BLUES DEFENSEMAN ERIC BREWER: MAY NOT BE READY TO START SEASON

The Blues are acknowledging that Eric Brewer (back) may not be ready when the season starts Oct. 2, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.


ERIC BREWER

Brewer has shown improvement with the sciatic nerve issue affecting his right leg, but he is still not permitted to lift weights or ride an exercise bike. “Progress has been made, so we’ll live with that,” Blues President John Davidson said. “If there was no progress by now, we’d be nervous. I’m a glass half-full guy, so that’s how I’m looking at it. (But) if he can’t play, the emphasis for us will be to have a good start with healthy players.”

Eric Brewer played his junior hockey in British Columbia and by the time he was in midget hockey in Kamloops, realized he may be on his way to fulfilling his dream of playing in the NHL one day. In 1995-96, he joined the WHL's Prince George Cougars and scored 14 points as a major junior rookie defenseman. The following season, he improved to 29 points and played in the mid-season CHL Top Prospects Game. In 1997-98, Brewer was a WHL West Second Team All-Star despite playing just 34 WHL games, recording 33 points. He was selected to play in the mid-season WHL All-Star Game but missed the contest with an injury. He was also an assistant captain for Canada's silver medal World Junior team in 1998.

Aside from his World Junior experience in 1998, Brewer captured gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics and has represented his country four times at the World Championships (2001, 2003, 2004 and 2007), winning gold in 2003, 2004 and 2007 and helped anchor Canada's blueline to victory at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.