Schubert returns to practice for Thrashers

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Christoph Schubert returned to practice with the rest of his Thrashers teammates on Wednesday.

The team -- or most of it -- was back from a 10-day hiatus for the Winter Olympics and Schubert, on injured reserve, skated for the first time since injuring the PCL in his right knee on Jan. 16.

“Every movement out there, stopping, starting, tight turns, are all feeling good,” said Schubert, who is wearing a brace. “I just have to continue my rehab to strengthen the muscle.”

Schubert has missed 13 games and the defenseman said he hopes to be ready when the Thrashers resume the regular season on March 2.

“The good thing is we have another week before the next game,” Schubert said. “I have lots of time to get some skating in. It’s going to be good conditioning for everyone. It’s going to be a little training camp and I’m going to get in shape. ... I just have to see how the knee holds up.”

Five Thrashers players – forward Maxim Afinogenov, defenseman Tobias Enstrom, defenseman Pavel Kubina, defenseman Johnny Oduya and goalie Ondrej Pavelec – continue to play for their respective countries at the Olympics.

No captain

Coach John Anderson said the team will not name a captain to replace Ilya Kovalchuk, traded this month to New Jersey.

“For me, that’s probably going to happen in the new season,” Anderson said. “To throw something on somebody midway through ... I think we will just do it by committee. I think we’ve done a pretty good job so far. We’ll talk about it during the summertime.”

The Thrashers have four assistants in Colby Armstrong, Zach Bogosian, Ron Hainsey and Slava Kozlov.

Thrashers recall Mannino

Goaltender Peter Mannino was recalled from AHL Chicago on Wednesday as the team returned to practice and Pavelec playing for the Czech Republic at the Olympics.

“Any chance to get to come up and play with these guys is a good deal,” Mannino said. “You work hard and when you get a chance like this, you are grateful for it.

“Any day to come up, it’s an achievement. I’m just happy to be here.”

Mannino, 27, has appeared in 24 games for the Wolves this season with an 18-3-0 record. His 1.97 goals-against average and .934 save percentage rank second in the AHL. He has held the opposition to two or fewer goals in 19 of his 24 games. Mannino was named the goaltender of the month for January after posting a 6-1-0 record with 1.26 goals-against average.

Mannino was signed as a free agent by the Thrashers in July 2009.

Skills competition

The Thrashers on Friday will hold a 3-on-3 scrimmage, skills competition and shootout at the Duluth IceForum for players not participating in the Olympics. The event, that will run from from 7:50-8:50 p.m., is free and open to the public. The skills competition will include a shooting accuracy event, a relay race and a fastest skater competition.

In the community

Forwards Rich Peverley and Jim Slater will help serve dinner to children and their families and sign autographs on Thursday at the Gatewood Ronald McDonald House as part of the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation community outreach.