The rash of injuries to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft class continues with Peterborough Petes defenseman Slater Koekkoek.

Koekkoek suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team’s 6-3 loss to the Windsor Spitfires Sunday.

Should his shoulder require surgery, Koekkoek could find himself out for the remainder of the season. Should the Mountain, ON. native avoid surgery, he could be back as early as January. The team is expected to re-evaluate the injury after Christmas and decide if surgery is necessary.

“Slater may be the most impressive defenceman I’ve seen in the league this year,” Petes coach Mike Pelino told The Peterborough Examiner on Sunday. “If he’s out for one day we’ll miss him let alone if he’s out for an extended period.”

Koekkoek has 13 assists and 18 points in 26 games this season. In 65 games last year, the 17-year-old had 23 points in 65 games.

He joins a growing list of 2012 eligibles who have been ravaged by the injury but, including projected first round picks Alex Galchenyuk and Morgan Rielly, who both have ACL injuries that put their seasons in doubt. Both Martin Frk (concussion) and Ryan Murray (ankle) are close to returning to action.

Aaron Vickers is the managing editor of Future Considerations and can be found on Twitter. For all the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed, on YouTube and on Facebook!