Komisarek Joins Staff as Undergraduate Assistant
1/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan ice hockey head coach Red Berenson announced that former Wolverine defenseman Mike Komisarek will join the coaching staff as an undergraduate student assistant.
Komisarek played two seasons at Michigan (2000-02) before embarking on an 11-year NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and most recently the Carolina Hurricanes in 2013-14. Komisarek retired from professional hockey this summer, and decided to return to the University of Michigan to complete his undergraduate degree through the athletic department's Degree Completion Program.
"This is a great opportunity to give back to the University of Michigan, which has given me so much," Komisarek said. "Coach Berenson and the Michigan Hockey program set a foundation for me as a person and as a player. This is an opportunity to get my degree and help the team out and share my experiences. There are very few opportunities in life that are truly a win-win situation, and this is definitely one of them."
A native of Islip Terrace, New York, Komisarek played in 81 games at Michigan and accumulated 46 career points on 15 goals and 31 assists. He had a +41 plus-minus rating over that time and compiled 145 career penalty minutes.
In his sophomore season (2001-02) he was named to the AHCA All-America West first team, in addition to earning CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman and first team honors. Komisarek earned a spot on the 2002 NCAA West Regional All-Tournament team after helping the Wolverines advance to the Frozen Four for the second straight year. In that season, he was Michigan's highest scoring defenseman as he nearly doubled his point output from his freshman season, collecting 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in 40 games.
Komisarek played on both the power play and penalty kill units for Michigan, contributing two power-play goals and one short-handed goal last season. He tied for third on the team with a +23 plus-minus rating. He also led the team with 70 penalty minutes.
In his freshman year, Komisarek played in 41 games, compiling four goals and 12 assists for 16 points. He was selected to the 2000-01 CCHA All-Rookie team and was designated by the U-M Dekers Club as the team's most colorful rookie.
The seventh overall selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Komisarek appeared in 551 NHL games, recording 14 goals and 67 assists. He was selected as an NHL All-Star in 2009 with the Montreal Canadiens. Komisarek represented the United States in two World Championships (2006, 2011) and was selected to represent Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics but missed the tournament due to injury.
"The team has been really warm in welcoming me to Ann Arbor," Komisarek said. "It's just a lot of fun and the guys have plenty of enthusiasm. I came here because Michigan has always been one of the top programs in the country. It's just a special place and it's awesome to be back."
Communications Contact: Jeffrey Weinstein (734) 763-4423
