16 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, August 2, 2004
HELMINEN
Continued from Page 16
the ice for the penalty kill.
Unlike with Montoya's possible exit in goal,
Michigan has great depth at forward should be able
to withstand the loss.
"This was a year when, with our depth, we could take
a hit up front - unlike Montoya or perhaps a top
defenseman - because that is how our team shapes up
this year," Powers said. "I think we'll move on pretty
quickly as coaches and as a group."
The Wolverines will also lose a centerman for one of
their top three lines, but Powers won't lose any sleep
replacing Helminen in that capacity. Former center
David Moss, winger Milan Gajic, and incoming fresh-
man Chad Kolarik all have the ability to play center on a
top three line for Michigan.
Lastly, entering his senior season, Helminen
would have been expected to be a leader on a team
that may be ranked No. 1 in the country entering
the season.
"As a senior, we hoped Dwight would take that step
towards leadership, but thankfully we have plenty of
seniors to fill that void," Powers said. "I don't think
leadership will be an issue on this team."
Helminen's early exit came as a shock to most.
Powers believes that his early exit was unexpected
because of the extra attention paid to teammates like
Montoya. This doesn't mean that Helminen doesn't
have a bright future in the NHL.
"He is obviously a very high-end player and for
what he does well in terms of his speed, his penalty
kill and the ability to play against the other team's top
center like a (Todd) Marchant or John Madden," Pow-
ers said. "There is a place for those players in pro
hockey and there aren't many of them. So he has a
good chance to have a career."
Following an eighth-round selection by Edmonton in
2002, Helminen was traded to the Rangers early in 2004
with goalie Stephen Valiquette and a draft pick for center
Petr Nedved and goalie Jussi Markkanen.
"The Rangers called us right after the trade and told
us he wasn't a throw-in pick," Powers said. "New York
was a team that stepped up and showed him a lot of
interest. I think he felt good about all that and he's
always said his goal is to play in the NHL. He just
feels like the timing is right."
TONY DING/Daily
,-)wlgtHelminen, the CCHA's Best Defensive Forward Last season, had one year of eligibility Left.
'05 recruit Smith shows his game at camp
By Ellen McGarrity
Daily Sports Writer
TEANECK, N.J. - ABCD Camp. Sounds kind of like a
place you would send your second grader for the summer.
h ut this is no kiddie-land, it's Reebok's premiere program
for the nation's top high school basketball players.
In early July, America's three most popular shoe
brands - Reebok, Adidas and Nike - all sponsor
camps, vying to locate the next NCAA champions and
straight-to-the-NBA stars.
Sonny Vaccaro, who is most famous for jumpstarting the
Nike brand back in the 1970s, teamed up with Reebok for the
first time this year. And although all three camps are presti-
gious, it seems that wherever Vaccaro goes, the best players
- are sure to follow - including Michigan native Jerret Smith.
"I got my invitation through my AAU coach," Smith said.
"I got an offer from Nike (but turned it down)."
Smith, who averaged 19 points and five rebounds last
season in his junior year at Westland's John Glenn High
School, has already verbally committed to play for Michi-
gan after he graduates.
The 6-foot-2, 185 pound point guard said the big draw for
him was Michigan coach Tommy Amaker.
"There were a couple other schools that recruited me, but (I
chose Michigan) basically because of (Amaker) and the rela-
tionship he has with the kids and the fact that I'll be playing
close to home," Smith said.
Justin Young, a recruiting analyst for Rivals.com, pre-
dicts Smith will make a good addition to Amaker's 2005
freshmen class.
"His best strength is he gets to the basket every time which
is good with him being a point guard,"Young said. "He's also
done a good job of getting away from a scoring mentality to
more of a 'I'm going to help the team' mentality."
But Young added Smith needed to work on passing, learn-
ing when to shoot and becoming quicker defensively.
His high school coach, Nate Oats, expects to see Smith
make giant strides his senior year.
"The success of our team will depend on him this year, and
I think he'll respond to the challenge," Oats said. "He's got a
lot of ability, but consistency wasn't always there."
Some might say Smith made his decision too early, but
Young thinks it was a good move for both parties.
"Michigan saw something in him and for them to nab him
early - that's a sign they saw something they like," Young
said. "He can be the clay on the potter's wheel and they can
mold him into the player that they want."
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