PROSPECT WATCH: CHRIS SUMMERS

CHRIS SUMMERS - D (Captain)
University of Michigan Wolverines (CCHA)
Acquired: December 16, 2007 from Stockholm (now Reykjavik)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 185 lbs
Birthdate: February 25, 1988 (20 years old)
Hometown: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Next Year: Unknown

Chris Summers has spent nearly his entire hockey career in the State of Michigan. The junior defenseman for the 6th-ranked Wolverines went through the USA Hockey Developmental Program in Ann Arbor for five years prior to his arrival in... errr, Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan.

"Chris is someone we coveted when we first seen him as a under-17 for the US National Team," said Timberwolves GM Blake Wendt. "The first thing you notice is the smoothness of his skating. He glides out there. That with his puck handling combined with the natural ability to think the game the way he does makes him a threat to the opposition whenever he's on the ice."

Summers was named captain of the Wolverines after Mark Mitera went down with a season ending knee injury in Michigan's first game of the season. Mitera is a senior and was Summers' defensive partner for the better part of the last two seasons. He's also a Timberwolves prospect.

"We obviously have an interest in the health of Mitera," said Wendt. "He seems to be healing well and his rehab is where it should be. Mark's a tough customer and fierce competitor, so I can't imagine his disgust in missing his last year of college hockey after the great run they had last season. But we fully expect him to come to our camps this summer and take that attitude and loss of an entire season of hockey and work his butt off to earn a spot on our roster. We'll also see where Chris (Summers) is and maybe these guys can get that chemistry back and be a very solid pairing for us for years to come. But that decision will be Chris' whether or not he wants to return to Michigan for his senior season. If he blows us away in camp then we'll go from there. But right now I see no reason why he'd need to be rushed. Plus another year under Red Berenson (Michigan's head coach) is never a bad thing."

Next Prospect Watch... Trevor Cann