When Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson was asked about losing two of his best players in the span of a few days this summer, he responded, "It's been a tough week."

The Wolverines lost their No. 1 scoring threat, Mike Cammalleri, and their top returning defender, Mike Komisarek, to the NHL.

Komisarek, the seventh overall pick in last year's draft, informed Michigan coaches on July 23 that he would be leaving school to play for the Montreal Canadiens next season. Two days later, Cammalleri also announced that he would forgo his final season at Michigan to play for the Los Angeles Kings.

"I'm disappointed in what those players are going to miss," Berenson said. "I hope they do well in their careers, but I can't tell you how disappointed I am that they chose to leave now.

"Each time it happens I'm not pleased. I want to see the kids do well in their future, but I sense sometimes that things like greed and selfishness take over from some of the priorities that I would have thought were important."

Both players decided to turn pro after giving the Michigan coaching staff verbal assurances that they would be returning to suit up for the Wolverines this season. The sudden and unexpected departure of the two stars has left the Michigan coaching staff with holes to fill in its roster. The loss of Komisarek means the rest of the Michigan defense will have to step up to fill the void vacated by the CCHA's top defensive player last season.

While the blueline took a heavy hit with the departure of Komisarek, the loss of Cammalleri, who was considered a top contender for next season's Hobey Baker Award, could be just as devastating.

Despite playing in just 29 games last season, Cammalleri led the Wolverines with 23 goals and was second in points with 44. In order to fill the spot left by Cammalleri, the Michigan coaching staff asked Andrew Ebbett if he would want to come to Michigan a year early. Ebbett, a native of British Columbia, graduated last year, but was going to spend another year with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the British Columbia Hockey League to develop before coming to Michigan in 2003. With the departure of Cammalleri, the Michigan coaching staff needed to find another potent goal scorer to take his place. Ebbett got the call.

"I was pretty surprised to hear that Mike (Cammalleri) left," Ebbett said. "From all my sources I had been hearing that Mike had been planning to come back to graduate, but I was really excited."

Ebbett was named the Rookie of the Year last season in the BCHL Interior Division after scoring 45 goals and tallying 79 points. He was expected to vie for the BCHL scoring title next season, an award won by fellow incoming freshman and BCHL alum Jeff Tambellini in 2002. Ebbett faced a difficult decision when offered the chance to play for the Wolverines, not because of his desire for personal accolades, but for a greater goal.

"I was ready to go, the only thing that was holding me back was that I had pretty much told my coaches that I was staying," Ebbett said. "If I had stayed we might have had a shot at the national championship."

First draft: For the second straight year, Michigan had a player selected in the top 10 of the NHL Entry draft. Sophomore forward Eric Nystrom was drafted by the Calgary Flames as the 10th overall pick this summer. Nystrom is only the fourth Wolverine to be selected in the top 10. While this pick surprised some, one group that expected it was the Michigan coaching staff.

"It didn't surprise us one bit, because when you evaluate Eric Nystrom, It's really difficult to find holes in his game," Michigan assistant Billy Powers said. "When you have a kid that's 6-foot-2, tough, competitive, good hands, can score goals with good people. That made him a first-rounder. I think everybody thought he'd play in our league as a third or fourth liner. They didn't think he had the offensive skills he showed this season. He can play on the top line, with the top centerman and be an impact player."

Nystrom was not the only player to hear his name called at the draft this summer. Fellow sophomores Jason Ryznar and Dwight Helminen were also tabbed by NHL teams. Ryznar was taken by the New Jersey Devils with the first pick of the third round (64th overall).

"It was a great relief first of all," Ryznar said. "All year long everyone is talking about the draft. And when it finally comes around and you hear your name called, it is just a great relief."

Helminen was selected in the eighth round as the 244th overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers.