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Sports | Ice Hockey

ICE HOCKEY

Team picked second in both CCHA polls, adopt rule changes

James Jahnke
September 18, 2002

Both the CCHA’s media and coaches, voting in polls released Tuesday, picked the MSU hockey team to repeat last year’s second-place league finish.Archrival Michigan was named by both polls as the preseason favorite, but this could also be the first year since Lake Superior State won in 1995-96 that a team other than MSU or U-M claims the conference title.The CCHA playing field has seemingly been leveled, thanks to early defections from the league’s perennial powers.

ICE HOCKEY

Two players leave team

James Jahnke
September 10, 2002

Right wing Steve Jackson and forward Pat Brush have both left the Spartan hockey team, MSU head coach Rick Comley confirmed Monday.Jackson, who would have been a senior, and Brush, who would have been a junior, are the third and fourth players to prematurely leave the team since Comley replaced Ron Mason in March.Last month, junior goaltender Ryan Miller left the Spartans to sign with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and sophomore defenseman Aaron Hundt transferred to Wayne State.Both Jackson and Brush voluntarily quit the team, Comley said.

ICE HOCKEY

Future skaters take the ice

Dimondale - MSU’s coaching staff worked three long days this weekend while scouting some of the nation’s best junior players at the North American Hockey League’s second annual Face-Off at The Summit.But while the Spartans searched for their next prized recruit, the two guys MSU has already landed were able to prove their worth on the ice.Capital Centre Pride left wing Drew Miller tallied a hat trick and an assist Saturday, while his future Spartan teammate Tommy Goebel put in two goals for the Cleveland Barons during the second day of the three-day, season-opening NAHL event.All of the NAHL’s 11 teams, plus the Under-18 U.S.

ICE HOCKEY

Even with Ryan gone, Millers still hospitable to team

James Jahnke
September 5, 2002

Although former goaltender Ryan Miller is on his way to western New York to play professional hockey, his parents are still rooted in East Lansing - and that seems to be good news for members of the MSU hockey team. During the past three years, Dean and Teresa Miller have become something of local guardians to the Spartan players, who hail from places as far away as British Columbia, Alberta and North Dakota.

ICE HOCKEY

Fan club looks to grow

James Jahnke
September 4, 2002

Slapshots, MSU hockey’s student cheering organization, will begin selling tickets for its expanded and relocated section tonight. The section, which is run by the Student Alumni Foundation, has upped its membership by 30 this year, bringing the total number of available Slapshots season tickets to 144.

ICE HOCKEY

Freshman eager to arrive, veteran looks for new home

James Jahnke
August 29, 2002

Seven of the Spartan hockey team’s eight freshmen are on campus, going to class, skating at Munn Ice Arena and generally getting acclimated to college life. The only rookie missing is Nenad Gajic, a skilled forward from Burnaby, British Columbia, who is still with his club lacrosse team that’s fighting for the Canadian junior national championship. Gajic, who is also a forward in lacrosse, is pursuing the Minto Cup with the rest of his Burnaby Lakers teammates.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller leaves behind legacy, questions

James Jahnke
August 28, 2002

One would assume that Matt Migliaccio and Justin Tobe would be feeling a little pressure now that the unenviable task of replacing Ryan Miller has officially begun. After all, Miller was one of the most prolific goaltenders in college hockey history before signing with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

ICE HOCKEY

Empty net

James Jahnke
August 28, 2002

Ryan Miller was back in his hometown of East Lansing Tuesday after spending the previous day in Buffalo - the city he hopes to call his hockey home in the near future. The 22-year-old star goaltender met with local media Tuesday to explain his decision to forgo his senior season at MSU in favor of professional hockey.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller leaves Spartans for pros

James Jahnke
August 27, 2002

The first day of fall semester classes brought beginnings for most MSU students, but it signaled the end of Ryan Miller’s collegiate athletic career. Miller, a two-time All-American goaltender, forfeited his senior year of eligibility and signed a contract with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

ICE HOCKEY

Alumni return to Munn

James Jahnke
August 26, 2002

The MSU hockey program held its version of a family reunion last week, but instead of burgers, beer and dorky party games, there were pucks, slap shots and shards of glass.For the third-straight summer, Spartan assistant coach Tom Newton welcomed back former MSU skaters for a weeklong “pro camp” at Munn Ice Arena.

ICE HOCKEY

Millers pro decision still cloudy

James Jahnke
August 26, 2002

Evidence continues to mount that Spartan goaltender Ryan Miller will forego his senior year of eligibility in order to turn professional. Miller, reached at his parents’ house Sunday afternoon, pleaded the fifth on the issue, as he has all summer.

ICE HOCKEY

Long-time coach takes over as director

Andrew Fifer
August 24, 2002

The waters have calmed, the ship has been righted and now there’s a new captain. MSU athletics director Ron Mason has taken the controls of MSU sports, and said he doesn’t expect a lot of change. Mason officially took over duties of the department July 1, after former athletics director Clarence Underwood ended his 23 years of work with MSU, with more than three years spent at the helm of MSU sports. Despite some tumultuous times, Mason and others credit Underwood with bringing unity and direction to the athletics department. “I’m not coming in here with any grand plan,” Mason said.

ICE HOCKEY

Goalie ready for ice action

James Jahnke
August 24, 2002

If senior goaltender Ryan Miller leaves school early - and that’s still an “if” at this point - Spartan fans probably will be a little worried about MSU’s last line of defense.After all, Miller has been the epitome of excellence and durability in his three-year MSU career.

ICE HOCKEY

Gambling man, Miller refuses to reveal hand

James Jahnke
August 7, 2002

If Hollywood ever makes a sequel to the gambling flick “Rounders,” I would vote for Ryan Miller to replace Matt Damon as the lead actor. First of all, having someone with Miller’s wiry stature succeed on the big screen would give hopes of stardom to all skinny kids - like me, Mike Chappell and Grover from “Sesame Street.” But I digress. On a more “serious” note, I’d endorse Miller for the role because he’s got a great poker face.

ICE HOCKEY

Safety nets expected to return

James Jahnke
August 5, 2002

Rink manager Tom Campbell said it’s “99 percent certain” that MSU will reinstate safety nets behind both goals at Munn Ice Arena this year - one season after the university removed the safeguards.The move is largely in response to an NHL initiative to put safety nets in every member arena following the death of 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil at a Columbus Blue Jackets game in March.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans release Icers schedule

James Jahnke
July 22, 2002

The MSU hockey team released its 2002-03 schedule Thursday, and there is no shortage of intriguing games on the docket. Among the highlights, the Spartans will face nonconference powers Boston University and Denver in regular-season tournaments.

ICE HOCKEY

U-M wins coin toss, home game

James Jahnke
July 11, 2002

Stockbridge - MSU head coach Rick Comley and Michigan head coach Red Berenson couldn’t hammer out a decision on which school would get an extra home game in their season series this year, so they reverted to a problem-solving method that would have made the East Lansing school board proud. They flipped a coin in a far-off location. The setting was the tiny village Stockbridge, which is nearly equidistant between Ann Arbor and East Lansing.