Highlands down another defenseman (ice hockey)

The new year could not start off any worse for Northern Highlands, which lost another member of the defense in their weekend win over Demarest.  This time it was an injury that depleted the Highlander back line.

Junior Derek D'Anna, who had moved back from a forward spot to help shore up the defense at the start of the season, suffered his third concussion in the last 12 months against the Norsemen.  The injury puts his hockey season and career in serious jeopardy.

Head coach Jason Beswick confirmed the injury, saying that D'Anna will be re-evaluated later this week by doctors.

"He's really done a nice job of settling into the defensive role, considering he never played there before this year," he added.  "We'll have to see where we go from here, but more than likely we'll be dropping a second line forward back to defense."

The Highlanders, 8-1 entering 2008, had already seen Mike DiNardo leave three weeks ago to go to the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, NY.  This leaves Evan Hershman and Brandon Fruchter as the only true defensemen of note on the squad.