After both he and netminder Pheonix Copley were both injured in training camp, goalie Vitek Vanecek will finally be back on the ice, but not for the Bears quite yet. Vanecek has been reassigned to Hershey’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, for the time being so that he can continue to rehab his lower-body injury.

Vitek finished third amongst the AHL’s rookie goaltenders last season, going 18-10-7 for the Bears. Vanecek returned to the ice in Hershey alongside Copley for the first time Tuesday since he was injured, and was thrilled to be back practicing with his teammates.

“I’m right now happy because I’m back on the ice with the team,” he said according to Chocolate Hockey. “I will now just wait for games.”

Those games will likely begin tonight for the 21-year-old Czech, but in the ECHL instead of the AHL. Vanecek will likely be in net for the Stingrays tonight, while Pheonix Copley and Adam Carlson are in consideration for the starting spot in Hershey’s game this evening against Rochester. Carlson was called up from the Stingrays to Hershey after both of Chocolatetown’s primary netminders were injured, and registered a .910 save percentage in the three games that he played for the Bears.

UPDATE 2:20 PM: Copley will be starting in net for the Bears against Rochester tonight.

Pheonix Copley starts tonight per Troy Mann. First game of year for him . Carlson to start tomorrow, and Sunday TBD. #HBH

— Zack Fisch (@zackfisch) November 3, 2017

More from the Bears:

(Hershey, PA- November 3, 2017)- The Hershey Bears announced today that goaltender Vitek Vanecek has been re-assigned to the club’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays. Vanecek, who has been out with a lower-body injury since mid-September, is expected to make a rehab start tonight for the Stingrays in Greenville, South Carolina.

Vanecek, 21, went 18-10-7 last season for the Chocolate and White, and finished third among rookie goaltenders in the AHL with a 2.54 goals against average. He posted five shutouts, a mark tied for the second most in the AHL. The native of Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending on Dec. 18, 2016.

Vanecek started his professional career with the Stingrays in 2015-16. In his first campaign in North American, he went 18-7-6 in 32 games with South Carolina and finished with the second best goals-against average in the ECHL at 2.03, and the fourth best save percentage among rookie goaltenders at .917. He earned league honors four times during the 2015-16 campaign, including being named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team.

Vanecek was a second round selection, 39th overall, of the Capitals in the 2014 NHL Draft. He will rejoin the Bears in the coming days.

Hershey battles the Rochester Americans on the road this evening. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. from the Blue Cross Arena, and the Voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch, will have the call on the Bears Radio Network.

Headline photo: Chocolate Hockey