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Sports | Ice Hockey

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.

ICE HOCKEY

Mason brings coachs touch

Andrew Fifer
July 3, 2002

The waters have been calmed, the ship has been righted and now there’s a new captain. MSU athletics director Ron Mason has taken over the controls of MSU sports, and said he doesn’t expect a lot of change. Mason officially took over duties of the department Monday, after former athletics director Clarence Underwood ended his 23 years of work with MSU and more than three years 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

Spartans nab brothers from Lake Superior State

James Jahnke
June 26, 2002

A pair of Nightingales will soon migrate south to East Lansing, and the Spartan hockey team will be the beneficiary of the move. Adam Nightingale, a forward for Lake Superior State, is transferring to MSU, and his little brother, Jared Nightingale, has signed a National Letter of Intent with the Spartans and will be a freshman in the fall. Per NCAA transfer rules, Adam Nightingale will not be allowed to play for a season, but can practice with the team.

ICE HOCKEY

5 Spartans chosen in NHL draft

James Jahnke
June 24, 2002

Jim Slater sat in the Air Canada Centre for several hours Saturday, in disbelief about what was unfolding in front of him.Slater, a sophomore center at MSU, was projected as a solid first-round pick in this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft in Toronto.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans look ahead to NHL draft

James Jahnke
June 20, 2002

A quartet of Spartan sophomores - led by center Jim Slater - expect to hear their names called at this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft in Toronto, but the players say they have no inkling as to which team will pick them. “I really don’t have a clue,” defenseman Duncan Keith said from his home in Penticton, British Columbia earlier this week.

ICE HOCKEY

McAuliffe to stay with Spartans

Assistant coach Dave McAuliffe will be back with the Spartan hockey team next season, after being passed over for the vacant Northern Michigan head coaching job.McAuliffe, 36, was one of three finalists for the Wildcat position, but the school ultimately chose former Northern player and assistant coach Walt Kyle to succeed Rick Comley.

ICE HOCKEY

Trophy stops in Lansing as part of Michigan tour

Antonio Planas
June 6, 2002

Lansing - On an otherwise gloomy day, the glory, mystique and tradition of the NHL’s most coveted award shined bright at the state Capitol on Wednesday. The Stanley Cup made its way to Lansing on Wednesday morning, where fans of all ages waited in line to catch a glimpse and take a picture with the cup.

ICE HOCKEY

Recruits make good on verbal commitment

James Jahnke
May 15, 2002

The MSU hockey team didn’t surprise anyone when it announced the signings of two recruits Tuesday.Defenseman Evan Shaw and left wing David Booth, each of whom verbally committed to the Spartans during the winter, officially signed National Letters of Intent last week.

ICE HOCKEY

Newton expects to remain at U

James Jahnke
April 11, 2002

MSU assistant coach Tom Newton, who expressed interest in becoming Bowling Green’s next head coach, said Wednesday that he doesn’t expect to be offered the job. “It would really shock me,” Newton said from his home.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller headlines three Spartans as All-Americans

James Jahnke
April 5, 2002

Junior goaltender Ryan Miller earned his second-straight West All-America first-team honor Thursday, while two Spartan defensemen made the second team. The second-team accolades taken by junior defenseman John-Michael Liles and senior defenseman Andrew Hutchinson make MSU the only school with three All-Americans this year.

ICE HOCKEY

Goaltender ready to man the pipes

James Jahnke
April 3, 2002

If junior 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 next season.After all, Miller has been the epitome of excellence and durability in his three-year MSU career.