t~ ,. _ . , . ' , . S p 9 The Michigan Daily-Friday, Oct Page 4-Friday, October 30, 1981-The Michigan Dairr 75 OFF PIZZA II I between 5:00 & 9:00 pm-Mon, Weds, Thurs. & Fri THE PIZZA W HIZ inside I 7 0 0 1g wn= 310 Maynard . . R. ---- I 1 I t .... IT TISCOUPON -._ -,FFEREXPIRES NOV. 15, 1981..,1I y Ii G'ggce 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? BEAT THE WINTER DOLDRUMS k7 * No-wait racquetball. courts " Two pools " Full size gym " Ceramics studio " low-cost classes Special membership rates for "under 25's." In-PERSON Registration Begins Mon., Nov. 9th Winter Classes Start Thurs, Nov. 19th Pick up a free catalogue 350 SOUTH FIFTH AVENUE 663-0536 t Open 7days a week. In the Michigan Union.