Colorado College hockey coach Kris Mayotte gave a disappointing update on injured defenseman and captain Max Burkholder. 

The junior out of Chaska, Minn., suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of CC’s third game of the season, a 5-2 win over Bentley on Oct. 10, and hasn’t taken the ice since. 

Initially, Burkholder was expected to miss the first half of the season with the possibility of returning in the second, but during a press conference Tuesday, Mayotte virtually confirmed the third-year skater would not play again this season.  

“I think probably the safest way to put it is we’ll be lucky if we see him again this year,” he said. “Is there a chance? Maybe, but is that chance even worth it in terms of his recovery, compromising the future, however you want to look at it? I just think there’s probably too much risk involved with it to even consider it from our seat right now. So right now, we’re operating as if we’re not going to see him the rest of the year.”

Burkholder was tied for second in scoring for CC last season, with 26 points. His 20 assists were tied for the team lead alongside center and leading scorer Owen Beckner. 

This season marks the first time he’s worn a letter for CC, being voted captain alongside senior goaltender Kaidan Mbereko.