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Sports | Ice Hockey

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

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

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

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

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

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.