Meyers has huge task vs. Camp Hill in 2A second round

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Misericordia University American Medical Student Association Club holding conference on global service

<p>After Barry Goers underwent hip surgery in November, there were questions whether he would be able to make it back at all this season.</p><p>But Goers never had a doubt.</p><p>The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman suffered the injury during the preseason and tried to let the ailment heal but to no avail. Surgery put Goers on the shelf long-term, but he salvaged his season with a return to the lineup on Friday against Lehigh Valley.</p><p>&#8220;I knew I had to play this year. I knew I could make it back even ahead of when people thought I could because I believe in my work ethic and my ability to come back,&#8221; Goers said after Tuesday&#8217;s practice at the Mohegan Sun Arena.</p><p>With two games under his belt, Goers acknowledged it will take some time to get back to 100 percent.</p><p>But at least he&#8217;s back.</p><p>&#8220;I feel like myself again,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s nice not to have the hip pain.&#8221;</p><p>Now in his sixth pro season, and third with the Penguins, Goers provides a steadying influence on the blueline.</p><p>And some much-needed depth.</p><p>Head coach Clark Donatelli praised Goers for his ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone, manage things on the ice and bring leadership to the room.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a big piece of the puzzle going forward and he really strengthens our D corps,&#8221; Donatelli said.</p><p>As he gets better, Goers admitted there was a big mental hurdle he had to clear in his first two games back. It&#8217;s a question that every player coming back from an injury faces: How will the injury hold up under game conditions?</p><p>&#8220;The longer you go without playing the more you&#8217;re concerned about how it&#8217;s going to be,&#8221; Goers said. &#8220;You just go for one shift at a time, take some checks and throw your body around a little bit and as the game goes on you settle in a little more.&#8221;</p><p>NOTES</p><p>- During his two games this weekend, Goers got his first taste of the new system implemented by former coach Mike Sullivan and carried on by Donatelli. &#8220;Our systems have definitely changed from (former coach John) Hynes to now. I think both systems work well. They both have their pros and cons. I like the way we&#8217;re playing right now,&#8221; he said.</p><p>- On the injury front, Donatelli said F Sahir Gill is out long-term with a lower body injury, F Oskar Sundqvist could be upgraded to day-to-day in the near future and D Niclas Andersen didn&#8217;t practice due to illness. F Tyler Biggs also sat out after experiencing concussion-like symptoms resulting from a hit he sustained on Sunday against Hershey.</p><p>Donatelli called the hit by Hershey&#8217;s Garrett Mitchell questionable. He was suspended by the AHL for three games on Tuesday.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a hit that I think the league doesn&#8217;t want in the game because he&#8217;s in a vulnerable position,&#8221; Donatelli said. &#8220;There was head contact. The initial shot got him high and followed through with the head. It was questionable in our eyes for sure.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Up next&#8230;</strong></p><p>Lehigh Valley Phantoms (27-28-2-3, .492, 7th place in the Atlantic Division) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (35-19-4-1, .636, 2nd place in the Atlantic Division)</p><p>Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena</p><p>Listen live on 103.1FM-WILK</p><p>Players to watch:</p><p>Lehigh Valley - Petr Straka has the only Phantoms goal in the last two games.</p><p>Penguins - Carter Rowney has 10 goals and 17 points in his last 15 games.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Barry Goers feels like himself again for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins