The Michigan Daily-Friday, October 31, 1980-Page 11l
Defense- ey to Wolverine gameplan
By KENT WALLEY
The best thing about the Michigan
*hockey team's offense this year is its
defense.
Offensively, the Wolverines lost some
big talent but defensively, several out-
standing veterans will be returning.
Leading the list are seniors Tim Man-
ning and John Blum and junior Steve
Richmond.
MANNING, THE TEAM captain for
the '80-81 season, set a couple of records
last year. As a defenseman he scored 51
points and had 43 assists which were
both Michigan all-time highs.
And Manning is eyeing another
record, he needs just one more point to
become ;Michigan's all time leading
defensive scorer. He is. presently tied
with Bob Palmer who is playing for the
Los Angeles Kings in the NHL. Each
has a career total of 98 points as a
Wolverine defenseman.
Assistant coach John Giordano said,
"Manning's greatest asset is that he an-
ticipates. (At anticipating) he's the
best."
BLUM, THIS year's alternate cap-
tain along with Richmond, combines
with Manning as Michigan's point men
in the potent Blue power play. Blum
scored 50 points last season as a defen-
seman, just one shy of Manning's
record setting mark.
Scoring nine times as many goals last
season as lie did his first two seasons
combined, Blum is a constantly im-
proving player. During his sophomore
year he was named the most improved
player on the team..
Last year's most improved player
award went to Richmond, who totaled
29 points as compared to seven his first
year. The 6-0, 202-lb. junior from
Chicago can double as a forward if
needed. He led the defense last year in
goals scored, totalling ten.
OF THE OTHER returning defen-
semen, two were selected in the pro
draft but decided to stay at Michigan.
They were juniors Brian Lundberg and
Dave Richter.
Lundberg, who was drafted by Pit-
tsburgh, has recorded 29 points in his
two years at Michigan. But last year,
Lundberg was often in penalty trouble
as he led the team in penalties and
penalty minutes.
Richter, who was drafted by Min-
nesota, also decided to return to
Michigan. He is 6-5, 210 lbs. and sparred
in two fights last year, both against
Minnesota. Richter scored four assists
last season. "(Richter) is thre most im-
proved defenseman (this year). He still
holds the puck too long, but he has tur-
ned the corner," said Giordano.
Also returning to the Blue ranks is
junior Paul Brandrup. He was voted
outstanding defenseman on the U.S.
Junior National Team last season, but
this year he will be playing offensive
wing.
Potentially the brightest part of the
Michigan defense lies not in scoring,
but in the net minding of sophomore
goalie Paul Fricker.
THE EXCITING WOLVERINE
goaltender was named Michigan MVP
and WCHA rookie-of-the-year last
season. Fricker also was selected for
the second team All-WCHA. He ap-
peared in all of Michigan's 26 WCHA
games and was the only goalie in the
conference to do-so.
In 35 games last year he amassed
1122 saves for a .883 save percentage.
Twice during the season he had more
than 50 saves in one game, totalling 52
against Michigan Tech and 51 against
Notre Dame.
Hartford drafted him in the ninth
round last year but Fricker chose to
remain in the Maize and Blue uniform.
Defense this year will be the key to
Michigan's game. Said Giordano, "If
they don't score, you won't lose." But
he added that "(the defense this year)
is looking good but they are not where
they were last year."
He claimed that the defense's slow
start was probably caused by the lack
of, morning practices held thus far this
season.
MONO
1
'p
I
1980-81 Roster
:;_
:
No. Name
1 RUDY VARVARI
Dearborn Heights, MI
Pos.
G.
Hgt.
5-8
Wgt.
185
Veterans Brian Lundberg (left above) and John Blum are two of the leading defensemen for the 1980-81 Wolverines.
Lundberg, a junior from Lake Cowichan, B.C.,,led the Wolverines in penalties and penalty minutes as a sophomore.
Alternate captain Blum, a senior from Warren, placed second behind teammate Tim Manning for the defenseman scoring
record in a season with 50 points last year.
2 KEITH CARTER
Hudson, MA
6-1 175 SUTTON, VARVARI, MASON ALL IN CONTENTION:
D 6-0 195
D 5-0 175 Fricker challenged for goalie job
D 5-10 175
3 BRIAN LUNDBERG
Lake Cowichan, BC
4 TIM MANNING
Dearborn Heights, MI
5
DAVE RICHTER
Winnipeg, Man.
6 MARK PERRY
Ann Arbor, MI
7 STEVE RICHMOND
Chicago, IL
8 DAVE FARDIG
Ann Arbor, MI
9 ENZO AUGIMERI
Oshawa, Ont.
11 JEFF MARSf
Duluth, MN.
14 BRAD TIPPETT
Prince Albert, Sask.
By GREG DeGULIS
D 6-5 210 One area where first year coach Wilf Martin
doesn't have to worry about is goalie, right?
Well, despite the return of 1979-80 Michigan MVP
D 5-11 200 Paul Fricker, assistant coach John Giordano terms
the goalie situation as the "most undecided position."
