MSU’s newest hockey recruit has some Wolverine ties.
Nenad Gajic, an 18-year-old center, has verbally committed to MSU coaches for next season. His older brother, Milan Gajic (pronounced Geish), is a sophomore forward at Michigan, but Nenad Gajic said his sibling was supportive of his decision to choose the green and white.
“He encouraged me to go to Michigan State,” Nenad Gajic said from his home in Burnaby, British Columbia, on Monday. “He realized it’s the best thing for me and he still has respect for the program.
“(The rivalry) is not that big of a deal to us right now because we’re living together, but I’m sure it will grow once the season starts.”
Gajic chose MSU over St. Cloud State, Nebraska-Omaha, Alaska-Fairbanks and Minnesota-Duluth. He said U-M did not recruit him. He is the fifth member of the Spartans’ 2002 recruiting class and is a right-handed forward, which MSU has coveted for the past several months.
Gajic tallied 40 goals and 51 assists in 60 games for the Burnaby Bulldogs of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League last season. He also amassed 52 penalty minutes. He said the MSU coaches have told him he should be able to contribute as a freshman.
“I’ve talked to (MSU head coach Rick) Comley, and he doesn’t think I’ll have any problem,” Gajic said. “I’m fairly similar to my brother, but I’m a lot more two-way than him. I’m a lot more concerned about my defensive end, as you have to be when you’re a center.”
Gajic is not yet eligible for college athletics, but says it “shouldn’t be a problem.” He was 40 points short of a qualifying score on his SAT, but retook the test Saturday. He will take the ACT this Saturday and only needs a qualifying score on one test.
Spartan coaches, per NCAA rules, are not allowed to comment on recruits until the players have signed a National Letter of Intent. Gajic said he will sign with MSU once he becomes eligible.
The Spartans have already signed forwards Colton Fretter and David Booth, and defensemen Corey Potter and Evan Shaw for next season. Goaltender Justin Tobe will sign on for next season if senior goalie Ryan Miller foregoes his final season to turn pro. If Miller stays, Tobe will play another year of juniors.
To stay or not to stay?
Miller said he hasn’t even heard from the Buffalo Sabres, which hold his NHL rights.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but nothing’s really changed, man,” Miller said last week.
The two-time All-American and 2001 Hobey Baker Award winner said he has no timetable for making his professional decision this summer.
MSU fans might be heartened to know the Sabres’ owning family is having a financial crisis that could impact which, if any, free agents and draft picks the team signs this offseason.
Movin‘ on U.P.?
MSU assistant coach Dave McAuliffe is one of three finalists for the head coaching position at Northern Michigan. The job has been open since Rick Comley left the Wildcats to take over MSU in March.
McAuliffe, 36, will interview with Northern’s search committee Thursday. The other two finalists for the job are Wildcat assistant Dave Shyiak and New York Rangers assistant Walt Kyle, who will interview today and Friday, respectively.
Published reports have identified Shyiak as the front-runner, but McAuliffe thinks Kyle is the favorite. Still, McAuliffe says he is “very excited.”
“I don’t know much about their campus, but I’m learning more every day on the Internet and things like that,” said McAuliffe, who has been a Spartan assistant for 10 years. “I’m learning about their school and their athletic programs and then I’ll gain some knowledge when I’m up there.”
Rep. Ferguson
Senior forward Troy Ferguson was MSU’s delegate to the sixth annual NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference last week in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Nearly 300 schools sent a representative to the event.
Ferguson said university officials narrowed 40 Spartan student-athlete nominees down to four finalists before the NCAA chose him.
The conference was designed to enhance student-athletes’ leadership and communication skills and to help them solve problems at their respective schools.
Ferguson said the event was “one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life,” and gave him some ideas for bettering the athletics department.
“I want to strengthen interteam unity in the department, such as between the basketball team and the football team, the basketball team and the hockey team and with the nonrevenue sports as well,” Ferguson said. “I think it would make for a better atmosphere for student-athletes on campus as a whole.
“Because I’m so close to Coach (Ron) Mason (who will become athletics director on July 1), I think we can start a couple of programs with him.”
