Jan. 4, 2006
Turin, Italy - Former Michigan State men's ice hockey players Jason Muzzatti (1987-91) and Tony Tuzzolino (1993-97) have been named to the 2006 Italian Olympic team. The Italians, who earned an automatic bid as the host nation, will be competing in their first Olympic games since an 11th-place finish at the Nagano games in 1998. Both Muzzatti and Tuzzolino will be competing in their first winter Olympic Games.
Muzzatti was a four-year starting goaltender for the Green and White, notching 83 wins including a program-best 32 in 1988-89. Muzzatti tended goal in 130 games for Michigan State and posted the second-most saves in school history, behind Dave Versical (1975-78), with 2,928. Muzzatti, who led the Spartans to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of CCHA titles, has played in Italy for the past five seasons with Milan and Bolzano HC.
Tuzzolino has skated in 26 games for Cortina SG of the Italian Hockey League averaging nearly a point per game (12-12-24). A native of Buffalo, Tuzzolino totaled 39 goals, 57 assists and 96 points in his 157 game Spartan career. A veteran of nine National Hockey League games, he has spent the past three seasons playing exclusively in Italy, playing for Asiago HC in 2003-04 and Bolzano HC last season.
The duo will join ex-Spartan All-America John-Michael Liles in Turin. Liles, a smooth-skating defenseman with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche will skate for Team USA in the 2006 Winter Games.
