The injuries are starting to pile up for Minnesota’s men’s hockey team.
Sophomore Barry Tallackson will be out six to eight weeks after a Monday examination revealed an acromioclavicular (AC) right shoulder separation. The injury doesn’t require surgery.
An AC injury is most common among younger athletes and usually requires at least two months for the joint to regain its mobility, according to eMedicine, an online medical database.
“It’s a big disappointment,” coach Don Lucia said. “Hopefully, he can come back and help us in the second half of the season.”
Tallackson was injured in the second period of Friday’s game at Michigan Tech when he took a helmet to the shoulder.
The forward had recorded one assist in the team’s first four games. In his career, Tallackson has 13 goals and 11 assists.
With Tallackson and captain Grant Potulny hobbled, Minnesota has lost two of its top nine forwards entering the season.
Smaagaard will play
orward Garrett Smaagaard won’t redshirt this season and will likely play this weekend, Lucia said.
Minnesota plays Alabama-Huntsville in a two-game series this weekend at Mariucci Arena.
The sophomore hasn’t seen any game action yet this season, but injuries to Tallackson and Potulny should put Smaagard into the lineup.
“We are still in an experimental stage,” Lucia said. “We need more guys to step it up.”
Against Michigan Tech on Friday, Tallackson played at the center position. However, Lucia said Smaagaard would compete from his natural right wing position.
In his rookie season, Smaagaard played in 19 games and tallied three points. The Eden Prairie, Minn., native didn’t suit up for the team’s final 16 games last season.
Mural status
raig Flor, facilities manager for Mariucci Arena, said the new mural honoring Minnesota’s four recent All-Americans will be ready for Friday’s game.
The mural, located behind Section 23 in the northwest corner of the arena, will not be completed until late Thursday.
Brian Bonin (1995 and 1996 All-America winner), Mike Crowley (1996, 1997), Jordan Leopold (2001, 2002) and Johnny Pohl (2002) will be featured on the new mural.
The mural currently displaying Bonin, Crowley and Leopold will be reverted to its pre-1995 form.
