Michigan State University Athletics
Jason Woolley Joins Hockey Staff As Volunteer Assistant Coach
11/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 2, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Thirteen-year NHL veteran and former Michigan State hockey standout Jason Woolley will join the Spartan hockey staff as the team's volunteer assistant coach. Woolley will replace Damon Whitten, who left the Spartan program to become an assistant coach with the Wayne State Warriors.
"I know that I can help this team," said Woolley. "I have been there and done that. It gives me some credibility with these guys to take in what I'm talking about. It might be a lot of little things, but little things can add up to big things. I think I'll be able to help not only the defense but the forwards as well.
"It's very special to be involved here. I'm thrilled to be at Michigan State. To be honest with you, it is a honor. I'm going to take full advantage of it. I want to make one thing clear; I'm not here to threaten anyone's jobs, I still have a lot of hockey left in me."
The 13-year NHL veteran has played in 665 career regular-season games and has posted 67 goals, including 26 on the power play, and 228 assists for 295 points and 402 penalty minutes. He has appeared in 79 playoff contests, posting 11 goals and 36 assists for 47 points. Woolley has played for five different teams (Washington, Florida, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Detroit) during his career and earned a silver medal as a member of Team Canada at the 1992 Winter Olympics.
Woolley has spent the past two seasons (2002-04) with the Detroit Red Wings. He began the 2002-03 season in Buffalo (his sixth season with the Sabres) before being traded to the Red Wings on Nov. 16, 2002. He played in his 600th NHL game on March 15, 2003, as the Detroit Red Wings posted a 5-3 win over Colorado.
In 2003-04, Woolley appeared in 55 games, posting four goals and 15 assists for 19 points. Back problems hampered him from mid-Feb. until late in the season when he officially went on the injured reserve with a fractured vertebra. He returned to the ice in time for the Western Conference Semifinals as he played in all four games for the Red Wings against the Calgary Flames.
He played in his first NHL game on April 12, 1992, with Washington as the Capitals picked up a 4-3 OT win at New Jersey. He recorded his first NHL point (an assist) in a 6-5 Washington win at Toronto on Oct. 6, 1992. He scored his first NHL goal with Washington against Martin Brodeur in a 6-3 loss to New Jersey on Oct. 8, 1993.
 In 1990-91, Jason Woolley led MSU in scoring with 59 points (15 goals, 44 assists) en route to earning CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman and team MVP honors.  | |
A three-year Spartan letterwinner (1988-91), Woolley racked up 37 goals and 107 assists for 144 points in 132 career games. He still ranks second all-time among Spartan blueliners with 144 points, while his 37 goals is third among rearguards and his 107 helpers rank second.
As a junior in 1990-91, Woolley tallied a team-best 59 points (15 goals, 44 assists) en route to CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman and team MVP honors. In addition, he earned All-America First-Team and All-CCHA First-Team accolades. He was selected the MVP of the 1990 Great Western Freeze-Out Tournament as well as serving as the team's tri-captain. He posted an 18-game point-scoring streak (8-19--27) from Nov. 10, 1990, to Jan. 18, 1991. He still holds the school record for most consecutive games with one assist or more as he tallied an assist in 15 straight games from Nov. 16, 1990, to Jan. 4, 1991.
The North York, Ont., native was selected to the CCHA All-Rookie team in 1988-89 after accumulating 37 points on 12 goals and 25 assists. MSU finished third in the NCAA Tournament as well as winning the CCHA regular-season and tournament titles.
As a sophomore in 1989-90, he skated in all 45 games, posting 10-38--48 totals as State once again captured the CCHA regular-season and tournament titles.
"I have so many memories of my days at Michigan State," remarked Woolley. "I bought a house here, my wife is from here and after every season, I come back and spend as much time with the hockey program and the university as I can."
A third-round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 1989 NHL Draft, Woolley and his wife Danica have three sons, Carter, Nolan and Fletcher.
