Genting Casino Coventry Blaze coach Matt Soderstrom has confirmed Canadian defenceman Benn Olson will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a broken hand.
The 26-year-old sustained the injury after blocking a shot during the second period of Saturday's 3-2 overtime defeat to Sheffield Steelers at Sheffield Arena in the Challenge Cup.
Olson is due to visit a specialist on Monday with surgery expected later in the week.
Bad news for the Blaze, their heavyweight enforcer who took the league by storm last season with his physical play, is out for up to 8 weeks with a hand injury.