Rick DiPietro is going to have to hang up the skates for the rest of this season for the New York Islanders.  Rick Dipietro has been fighting a hip injury for much of the season and he has now learned that he will need surgery to repair the injured hip.

The New York Islander’s season is all but over.  While they haven’t been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, it is clear that the Islanders will not be making it to the post season this year.  Wade Dubielewicz will take over the goaltending duties for the rest of the season for the ISles.

Rick DiPietro decided to go through with the hip surgery now so that he will be 100% ready for training camp next year.  Hip surgeries do require some serious rehabbing, and even if DiPietro is ready by training camp he will likely be very rusty.

photo credit:  nhl.speedera.net