Russian import Ilya Arkalov has finally been given permission to suit up with the Sarnia Legionnaires.

General manager Bob Williamson announced Tuesday that the 17-year-old centre/winger has been given the green light by Hockey Canada to play with the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League team.

Last year, he was the leading scorer of the Cape Cod Cubs in the International Junior Hockey League with 24 goals and 20 assists to his credit.

Arkalov, a strong skater with a good shot and excellent puck-handling abilities, has spent the past two months practicing with the team.

He is expected to be a big addition, once he gets some game experience, because the Legionnaires have been almost constantly shorthanded.

In fact, the team has lost a staggering 71-man games to injuries, suspensions or bureaucratic red tape so far this young season.

Williamson said that may be the highest number in the league, but added the team doesn't like to use it as an excuse for its slow start. In fact, he was not the one to raise the subject during an interview Tuesday.

"You never do that,” he said. “It's the old story, it gives you an opportunity for somebody else to step up. When you're down some guys, you play harder because you're shorthanded.”

Head coach Jeff Perry has also refused to use his often-depleted lineup as an excuse for losing.

Still, in an interview at the Ontario Jr. 'B' hockey Showcase Tournament a few weeks ago, he did concede that once the Legionnaires get all their players back, they will be “in the mix.”

Adversity log

Only six Legionnaires have appeared in all 16 games this year. And that number includes three rookies.

Perhaps most disturbing has been the length of some of the absences of key players. Mobile defenceman Tanner Ferguson, a draft pick of the OHL Owen Sound Attack, has suffered a pair of injuries that have forced him out of a dozen games. And veteran rearguard Steve Farlow has missed the last six outings due to illness.

Up front, captain Tyler Cicchini has been absent seven times due to injury. Andy Sokol has missed eight contests, all due to suspensions, while Owen Rogers missed four games at the start of the year due to an injury.