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The Michigan Daily-Friday, Oct
Page 4-Friday, October 30, 1981-The Michigan Dairr
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By GREG DeGULIS
Business and Romance..
e .are they compatible?
Amongst the rather jovial atmosphere during a Michigan-Wisconsin
hockey banquet last year, Badger head coach Bob Johnson shattered the
aura of merry eating and drinking with the comment-"We're going to miss
traveling to Ann Arbor every year."
The remark quieted the gathering and coachJohnson continued. John-
son praised the traditional rivalry between the Big Ten schools, noting that
he had ventured toAnn Arbor "twenty-two straight years." Johnson con-
,luded by saying the Badgers will miss the Wolverine invasion of Madison
every hockey season as well.-
The short speech left a bitter taste in the palates of some of the
banqueters. The financial reality of increasing travel costs had forced a
dramatic change in Michigan hockey-the Wolverines were leaving the best
hockey conference in the nation-the WCHA, for the inferior CCHA.
For the businessman, the move to the geographically closer ranks of the
CCHA makes financial sense. The Michigan hockey program did 'not
generate enough income to cover its travel costs, including flights to Denver
and North Dakota, so a decision had to be finalized by the Athletic Depar-
tment, and soon. Michigan hockey was losing money and financial wizard
Don Canham made the logical decision-join the CCHA. A comparison of the
leagues follows:
WCHA 1980-81 CCHA 1981-82
MICHIGAN MICHIGAN
Michigan State Michigan State
Michigan Tech Michigan Tech '
Notre Dame Notre Dame
Minnesota Ferris State
Minnesota-Duluth Western Michigan
North Dakota Lake Superior State
Colorado College Miami (Ohio)
Denver Bowling Green
Wisconsin Northern Michigan
Ohio State
Illinois-Chicago Circle
(probationary)
Glancing at the comparison, the decision seems to satisfy two impor-
tant criteria-saving on travel costs and continuing the intrastate rivalries
with Michigan Tech and Michigan State. A sound decision which would
please any rational businessman, but it wouldn't appeal to a hockey roman-
tic.
For the romantic, abandoning the WCHA for the CCHA cheapens the rich
Michigan athletic tradition. The overall record of Michigan athletics,
arguably, is unparalleled by any other school in the nation. The Athletic
Department is financially self-sufficient, a record matched by only a few
universities.
All of these qualities highlight athletic excellence;,so the decision to leave
the WCHA hockey conference is a paradox. Michigan prides itself on com-
peting with the best, but in hockey Michigan will no longer compete with the
Wisconsins and Minnesotas, the best college hockey.
WCHA and national champs
The WCHA has produced the national champion eight out of the last nine
seasons. The CCHA has never produced a national champion.
Last year Michigan fans were treated to the exciting play of the Min-
nesota Golden Gophers, the top offensive team in the country. Former
Olympian Neil Broten and brother Aaron made the trek to Ann Arbor daz-
zling Michigan hockey fans with splendid puck handling and shooting.
Minnesota enjoys the finest tradition in college hockey and over the
years Michigan became firmly etched in that tradition.
Michigan may have been overmatched a few times, but the spectacle of
playing the best cannot be replaced.
The romantic may cringe at the thought of Bowling Green, Western
Michigan, Ferris State, and Lake Superior replacing Minnesota, Wisconsin
North Dakota and Denver. It's just NOT the same
Is there any way the businessman and the romantic can meet on the
same terms?
Yes,
Have the two meet at a non-conference Michigan hockey game featuring
a traditional WCHA rival. Unlike football which schedules games years on
advance, hockey schedules from year to year. By inviting Wisconsin instead
of Toronto for a non-conference weekend, the hockey program can save the
WCHA travel costs and still continue the traditional Big Ten rivalry.
Several CCHA members, such as Northern Michigan, Bowling Green
Western Michigan and Michigan Tech, scheduled WCHA games this season.
Michigan, however, has no WCHA member on its schedule this season. Why
not attempt to get Wisconsin or Minnesota in Ann Arbor next season? It
would please both the businessman, the romantic and most importantly, the
fans. --
By BARB BARKER
Last year, one position Michigan ice
hockey coach John Giordano did not
have to worry- about was goalie. Paul
Fricker, who as a freshman, had been
named WCHA rookie-of-the-year,
looked to be one of the league's most
promising players as a sophomore.
Perhaps too promising.
The 1980-81 season brought Fricker a
total of 18 wins, earning him All-
American honors, and a professional
contract with the Hartford Whalers of
the National Hockey League. Fricker's
departure coupled with the graduation
loss of two other goalies, Rudy Varvari
and Bob Sutton, left Giordano with an
empty net.
THIS YEAR Giordano will be forced
-to chose from returning senior Peter
Mason and rookies Mark Chiamp and
Jon Elliott. Mason, who has earned two
letters and has junior eligibility after
missing his entire sophomore season,
has seen very limited action at the net,
playing only 8:11 of varsity action last
season.
"I still don't know who will be playing
at the number one spot yet," said Gior-
dano. "We're looking for someone who,
is going to be consistent. Someone who
can stop those pucks day in and day out.
As of yet no one has done just a tremen-
dous job."
Both Elliott and Chiamp played
flawlessly in the icers' pre-season con-
frontation against Ferris State, shut-
ting out the Bulldogs in the second and
third periods, respectively.
CHIAMP, WHO hails from East
Detroit, was a member of the gold win-
ning Great Lakes squad in the National
Sports Festival along with veteran
Wolverine teammates Steve Richmond,
Ted Speers and newcomer Jeff Grade.
He played with the Reford Royals and
was named Most Valuable Player in the
Great Lakes Junior Hockey League.
Elliott, a highly-touted recruit from
Spencerville, Ontario, tended net for
the Rockland Ramparts before he came
to Michigan.
All three of the prospective Wolverine
goalies said they were optimistic about'
seeing some ice time this season.
"One of the major reasons I chose to
come to Michigan was the goalie
situation with Fricker leaving and all,"
said Chiamp. "I wanted to play where I
could get some ice time as a freshman.
Coach told us when we first started
practicing that we woul# each have an
equal shot."
"I think I have a really good shot at
being out there," said Elliott. "I have
been playing fairly decent in practice
and I played decent against Ferris. But,
the whole situation is still pretty much
up in the air."-
DESPITE THE absence. of an ex-
perienced goaltender, Mason said that
this year's situation is improved from
the year before's in some respects.
"The three of us are a 1ot closer than
the four of us were last year," said the
Williamsville, New York native. "Last
year we were so competitive that
sometimes we'd go for games where we
were not speaking to one another. This
year we're much more supportive. Sure
we're still competing for the top
position, but at least it's in a more
friendly mann
Mason wen
also advantag
strong startinr
Fricker playi
get very tire
goalies we ma
ded play, help
GIORDAN(
goalies' relat
is not at all w
"Although as
untested, all c
he said.
Chiamp als
timents.
"Coach sai
worry about is
"The defenses
clear out ther
really good de
With four se
this year, it ni
thing going fi
ders is the vet
Unproven goalies to fill empty
Elliott
... the next Fricker?
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