The Vancouver Canucks kicked off their rookie tournament on Sunday without prospect Cody Hodgson, and there is a good chance he will not participate in the team's main camp or in pre-season action.
The news came via a team twitter that also stated he will not require surgery. His status will be updated before main camp opens on September 17th.
Hodgson, 20, has been labouring with back problems since being injured during dryland training in July of 2009. He played only 24 games for the OHL's Brampton Battalion last season, racking up 11 goals and 19 assists.
The Canucks' first-round pick (10th overall) in 2008, Hodgson represented Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2008 and finished with a tournament-high 12 points.
