DENVER - The Colorado Avalanche have sent top pick Joey Hishon back to the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League.

Hishon, the 17th-overall selection in June, hurt his hand in training camp and will be out at least a week.

With that, the Avs elected Tuesday to return the centre to the Attack, the squad Hishon skated for last season.

Hishon was attempting to make the roster just like 18-year-olds Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly did in 2009-10. The youngsters helped fuel Colorado's revival last season as the team made the post-season a year after finishing last in the Western Conference.

Colorado also trimmed its pre-season roster to 41 players. Defenceman Ray Macias was among the nine players reassigned to the American Hockey League.