U-M KICKS OFF TOURNEY TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST FALCONS
March 14, 2003

The Michigan hockey team begins defense of the Mason Cup tonight as they host Bowling Green in a best-of-three series at Yost Ice Arena.

The second-seeded Wolverines won and tied at Bowling Green last November. The Falcons have always provided tough competition and U-M will need to be well prepared so not to have a repeat of last year's near disaster.

Remember last year? Remember that first round opening loss to last place Lake Superior State that tanked the Wolverines in the PairWise Rankings and nearly cost them a spot in the NCAA tournament had they not won out? More importantly, hopefully they haven't forgotten.

Working in the Wolverines favor is their schedule over the past month. U-M played all the top teams in the CCHA in the home stretch of their schedule, putting them in the "big game" mentality.

If that's not enough, home-ice advantage has been a key factor. This is the 15th consecutive year U-M has hosted a first-round playoff game, and they sport a 27-4 record in that time. The Wolverines have advanced past the first round the last 14 years.

It's tourney time, the funnest time of the year, and it all starts tonight at 7:35 p.m. at Yost Ice Arena. If you can't be at the game, watch it on Fox Sports Detroit or listen to it on WTKA (online broadcast can be listened to at http://www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/streaming/ram/avs00.ram).

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WEBSITE UPDATES
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The message board is back up and running for those of you interested in chatting it up.

Also, all the pro news can now be found at http://alumni.michiganhockey.net - Do not go to http://michiganhockeyalumni.net anymore.  It's now a lost cause since I switched hosts.

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TURCO, MUCKALT EYE RETURNS
March 14, 2003

Former Wolverines Marty Turco and Bill Muckalt have been on the injured list longer than they originally expected, but both are hoping for a year-end return.

Turco sprained his ankle in a game against Carolina last month and had to leave the game. He was shooting for a team-record 15-game unbeaten streak at the time.

It was first thought he would only be out a couple of games, but the injury worsened to the point Turco couldn't put any weight on the ankle.
But recently the Stars have gotten some encouraging signs.

"He's getting some more motion and is definitely further ahead," coach Dave Tippett said in the Dallas Morning News. "But is he far enough along to try it [in practice]? We don't want any setbacks."

Verteran backup goalie Ron Tugnutt has assumed the starting role in Turco's absence.

Minnesota's Bill Muckalt, on the other hand, is hoping a break may finally go his way.

Sidelined since the sixth game of the season due to a separated right shoulder that required surgery, Muckalt estimates his shoulder strength is up to 40 percent and is optimistic he could return to the Wild by the end of the regular season.

"All in all, I'm pretty positive," Muckalt said in the Star-Tribune. "It's getting better every day. I just wish it would heal quicker. But it's definitely ahead of schedule so you can't complain or get frustrated."

Muckalt is skating with the team and is able to particpate in non-contact drills.

After a fabulous start to the season, which included breaking his 70-plus game goal scoring drought, Muckalt dislocated his shoulder in the sixth game of the season.

He was thought to only be sidelined a week or two, but as his luck has been in the NHL, that soon extended to three and four weeks. Then it was determined he needed surgery to repair in the shoulder and his season was most likely over.

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VAN RYN TRADED TO FLORIDA

The St. Louis Blues have traded former Wolverine defenseman Mike Van Ryn to Florida in exchange for winger Valeri Bure and a conditional 2004 fifth-round draft pick.

Van Ryn, 23, spent the first quarter of the season in St. Louis but struggled with confidence, especially after the loss of his linemate Chris Pronger last season.  He was sent to their AHL affiliate Worcester, where he has played since, and has somewhat fallen off the Blues depth chart with the emergence of rookie Barret Jackman.

Hopefully this will be a fresh start for Van Ryn, and the Panthers certainly have high hopes for their new young prospect.

"He is a first-round draft pick, and a great skater with a huge upside," said general manager Rick Dudley. "He is another young defenseman with an inordinate amount of talent."

Van Ryn has been assigned to the Panthers' minor league affiliate San Antonio of the American Hockey League.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net/