The following article featuring former Harvard standout Noah Welch appeared in the April 5 issue of the Miami Herald.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Florida Panthers defenseman Noah Welch did not play Friday and likely will not play in Saturday's season finale, and coach Jacques Martin said it just wasn't worth it to play Welch in the final games because of his surgically repaired shoulder.

Welch, who played in four games this season before being injured in a fight Oct. 16 in Montreal, was cleared to play a few weeks ago. He has been practicing at full speed for a while and had expressed a willingness to join the lineup at one point. Mike Van Ryn, who had wrist surgery in December, also will not play Saturday.

''I spoke to Noah at the beginning of the week,'' Martin said. ``We just feel it's probably better not to play him, not to take a chance of him getting reinjured..''