ST. Paul DeJong . PAUL, Minn. -- Josh Harding has been perhaps the feel-good story of the NHL season, putting up numbers unmatched for a goalie after revealing that he has multiple sclerosis. The Minnesota Wild goalie was placed on injured reserve Wednesday night to give him time to make adjustments to medication, and the team is confident he will return in top form. "Over the next week, Josh will make a minor adjustment to his treatment protocol," Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said in a statement issued by the team. "Josh feels great and he looks forward to rejoining our team for our game in Winnipeg on Dec. 27." That Fletcher put an exact timeline on Hardings return is encouraging for a team that has leaned heavily on him to keep them in the playoff picture in the demanding Western Conference. Harding revealed this summer that he had been diagnosed with MS, but planned to continue playing while getting taking medication. There were plenty of skeptics. But after starting the season as the backup to Niklas Backstrom, Harding asserted himself as the Wilds unquestioned No. 1 goalie. Hes gone 18-5-3 and leads the NHL with a 1.51 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. He is fresh off making 29 saves and stopping all three shootout attempts by Vancouver in Minnesotas 3-2 victory over the Canucks on Tuesday night. Harding will have to miss at least a week while on injured reserve. That means he will be out at least three games. Backstrom, who is 2-5-2 with a 2.93 goals-against average, will carry the load while Harding is way. Johan Gustafsson has been recalled from Iowa of the AHL to take Hardings spot and could see some action if Harding winds up missing more time than initially expected. Michael Wacha . Russell Wilson against Darrelle Revis, former teammate Brandon Browner and whatever schemes Bill Belichick dreams up. Ted Simmons . -- Patrick Kueng of Switzerland was nearly flawless as he captured his first World Cup and halted Aksel Lund Svindals streak of four straight super-G victories on Saturday.TORONTO -- Canadas largest private sector union will likely hold a formal meeting early next week as it attempts to begin the process of representing major junior hockey players from around the country. A Unifor spokesperson said internal meetings will be held Wednesday as the union continues to put leadership plans in place for the project. However, there are no firm plans to meet with players at this time. "Once we feel that we have everything in order, then well call that meeting," said Unifor spokesperson Sarah Blackstock. "We dont want to rush into anything and I think the stakes are really high. The need for the union is great and so weve got to move carefully and make sure that we get it right." Reached a short time later, Unifor president Jerry Dias said plans should be finalized in the coming days at a venue yet to be determined. "Were just nailing down the details as to what its going to look like, but my guess is well be ready to go next week," he said. Unifor was created a year ago through the merger of the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions. There was a failed atttempt to unionize junior hockey players in Nova Scotia over a year ago. Tony La Russa. A would-be union withdrew its certification application with the provincial government in November 2012. Dias has said Unifor was approached by the failed union in June for help. The creation of a board of directors and a legal entity are first on Unifors to-do list. The union would aim to make improvements in several areas for players, including pay, restrictions on university scholarships and health insurance. "Weve always said and we strongly feel more than ever before that we serve the best interest of our players," OHL commissioner and CHL president David Branch told The Canadian Press. "We are always challenging ourselves on how we can better meet their needs, both as developing them as young people and as players, and we dont think a third party could do it better. "So were certainly committed to continue on with our programs as they currently exist." There are 60 teams in the Canadian Hockey League, the umbrella organization for the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. ' ' '
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