The Kootenay Ice are officially without the services of right wing Jaedon Descheneau for the duration of the 2015-16 WHL season.
Monday afternoon Ice head coach Luke Pierce confirmed that Descheneau, 20, will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery at the end of November to repair damage sustained in an incidental collision back on Oct. 6 in Prince Albert.
Descheneau, a native of Edmonton, only skated in two games with the Ice this season, registering one assist, before being knocked out of action with the shoulder injury.
A fifth-round pick (124th overall) of the St. Louis Blues at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Descheneau has yet to sign an NHL entry-level contract.
In 265 career WHL games, all with the Kootenay Ice, the 5-foot-9, 192-pound speedster tallied 111 goals and 272 points.
His best season came in 2013-14. Skating alongside all-time franchise scoring leader Sam Reinhart, Descheneau put up 44 goals and 98 points in 70 games.
Descheneau was placed on the long-term injury list following the incident and therefore was not counting against the overage limit for the Ice.
Captain Luke Philp, defenceman Tanner Lishchynsky and goaltender Wyatt Hoflin represent the three overage players on the Ice roster. Defenceman Tyler King remains on the long-term injury list after undergoing off-season knee surgery.
The Kootenay Ice return to action Tuesday when they host the Everett Silvertips at 7 p.m.
