Senators Article: Banged-up Hamel determined to play
April 7, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

Banged-up Hamel determined to play

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- A week ago, Binghamton Senators winger Denis Hamel was watching Olympic figure skaters practicing for an upcoming show and joked that he could go on tour with them. That won't happen any time soon, not with his face all red and swollen.

But, remarkably, Hamel is on the verge of playing hockey again.

Just two days after a puck struck him on the right side of his face, causing massive swelling and lacerating his upper lip, Hamel skated hard Tuesday and said he is hoping to play tonight when the Senators visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for another pivotal East Division matchup.

"If it was another time of year, maybe I would take the time off," Hamel said. "But now we are in a battle for the playoffs, and I want to be there. Depending on how I feel, it will be my decision (this morning) if I'm going to play."

Senators coach John Paddock said he doubted Hamel would play tonight but sounded certain Hamel, the club's leading scorer and First Team AHL All-Star, would be ready Friday night when the Norfolk Admirals come to town for a game that may determine whether the Senators open the AHL playoffs at home or on the road.

That Hamel can play at all so soon after Sunday's first-period scare is astounding, considering he needed to be wheeled from the ice on a stretcher after Philadelphia Phantoms defenseman John Slaney's clearing attempt hit him square in the face, requiring 27 stitches to close the gash.

An X-ray and CT scan were both negative, and Hamel, having his finest season as a pro with 28 goals and 36 assists for 64 points in 76 games, learned Monday he would not need plastic surgery to repair the damage. He was scheduled to see a dentist Tuesday.

"I've got some damage but nothing like what the Philadelphia doctor said it would be," said Hamel, who has been drinking milkshakes until he can chew food without pain. "I saw a doctor here, and there is nothing not regular in there. Everything looked good. Now it's just a matter of time for the (swelling) to go down and the bruise to heal."

Regardless of when he returns, Hamel will have to play with a full shield attached to his helmet. It makes seeing the ice more difficult, but it is a minor inconvenience if it prevents him from being hit in the face again.

"We knew it was either going to be soon or a while (for Hamel to play again)," Paddock said. "He was either going to have enough problems to have surgery or not. He's going to have a full shield, and that's not easy to play with. If he had his way, he'd play (tonight), but I don't think that will happen."

Added winger Brad Tapper, "He's a warrior. Just having him back raises our spirits. Denis is our best offensive player, and we need him for a playoff push."

With three regular-season games left and five points separating them from third-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it is still mathematically possible for the Senators to finish third.

But realistically, they are fighting Norfolk for fourth place and home-ice advantage in the three-game preliminary round. The Senators have a one-point lead over the Admirals.

"It's numerically possible (to finish third), but we've got to win out," Tapper said. "At the very least, we want to finish fourth. We do not want to go back (to Norfolk). That was a long trip. We need fourth, if not third."

EMERY'S BACK

All-star goalie Ray Emery's most recent NHL call-up lasted all of one day.

Ottawa returned Emery to the minors Tuesday after starting goalie Patrick Lalime was cleared to play Thursday night in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Emery is expected to start tonight after making 39 saves in Sunday night's 3-2 overtime victory in Philadelphia.

SLAP SHOTS

The Senators have signed center Grant Potulny to a one-year contract and assigned him to play for Binghamton on an amateur tryout. Potulny, 24, recently completed his senior season at the University of Minnesota, recording 68 goals and 48 assists in 146 career games. ... Paddock said there is a better than 50-50 chance that winger/assistant coach Jody Hull will play tonight. Hull has missed the past three games with what the Senators have termed a "lower body injury."