HCFG's Birner expected to resume team practice in the next days

According to a report from La Liberté (relayed by SwissHabs), the 32-year-old left winger and Czech international is expected to resume Fribourg-Gottéron's on-ice practice in the coming days.

Birner, who has been dealing with a knee injury since the end of last season, played in the Dragons' first preseason game in Visp on August 24 (4-3 OT loss), however, did not appear in the following lineups.

As for his teammate Laurent Meunier, the 39-year-old forward is still suffering from adductor problems and is not yet ready to return to the ice, the same source reports.