Lee Goren/Landon Wilson

[SiouxFanInBoston]

There was a nice article about Lee Goren in today's Boston Globe that I've copied below. I've been out of town each time he's been brought up this year, so haven't seen him in person at the Fleet this year (I've seen him in prior years). The Globe also reported on Landon Wilson who's recovering after eye surgery. I've copied that report after the article on Lee. I really hope Landon isn't out for good. That would be horrible.

P.S. It was fun seeing the Sioux at the Ralph Friday night.

BRUINS NOTEBOOK

Goren is a work in progress

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 12/29/2002

TLANTA - He has had four stints in Boston this season - twice this month and twice last month. Each time, he has tried to make an impression on the coaching staff and management in hopes of sticking. Last night, forward Lee Goren played in his seventh NHL game of the season. In his first six, he had two goals and one assist, with one of the goals coming in Friday night's loss in Tampa Bay. Against Atlanta, Goren played just seven shifts over 4 minutes 52 seconds of ice time on a line with Andy Hilbert and Sean Brown.

Goren said he's just trying to make progress with each outing.

''Right now I'm just trying to work hard and fit in and play anywhere they put me and just try to get the job done,'' said Goren, who has 28 points in 30 games with Providence this year. ''It's difficult at times. But I'm glad to be up here and it's where I want to be playing. There are 22 good hockey players in that locker room and to play with any of them is an honor.''

It was a chore just getting to where his teammates were. He had gone to the Minneapolis area for the Christmas holiday. He got the call Thursday to join Boston in Tampa. He flew from Minneapolis to Providence. Then, on Friday morning, he went to Boston to board a plane for Tampa. He arrived around 12:30 p.m., in time for the pregame meal and a nap.

''I felt a little sluggish in the first period,'' he said of his early shifts against the Lightning. ''As the game went on, I felt I got things going and I thought I had an all right game. I made some good plays and got the puck out. I kind of cost the team one goal at the end there, but other than that I thought it was all right.''

It's never easy for players to bounce from line to line but Goren said it goes with the territory. He knows he's bound to see more time on the fourth line than the first until he proves himself.

''It's just something that we have to do as professionals,'' he said. ''I'm just happy to be here. I don't care what line I play on. I just want to get out there and try to prove that I belong and day in and day out - don't give them any kind of indication that I want to be in Providence.''

He said he's not putting too much pressure on himself to score every shift. If he's making a consistent contribution, be it hitting or getting the puck out of the defensive zone, he figures he'll be noticed and eventually the points will come.

''Every time I go out on the ice I want to try to prove something,'' he said. ''I want to prove that I belong here and that I can play in this league and I want to play in this league for a long time. I think I'm making progress.''

Goren spent time playing on a line with center Joe Thornton and right wing Glen Murray Friday as coach Robbie Ftorek tried to get something going. Goren said he had the time of his life.

''Coach had me playing on the first line with Joe and Muzz and that was unbelievable,'' he said. ''I've watched them the last five or six games I've been up and to actually be on their line is awesome, it's fun.

''It's like we've always got the puck in their zone. Joe brings so many guys to him and he opens up room. Those guys are unbelievable hockey players. I learn a lot from watching Muzz. The way he plays is fun to watch.''

Wilson ailing

By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff, 12/29/2002

Tough times for ex-Bruin winger Landon Wilson, who recently underwent surgery to repair a torn left retina, the injury sustained Dec. 13 when teammate Shane Doan's shot deflected into his unmasked face. It will be at least another three weeks before eye doctors can assess the damage to the 27-year-old winger. Wilson is virtually certain to miss the rest of this season and his career could be in peril. Meanwhile, Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett, his own playing career curtailed by an eye injury in the minor leagues some 20 years ago, is thumping the tub for the NHL and the Players' Association to make eye protection mandatory, similar to the wearing of helmets. Not a single NHLer would dream of suiting up without a protective cup, but the vast majority, especially the North Americans, won't even consider eye protection. The bet here is that 3-5 years from now, when everyone is wearing eye protection, we'll find the idea of playing without a visor just as unthinkable as a goalie going out there without a mask ...