Liebel, Cox could return to lineup Thursday

Liebel, Cox could return to lineup Thursday
BY KOLLEN LONG Wichita Eagle correspondent

The Wichita Thunder, which needs a win Thursday to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season, should get a boost with the return of two players from injury.
Forward Tyler Liebel, an emotional leader and scoring threat, is expected to play Thursday at Bossier-Shreveport after missing the past two games.
Liebel, who has 23 points in 21 games, left the Thunder's win over Memphis on Dec. 13 after hitting his head on the ice.
Coach Mark French said Liebel may have suffered a "slight concussion" and has also been battling flu-like symptoms.
"He provides an energy and an edge that we've certainly missed," French said. "And, obviously, he's a scoring threat as well."
Defenseman Brandon Cox's broken jaw has healed enough that he has been activated from the 45-day injured reserve list. French said Cox will wear a cage for the next two games -- whether he likes it or not.
"I'm sure he'll be fighting to get it off," French said. "It's sort of an annoyance for a player, and there's also a pride factor, I think. A player wearing a cage usually hears it from the visiting team.
"But he's been off the ice for a long time, so we want to take every precaution."
The return of Liebel and Cox will give the Thunder a full 18-man lineup for the first time since the fifth game of the season on Nov. 4, when the team beat Amarillo.
Annual Teddy Bear toss -- Fans are asked to bring a new teddy bear to the game on Friday and throw it on the ice after the Thunder's first goal. The stuffed animals will be distributed to needy children.
Fans who bring a teddy bear will receive buy-one-get-one tickets to home games on Dec. 27 and Dec. 29.
The record for the promotion is 714 bears.
Etc. -- Thunder forwards Joe Blaznek (40 points), Travis Clayton (39) and Jason Duda (39) are the CHL's top three scorers.... Clayton is on a CHL high 13-game scoring streak.... Forward Tyler Kuntz has left the team to pursue a job opportunity overseas.... French is in contention to be the coach of the Northern Conference at the all-star game, but the Thunder needs to win Thursday and Friday for him to have a chance.