Munich, Germany - Versatile winger Andy Schneider will have to play a lot of defense once again. Not because he enjoys it so much, of course. Munich’s ongoing injury worries seem to have reached a new climax, benching the top four Barons defensemen.

Shane Peacock became the latest addition to Munich’s infirmary Monday. X-rays revealed that the 28-year-old broke his foot in Sunday’s win over Oberhausen. The 1999-2000 league MVP will be out four to six weeks.

Lodin, Fearns and Herter also injured

Swedish defenseman Hans Lodin had surgery on his wrist last Wednesday, an injury that had bothered him since training camp and might bench the 35-year-old for up to nine weeks.

On Friday, Kent Fearns re-aggravated a groin injury. He will likely not return before January either.

Jason Herter is likely to miss another two to three weeks as well. The 31-year-old who, had knee surgery to repair his torn meniscus mid-October, has not fully recovered yet.

The four injuries leave Barons head coach Sean Simpson with only four healthy defensemen: Youngsters Christoph Schubert, Patrick Köppchen and veterans Mike Smazal and Greg Johnston.

”Schneids” has to step in

Thus all-rounder Andy Schneider will have to help out on defense yet again. The 29-year-old has been called upon several times this season.

And coach Simpson has been more than pleased with “Schneids’s” two-way play: “Andy is a great player. He can skate, pass, defend - he’s strong at both ends of the ice. In my opinion, he’s one of the best players in the DEL. And one of the most underrated, too.”