AP NCAA Basketball
| UPDATED: Hammond questionable for OSU (10-26-12) |
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| Written by Kevin Gordon Sentinel Assistant Sports Editor | ||
| Thursday, 25 October 2012 18:29 | ||
A decision on whether the senior standout will be available for BG's games this weekend will be made today after he is examined again by team medical personnel. The Falcons, 1-3-1 overall, host Ohio State (1-2-1) tonight and Saturday to begin Central Collegiate Hockey Association play. Hammond participated in about 75 percent of Wednesday's practice and 50 percent of Thursday's practice, Bergeron said. He didn't practice Tuesday. The injury is to Hammond's right arm, the side he holds the stick with. "He's still sore, but the pain and swelling are a little bit less," Bergeron said. Hammond had started BG's last 55 games before he was hurt 29 seconds into the Colgate series. He was replaced by freshman Tommy Burke, who also played Game 2. Burke played well and stopped 47-of-52 shots for a .904 save percentages as BG earned a series split. Burke or junior Scott Zacharias, who hasn't played this season and only appeared in three games last season, will start if Hammond can't play. BG PP: The BG power play tries to rebound from a disappointing weekend at Colgate where it was 0-of-9. BG has just three power-play goals in 26 attempts this season. Youth is still part of the issue as BG's two power-play units consist primarily of freshman and sophomores. "It's a matter of finding that swagger we should have as a five-man group," said BG sophomore forward Dan DeSalvo, who had 14 goals and 11 assists last season. "We want these guys to go on the ice with a purpose, a chip on their shoulder - there's no way you're going to out-compete us." Bergeron said. "If we're focused and intense on the power play, the hockey plays will happen because we'll earn the puck, earn the (offensive) zone and have zone time." BG PK: The Falcon penalty-killers didn't allow a goal in eight attempts against Colgate, after Union was 5-for-9 against BG the previous weekend. BG's penalty-killing is at 75 percent (15-of-20) for the season. "We got that swagger, that little chip on our shoulder back," Bergeron said. "We're going to be hard and we're going to be intense and, hopefully, we're going to get the job done. We're talented enough. We've got guys who can get the job done. Now, it's just a matter of execution." LONG AGO: Although BG and OSU played two ties in the Ice Arena last season, the Falcons are 0-9-2 in their last 11 games against the Buckeyes. BG's last win against OSU came Feb. 1, 2008. FACEOFFS: The Falcons continue to work on faceoffs after they won only 38.6 percent of the 127 faceoffs at Colgate. "We put the onus on the center not to lose the draw clean and then let's get in there and help pick up the loose puck sitting there," Bergeron said. "We're definitely struggling with that and we'll keep working at it." BG has won just 46.8 percent of its faceoffs this season. GOALIES: OSU senior Brady Hjelle and freshman Collin Olson each have started two games in goal for OSU. Olson has a 2.01 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage, while Hjelle has a 3.36 goals-against and a .901 save percentage. OSU PP/PK: OSU is last in the league in power-play conversions (1-of-20, 5 percent) and ninth in penalty-killing (17-of-22, 77.3 percent). ROAD TRIP: OSU is playing three straight road series to open the season. Its already visited Minnesota-Duluth and Quinnipiac. OSU is off next week before playing its first home games Nov. 9-10 against Alaska. JST: Former BG forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas is playing for Quinnipiac of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The Winnipeg Jets draft pick had 20 goals and 26 assists in two seasons at BG before transferring to Quinnipiac after the 2010-11 season. |
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| Last Updated on Friday, 26 October 2012 09:45 |
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