Women's Swimming vs. Michigan State Tonight, 7:00 p.m. Matt Mann Pool SPORTS Men's Basketball vs. Wisconsin Tomorrow, 2 p.m. Crisler Arena The Michigan Daily Friday, January 31, 1986 Page 9 Icers face Flames in path to playoffs By RICK KAPLAN The glamour series against Bowling Green, RPI, and Michigan State are done. The meaningful series against Illinois-Chicago has arrived. Entering this weekend's games at the UIC Pavilion, the Michigan hockey team resides in a three-way tie for sixth in the CCHA with Illinois-Chicago and Ferris State. The upcoming games could determine playoff seedings. "THIS IS playoff hockey right now," said Flames coach Val Belmonte. The Wolverines travel to Chicago having split the last six games - all against nationally-ranked opponents. But Michigan could only manage a split against Illinois- Chicago, losing 6-4 and winning 7-4, in Ann Arbor in November. Michigan coach Red Berenson is cautiously optimistic about the trip. "Right now, I think our team is playing better than they have all season,'' said Berenson. "They are feeling better about themselves, and it shows on the ice." THE WOLVERINES barely showed up on the road early in the season. Michigan lost its first nine road games before sweeping a pair at Miami of Ohio, and win- ning at then-number one ranked Bowling Green. Beren- son thinks the road jinx is behind them. "I don't think (playing on the road) is going to be a factor," Berenson said. "In the first half of the season . . . we obviously didn't play nearly as well on the road as we should have," he said. "Every time we went on the road, it kind of took away what good we did at home." The Wolverines still have a chance at achieving their season goal - home-ice for the playoffs. With two games in hand and an upcoming home series against fourth-place Lake Superior, Michigan could gain ground, but would still need help from other teams. WE HAVE TO win our games," the head man said. "We can't be worried about what everyone else does." Michigan must worry about Illinois-Chicago (11-18-1) tonight. It is a vastly improved team since the earlier meetings. After a 6-14 start, Illinois-Chicago is 5-4-1 since Christmas. Last weekend, the Flames swept two games at Ferris State, 5-3 and 8-3, as goaltender Jim Hickey recorded 48 saves. The Wolverines have better scoring balance than Illinois-Chicago. "Every line can be a threat," Berenson said. "Chicago has one line that carries the whole team's scoring." THE FLAMES' top line is led by sophomore center Jeff Nelson (20-19-39). Junior left winger Mike Rucinski, who was a linemate of NHL rookies Ray Staszak and Colin Chin last season, has 35 points, and right winger Sheldon Gocski is the team's top freshman scorer with 26 points. Goaltenders Hickey (5-6 4.98) and Brad Ryan(6-12-1, 4.77) should both see action in Illinois-Chicago's final home games of the year. For Michigan;center Chris Seychel is out for the season with a knee injury. Freshman defensman Myles O'Con- nor will return after serving a one-game suspension for spearing against Michigan State. Sophomore right winger Brad McCaughey is still ham- pered by a shoulder injury. McCaughey played against Michigan State, but he was far from 100 percent. "Mc- Caughey is still not skating like we'd like," Berenson said. -'-C :z NE'S _ : 3 _.,,. , > Daily Photo by DAN HABIB Ferris State's Doug Edgar (20) chases Wolverine left winger Tom Stiles (11-25-36) in early-season action. Michigan and Ferris State are locked in a three-way tie for sixth place in the CCHA standings with Illinois- Chicago. Bradley to lead Wolverines in theihi Open Rebuilding tankers hope to stay afloat against powerful Spartans By EMILY BRIDGHAM Facing some of its toughest com- petition yet, the Michigan women's track team will compete in the Wolverine - Converse Open tomorrow at the Track and Tennis Building. Playing a key role in the events will be junior Dedra Bradley, whose perfor- mance last weekend clearly proved her versatility and speed for the Wolverines. "I am really looking forward to this meet," said Bradley. "Since I will be competing in so many events it will be a good test fo my strength and stamina.' BRADLEY WILL compete in the 400 and 500-meter events,. the mile relay and the triple jump. Bradley broke the old Michigan triple jump record last week with a jump of 35'2", only six inches off her 1985 outdoor record. Head Coach James Henry sees more than just speed in Bradley and plans to utilize her full potential during the season. "Dedra was quite a season-ending surprise last year," said Henry. "This year I plan to spread her out more, and use her versatility to full advantage." COMPETING alongside Bradley in the mile relay will be junior Joyce Wilson, sophomore Bridget Gleason and freshman Michelle Gallier, who has earned the admiration of Bradley as a strong contender for the final leg. "Michelle is a really strong fresh- person," said Bradley. "She has the speed and agility to go a long way." Other potential record breakers in- clude Debbie Duncan in the shot and Joyce Wilson for middle distance. Duncan catapulted the shot 43'7" last week, coming awfully close to the Michigan indoor record of 45'0" set in 1982. Wilson flew to a 1:33.64 600- meter last week, evening her own 1983 record. By DEBBIE deFRANCES Once again, the Blue meets the Green - this time in the women's pool. Michigan hopes the Michigan State swimmers will sink down to the depths of Matt Mann Pool, but Wolverine coach Jim Richardson admits it will be an uphill battle. "Michigan State is such a dynamite team this year," Richardson said. "They have a real good recruit class and so much depth in all the other areas." RICHARDSON said the Spartans have at least two or three returning Big Ten finalists. Michigan State also has 20 or 21 swimmers while Michigan carried 11. "Sure it hurts only having eleven swimmers," said Richardson. "We can't cry about that though. We just have to race everyone in all their events." That problem, however, has been a season-long setback but *the Wolverines have still managed to post an 8-4-2 record, 2-2 in the conference, under first year coach Richardson. LOOKING realistically at tonight's meet, Richardson hopes his team can score 50 or 60 points out of a possible 140. the 50's. A pipedream score of 60 poin- ts would mean a lot against Michigan State." Pipedream or not, Richardson seems pleased with his team's efforts thus far. He feels his team has the kind of character that will make them winners. "Our time will come," Richardson said. "IT'S FUN to watch swimmers develop, watch their confidence grow," Richardson added. "It's been a real pleasure to watch this team battle." Richardson also said that in last weekends's meet against Indiana, he was as motivated as he has been in a long while. "It came down to the final relay and we lost," Richardson said. "But I didn't matter that we lost because we beat our season-best time in that relay by seven seconds. That meant more." The Wolverines are training at top level since conference championships are only a few weeks away. But for now, Michigan will concentrate on the rival Spartans. "We just have to go out and do our own thing," Richardson said. "I'm looking forward to competition." SUMMER POSITIONS at TAMARACK CAMPS We'll supply room, board, training & lots of support. 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