8A - Thursday, January 31, 2008 The Michigan Daily - mchigandaily.com

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PALUSHAJ
From page 5A
Hagelin said the goalwas possible
because Palushaj gave Kolarik more
time to see the puck before passing it
to the senior forward, who dumped
it to Pacioretty for the goal.
"He's good at holding onto the
puck that extra second to create
room for the other players," Hage-
lin said. "He just creates plays in the
neutral zone, doing breakouts."
Hagelin called Palushaj the play-
maker ofthe all-freshmanline. Pacio-
retty agreed, comparing Palushaj's
role on the second line to that of
Kolarik or Porter on the first line.
After practice, Palushaj goes back
to his West Quad dorm room and
watches NHL highlights. Pacioret-
ty and Palushaj said their favorite
player to watch together is Alexei
Kovalev, the Montreal Canadiens
right winger known for his origi-
nal stickhandling skills. Palushaj
learns from Kovalev's stickwork
and one-on-one, power-play moves
- observations that have paid off for
Palushaj, who is third on the team in
power-play points with 13 (one goal
and 12 assists).

"He stays out after practice and
fools arouod with the puck, like
some of those things, there," said
associate head coach Mel Pearson,
watching as Palushaj skated around
the crease, made a quick stick move
and flipped the puck over Hogan's
shoulder. "He has a lot of nuances
for a creative, offensive player, the
way he protects the puck and the
way he moves his body."
Pearson compared Palushaj's cre-
ativity in practice to that of former
Wolverine Mike Legg, who is best
known for his highlight-reel goal in
Michigan's 6-5 win against Minne-
sota in the 1996 NCAA Tournament
Western Regional.
Legg bent over behind the net,
picked up the puck with the blade
of his stick and flung it into the net
- a score that was named Goal of the
Year and immortalized Legg's stick
in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
"(Legg) used to stay out after prac-
tice and then, eventually, we saw it in
the game when he had the lacrosse-
style goal," Pearson said. "Aaron's
not too far away from a Mike Legg.
He's just being a rink rat."
Pearson gestured to the ice,
where Palushaj was just starting to
take the puck from center ice.

SILVA
From Page 5A
Brain, Behavior and Cognitive
Science major isn't worried.
If Silva qualifies for Beijing,
she will represent her country
in ways few college seniors can
fathom.
"She's mature beyond her
years," Richardson said. "She's
a joy to coach."
Write for
Daily Sports.
All the fun of
sports, none
of the injuries.

Knutson bounces
back, takes, beam title
By NICOLE AUERBACH
Daily Sports Writer
Last season, sophomore Kelsey
Knutson wasn't out doing back
walkovers on the beam, but she
was still making an impact on the
Michigan women's gymnastics
team.
Knutson suffered three major
injuries and went through two
surgeries during her freshman
year. She couldn't compete consis-
tently in meets but still assumed a
leadership role on the team.
Now, after seven months spent
in rehab for her knee surgery, the
Ames, Iowa, native is in the line-
up and putting up the scores she
knew she could.
"When we recruited Kelsey, I
knew that she had first-team All
American capabilities on bars
and beam," Michigan coach Bev
Plocki said. "She is one of the
most beautiful athletes to watch.
She's got those long, lean lines,
and she's beautiful."
During her freshman cam-
paign, Knutson's high expecta-
tions were immediately crushed
by injuries to her wrist and back,
as well as her knee. She tried to
battle back, performing intermit-
tently on bars and beam through-
out the season. Following the
season, she had surgery on a torn ALLISON GHAMAN/Daily
Posterior Cruciate Ligament in Sophomore Kelsey Knutson returned from knee surgery to win her first title in a
her knee. meet against Penn State on Jan.19.
Knutson said the time away
from competition taught her dif- she's fought every day this fall." But one week later, in front of
ferent ways to contribute beyond Knutson's leadership during a raucous Crisler Arena crowd,
just putting up high scores in the rehab period was strength- Knutson turned, flipped, and
meets. ened by her return to competition. stuck her dismount cold in a rou-
"I just kept cheering a lot, She can now lead by example, too, tine that earned her an event-
offering advice," Knutson said. with impressive scores. high 9.925 score. She captured
"If someone was doing a routine, Though she couldn't practice the first individual event title of
I could pull her aside and tell her hard dismounts or difficult rou- her career.
what I saw and what I think about tines for most of the fall, Knutson Knutson ran into Plocki's arms
as a gymnast. If she's struggling, got back onto the beam with basic after her landing. The gymnast
just patting her on the back, tell- techniques: turns, handstands, and her coach sported ear-to-ear
ing her she can do it." and back walkovers. smiles, appreciating the dedica-
Fifth-year senior captain Lind- She worked diligentlyaand com- tion, rehab, and hard work of the
sey Bruck said Knutson is one of peted on beam in the Wolverines' past year.
the team's natural leaders. Jan. 19 victory over Penn State. "I was just so happy for her
"Even though she's a sopho- Knutson performed a near-flaw- because that's the Kelsey that
more, she's got a lot of experience less routine in the meet, but fell we recruited," Ploki said. "I've
behind her," Bruck said. "She on the dismount - an automatic known all along that this is what
works very hard in the gym, and half-point deduction. she's capable of"

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1301 South University at South Forest. Photography. Film Video. A temporary gallery space open during the
expansion and restoration of the University of Michigan Museum of Art. www.umma.umich.edu. 734.763.uMMA
The exhibition was curated by John P Jacob, Director, The Inge Morath Foundation, and organized by The Inge Moreth Foundation, New York.
The Ann Arbor presentation is made possibe in part by the Office of the President of the University of Michigan, The University of Michigan Health Systerm,
Comerica Bank, the Lois Zenkel Photographic Exhibitions Fund, the Michigan Counci for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and other generous partners.
inge Morath, 6:3 am, Chang An Avenue, Being (detail, ,Copyright 1978 83 The inge Morath Foundation/Magnum Photos

WINNERS OF THE
APPLE STORE GIFT
CARDS
GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
SARA KUEHNLE
RUNNERS UP:
MARY PIONTEK
LAUREN ELIZABETH GROVE