The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Boston's Zdano Chara caused a back injury that ended Pacioretty's season. The Montreal Canadiens left wing felt a different sort of ache Feb. 8 when he flew through the air at Carolina, hit a metal post and felt a sharp pain in his arm. The first thought that entered his mind: "Please don't let this be the end of my Olympic dream." Pacioretty had been tabbed to play for Team USA in the 2014 Sochi Winter Games in Russia, an event he'd been antici- pating for weeks. "It was a little bit of a scare," Pacio- retty told the Associated Press. Also for Olympic coach Dan Bylsma, the Pittsburgh Penguins' head coach. "I heard the news before I saw it. I was a little more nervous after I saw how he went into the net," he said. "That was a serious crash into the net." Pacioretty, though, received good news after meeting with trainers. There was no serious injury, and he probably could have returned later in the Canadiens' 4-1 win. "As soon as I got diagnosed during the game I knew things were going to be okay," he said. "After I got the treatment I needed, had that been an important game, I probably would have able to come back if it was late in the game. They decided to hold me out, and I'm thankful they did it in my best interests." The 25-year-old Pacioretty is a ris- ing NHL star, having scored 26 goals with 11 assists in 50 games this year for Montreal. He had yet to register a point through two Olympic games as of Feb. 17 — both USA wins — but he was thrilled just to be part of the team. "It's definitely overwhelming," he said before the Games. "If I went back 15 years ago and said I would sit next to [perennial NHL all-star] Jaromir Jagr on the way to the Olympics in Sochi, everyone would have thought I was crazy. He said a couple of words here and there [on the plane]. I was a Rangers fan growing up. He was one of my idols. "Obviously I'm like a deer in head- lights when I see guys like that, and I'm put on the same stage as them. But at the same time, I've got to play my game. You check your egos at the door. Everything you do right now is for the team. You have to play with more pride than ever before." He has extra motivation to do just that. His wife, Katia, is a Moscow na- tive, the AP reports, and the sister of Maxim Afinogenov, a former NHL and Russian National Team member. "I think it's neat, because I think I know more about Russia than the average American," said Pacioretty, who has visited Russia on a dozen oc- casions. "I made her dad promise that he's cheering for me." FORMER WOLVERINES ON NHL ROSTERS Through Feb. 17 • Mike Brown (Played at U-M from 2004-05), RW, San Jose Sharks: Has notched two goals and two assists through 43 games played … Stands minus-9 with 30 shots on goal. • Mike Cammalleri (2000-02), LW, Calgary Flames: Has notched 13 goals