Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Justin Chiras, right, tries to contain Newfoundland Regiment forward Benjamin Veitch during a Nov. 29 QMJHL game in St. John’s. – SUPPLIED BY JEFF PARSONSArticle contentWatching games from the press box is never easy but Lincoln Waugh and Justin Chiras never let it get them down.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe two Halifax Mooseheads defencemen have been out of the lineup more than they’ve been in it so far this season but both stayed patient and kept working on their game while they bided their time. Now that regulars Mathieu Taillefer and Carlos Handel are unavailable, Chiras and Waugh are being rewarded for sticking with it.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentWaugh played his first game of the season on Sunday and Chiras has been filling in nicely ever since he drew back into the rotation in mid-November.Article content“You don’t ever want to hope guys get hurt but it’s hockey so that happens to every team,” said Chiras, who played in 30 games last season after joining the team in January. “You see it at every level so that’s what the coaches have been preaching to me for the first half — just to stay ready because freak stuff happens all the time and there are other things too like Carlos going to world juniors. You have to be ready no matter what, then when you get an opportunity hopefully just keep pushing the envelope to eventually get my spot back in the lineup.”Article content Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Justin Chiras. – SUPPLIED BY TREVOR MACMILLAN/HALIFAX MOOSEHEADSArticle content“It was difficult but then you’ve got to understand that you want to do what’s best for the team,” he added. “You have to commit to your role no matter what it is. And it’s junior hockey so every guy has to go through some sort of phase. And then even the next year, who knows, I’ll probably be in a bit better situation. So you just try to learn a lesson from every situation and just keep getting better with the opportunity. And then when I get my time to play, the goal is to not waste it. And even when I’m sitting in the stands, the rest of the time we’re working out and we’re skating a ton so you can still improve in that situation, even while you’re not playing every night.”Article contentArticle contentWaugh needed the past few months to get over “a lower body problem” that took longer than expected to heal. But the popular veteran always seems to be in a good mood so he never let the tedious recovery process get the best of him.Article contentArticle content“(The first half) has kind of been all over the place for me, honestly, but we’ve got a great group of guys so it’s still been so fun so far,” Waugh said. “I was dealing with a little injury there so now I’m just very grateful to be back and getting to play some games. It’s super exciting to be back in the lineup.Article content“This weekend was the first time I’d been cleared so that was the first game that I was healthy.”Article content Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Lincoln Waugh puts a shot on net during Sunday’s QMJHL game against the Val-d’Or Foreurs at the Scotiabank Centre. – SUPPLIED BY TREVOR MACMILLAN/HALIFAX MOOSEHEADSArticle contentIn addition to trying to get to 100 per cent, Waugh made himself useful to the team the best way he knows how. The 19-year-old from Summerside is a talkative, energetic personality so he put his positive presence to use in the locker room.
Mooseheads defencemen Justin Chiras and Lincoln Waugh rewarded for patience and positive attitudes with ice time
