turn this thing around. I'll overcome it.” An injury could prevent Stouffville resident Stephen Weiss from seeing NHL playoff action with Detroit. s’ufimaum ms mom