Payson Memorial Game set Saturday
BANGOR — The Ben Payson Memorial Bangor High Alumni Hockey Game will be held at 5:20 p.m. Saturday at Sawyer Arena.
The cost to play is a minimum donation of $15 which will be used for ice time and to the team to commemorate Payson. Players must wear a full facemask.
Ohio State fan alleges Michigan’s Lewan assaulted him
Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan was questioned by Ann Arbor police after an Ohio State fan said he was assaulted outside a downtown restaurant on Nov. 30, the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday.
The alleged assault took place after Michigan’s 42-41 loss to Ohio State on Nov. 30. Police are still investigating and would not comment. Lewan has yet to be charged or arrested.
Ryan Munsch, 29, of Columbus, Ohio, told the Free Press and other media outlets that Lewan assaulted him and a friend in Ann Arbor. He said Lewan punched the friend, then hit Munsch in the face, knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the ribs.
David Root, manager of The Brown Jug restaurant, told the Free Press that police viewed surveillance camera video footage that apparently was inconclusive. Root did not see the alleged incident but witnessed an ambulance pulling away and police speaking with Lewan afterward.
Vikings’ Peterson pushes to play in Metrodome finale
The Minnesota Vikings have nothing to play for on Sunday when they face the Detroit Lions, but that does not matter to running back Adrian Peterson. He wants to play in the final game in the Metrodome before it closes.
“I am feeling all right, not as healthy as I would like,” Peterson said, according to the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. “I am going to push to try and get out there this week.”
Peterson sat out practice on Tuesday. He has battled a groin strain and a sprained foot.
He did not play Dec. 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles and was shut down last Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals were running away with a 42-14 victory over the Vikings. Peterson carried 11 times for 45 yards but had just one carry in the second half.
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said a determination on Peterson’s status for Sunday will be made after Thursday’s practice. The team is off on Christmas Day.
Both the Vikings (4-10-1) and Lions (7-8) are out of playoff contention. And it has not been a good season for Peterson, either. After rushing for 2,097 yards last year when the Vikings made the playoffs with a 10-6 record, he has rushed for 1,266 yards during an injury-plagued 2013 season.
Bears’ McCown not certain he will keep playing
There’s no guarantee that quarterback Josh McCown would return to the Chicago Bears next year if starter Jay Cutler ends up going elsewhere.
Family is the most important factor for the 34-year-old veteran, and that ultimately will be the determining factor in his football future.
McCown and his wife, Natalie, live in North Carolina with their four children and he does not like being away from home during the season, particularly during the Christmas season.
“It’s a year-to-year thing of how long is this going to be,” McCown told the Chicago Sun-Times. “In our minds, when we commit to it, it’s for a year. So to be apart like this, it’s a tough deal. But it’s something everybody (in my family) talks about, including my daughter, my oldest, especially, just sitting with her, ‘Is all this OK? Are you cool with this?’ So she’s been great with it all.”
McCown stepped in this season when Cutler was injured and the Bears have a 3-2 record when he starts. He has a 109.0 passer rating, completing 149 of 224 passes for 1,829 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception.
QB Hendrix seeks release from Notre Dame
Quarterback Andrew Hendrix asked for his release from Notre Dame, coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday, according to Rivals.com.
Hendrix would have one year of eligibility remaining should he move to another school. The Chicago Tribune reported Dec. 14 that Hendrix was eyeing a move to Miami University in Ohio, where the new head coach, Chuck Martin, is Notre Dame’s former offensive coordinator.
Malik Zaire, who redshirted this season, and Everett Golson, back at Notre Dame following a suspension, are penciled in as the Irish’s top two quarterbacks for next season, prompting Hendrix to look elsewhere.
Hendrix appeared in six games this season, completing two of 14 passes for 56 yards with no touchdown passes and no interceptions.