ALUMNI TRACKER: Lin Starts Season, Leblanc Sidelined

After a breakout season that few saw coming, Jeremy Lin ’10 will begin a new chapter in his career with the Houston Rockets when they travel to take on the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night. Although Lin is moving out of the limelight that accompanies athletes in New York, Linsanity’s touchdown in Houston will certainly bring the Rockets an increased national media following.

The Rockets recently acquired former Oklahoma City Thunder star James Harden—a move that will take some pressure off Lin—who at times appeared to struggle in preseason. Although he played nearly half of every game, Lin averaged only 6.3 points per game and shot a meager 28.3 percent from the field during the warm-up contests. Lin will need to improve on his Achilles heel of 6.4 turnovers every 48 minutes last year if he is to effectively lead the Houston offense.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick ’05 and the Buffalo Bills were off this week. With nearly half the season in the books, the Amish Rifle finds himself ranked 28th out of all active quarterbacks with 205 yards per game. But Fitzpatrick also has posted an average passer rating of 86.1 that falls in the top half of the NFL, and he ranks sixth in the league with 15 touchdowns thrown. The Bills will be back in action next week when they play the Texans on the road.

Hockey player Louis Leblanc, formerly ’13, has suffered an injury that will likely keep him sidelined for 4-6 weeks. Currently playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL, Leblanc incurred a high ankle sprain during a fight in a game on October 20. Leblanc received a fighting major penalty, but the injury will serve to keep him off the ice for a good deal longer.

Leblanc—along with every other professional hockey player, regardless of any injury—is unlikely to see NHL action soon. As the lockout stretches on and the Players’ Association and the NHL have not met for two weeks, rumors are circulating that the league will soon have to cancel all games through the Winter Classic.