Kinens sidelined this season

The Houlton-Hodgdon Black Hawks are down a player this season sophomore forward Abby Kinens, who is the first female to play on the cooperative hockey team was sidelined with a soccer injury and wasn’t able to return to the ice this year.
“We missed having Abby with the team this year,” said Houlton-Hodgdon Black Hawks coach Joel Trickey. “Last season, she was a high energy, positive player who showed a lot of improvement over the year.”
During a rain-soaked soccer game on Oct. 9, Kinens and her teammates were playing on a slippery, muddy surface when she and a Fort Kent player collided.
“We were in the corner when she kind of bumped me,” recalled Kinens. “As I was falling down, I heard a snap.”
Many times, Kinens has taken a hard shot when she was going for the goal, but this time was different.
“I was kind of shocked,” she said. “I tried to get back up and I couldn’t. I fell back down to the ground.”
It was a devastating blow to the young athlete, as she had broken her ankle on the growth plate in three spots.
Sporting a cast and bearing her weight on crutches, Kinens’ hopes of a second season with the Black Hawks were shattered.
“The first hockey game I went to watch was difficult for me,” she said. “But, I have gone to every home game to cheer on the team.”
Kinens was in a cast for three months and on crutches. She has gone through three weeks of physical therapy.
“I’m not sure when I will be getting back,” she said. “The doctor thought sometime in April. Things are moving along quite well.”
Though Kinens is sidelined this season, she will be ready for another year of hockey.
“I think the team is doing great,” she said. “I can’t wait until next year so I can suit up.”
Coach Trickey is hoping for a complete recovery, too.
“While she didn’t get into many games as a freshman, she was one of the hardest workers in practice,” he said. “Abby is a very talented player who I feel has a contribution to make to the team. I hope she can continue to enjoy her very successful high school athletic career.”