Why you may well ask?

Well since taking a puck in the face and fracturing his jaw against Slough Jets, the 26-year-old defenceman has been forced to eat his meals through a straw and sirloin tastes rotten when it's been in the blender.

And for the next few weeks at least it's soup and soft rolls for 'Munners' as he gives his battered face a chance to heal.

But amazingly considering the extent of his injury and despite his saddening steak deprivation, the Bretton beefcake expects to be back on the ice in a week.

He said: "Ice hockey is a tough game and sometimes you just have to put your body on the line for the team and that is what I did.

"We have one of the best shot-stoppers in the league in Dwayne Newman and all us other guys take his lead by throwing ourselves in front of shots when they come in.

"It is often just a case of closing your eyes and hoping that it hits something that doesn't hurt. But against Slough it really hurt!"

And that's not surprising considering several of his teeth were dislodged by the impact which also left Munroe with a fractured jaw that was only diagnosed after a visit to the dentist.

He added: "I was originally told in A and E that I had not broken my jaw and it was only when I went to the dentist that I discovered that was not the case.

"I needed some teeth sorting out so they did an x-ray and found I had fractured the other side of my jaw to where I was hit which shows how hard the shot must have been.

"Originally I was told I would be out for a few months but I have since been told six weeks. But for a hockey player that means about a week as I cannot wait to get back.

"You just have to accept the fact that sometimes you get hurt in this game and just get on with it."

And if Munroe's desire to ignore medical advice and get back into the fray so soon seems just a tad masochistic it must be weighed against his frustration at watching from the sidelines as his team-mates tear up the league.

"The team is really flying at the moment," he added, "and it is very hard for me to be sitting out and just watching. I want to be out there.

"I have had a few medical opinions but I reckon while I will miss this weekend's games I will be back in training next week and should be okay for the following weekend.

"I know it could happen again but that is just a part of the game I love. In the same position I would not think twice about slinging myself in front of the puck. I just hope I get a bit luckier next time."