With senior netminders Rudy Varvari and Bob Sutton
D 6-0 202 plus returnee Peter Mason challenging Fricker,
Michigan hockey fans may see a case of revolving
goaltenders.
,C 5-8 172 JUDGING BY LAST year's performance, incum-
bent Fricker would be the people's choice to mind the
nets. As a, freshman, Fricker was bestowed with
C 5-11 170 several prestigious awards including Michigan MV-
P and WCHA rookie-of-the-year by a vote of the
players in the league. Fricker recorded 20 wins last
RW 6-0 200 year and was the only goalie in the WCHA to start all
league contests.
HOWEVER, AS GIORDANO pointed out, all of the
accolades reigned upon Fricker last season may
prove to be a deterrent in 1980-81. "Any time you play
75-80 percent of the games, you come to expect
automatically to be the goaltender," Giordano said.
"Fricker must continue to be a good goaltender and
he cannot rest on last year."
Competing against Fricker are two senior goalten-
ders, Varvari and Sutton. Both backups have plenty
of game situation experience as they shared the
number one goalie spot in their sophomore year.
Vhrvari appeared in five games last year compiling a.
2-1 record and -a 4.42 goals against average. Sutton
played in two games last year with a 1.76 goals
against average.
IN ADDITION TO the two seniors competing with
Fricker, junior Peter Mason has returned to the
Michigan hockey scene after sitting out his
sophomore year. Giordano feels that the year's ab-
sence benefitted the junior netminder. "I really think
Mason matured in the year that he was gone. He has
really worked hard turning a nothing into a
something, noted the assistant coach As a
result, the competition has stiffened for the number
two goaltender on the 1980-81 hockey squad.
ECHOING GIORDANO'S sentiments, first year
head coach Martin mentioned that he was "very
satisfied with the play" of Fricker in the opening
series against Bowling Green. However, the head
coach also mentioned the fact that they "are still
looking for a backup to Fricker" and that "nothing is
definite."
Giordano reiterated the importance* of a quality
backup to ease the pressure on Fricker. "We've got to
develop a backup goaltender we have enough con-
fidence in to let him play," added the assistant coach.
With the experienced competition vying for the num-
ber two spot, Michigan hockey fans may be surprised
at the quality of the backup goaltender.
15 BILLY REID
Dryden, Ont.
LW 5-8 175
RW 5-8 177
C 5-11 180
-
Yost-the icers call it home
I
16
TED SPEERS
Ann Arbor, MI
17 STEVE YOXHEIMER
Jackson, MI
18 DENNIS MAY
Calgary, Alb.
19 GORDIE HAMPSON
Edina, MN
20 ROGER BOURNE
Ann Arbor, MI
21 JOE MILBURN
Snow Lalke, Man.
22 DON KRUSSMAN
Fraser, MI
23 JIM McCAULEY
Detroit, MI
24 JOHN BLUM
Warren, MI
C 5-9 170
RW 5-10 185 Yost Ice Arena has been the home of Michigan hockey since the 1973-74 season
and is the largest college-owned rink in the country with a seating capacity of 8,100.
It was built by and named after the great Michigan football coach and athletic
LW 6-3 210 director, Fielding H. Yost. The structure was originally formed in 1924 as a field
house.
C 5-11 180 .SINCE THAT TIME the building has been the site of many great athletic events
ranging from the Michigan track teams of the 1950s, through the Cazzie Russell era
of Michigan basketball in the mid 1960s, to the excitement created by the present-
C 5-8 ,176 day Michigan hockey teams.
Yost Ice Arena is a complete hockey facility equipped with a regulation ice
surface (85 x 200 feet).
LW 6-1 180 Pictured below is the record Yost Arena crowd of 8,316 on March 1, 1980 again-
st Michigan State. To the right is a picture of Yost Arena before the fans file in.
RW 5-10
160
D 6-3 205
Daily Photo by BRIAN MASCK
25
PAUL BRANDRUP
Rochester, MN
D 6-1
200
26 KELLYMcCRIMMON
Plenty, Sask.
27 JEFF TESSIER
Windsor, Ont.
29- PAUL FRICKER
Vancouver, B.C.
30 BOB SUTTON
Oakville, Ont.
35 PETER MASON
Williamsville, NY
RW 5-9 182
LW 5-10 175
G 6-0 174
G 6-0 175
G 6-0 175
1979-80 FINAL STATISTICS
Returning Players in Capitals
NAME
M. Eaves
D. Lerg
B. BASEOTTO
T. MANNING
J. BLUM
B. TIPPETT
T. SPEERS
S. RICHMOND
G. HAMPSON
R. BOURNE
D. MAY
B. LUNDBERG
Overall (23-13-2)
GP G A TP
33 36 49 85
38 37 39 76
38 31 45 76
38 8 43 51
37 9 41 50
38 13 19 32
30 13 16 29
38 10 19 29
30 7 15 22
32 9 9 18
37 7 10 17
37 2 14 16
WCHA (13-11-2)
21
26
26
26
25
26
20
26
19
23
26
26
19
27
21
6
5
9
9
7
3
3
5
2
32
23
38
24
29
10
11
13
9
6
8
11
51
50
49
30
34
19
20
20
12
9
13
13