0 Page 12 -The Michigan Daily-Friday, October 9, 1987 1987-88 Hoc Preview Blue talent brewing,'M'icers improved By JULIE HOLLMAN Add a little seasoning to a recipe and you add a little zest, a little zip. Michigan's 1987-88 hockey team is like an old dish with new spice. The Wolverines are one year older and one year more experienced and they plan to take a fresh sense of confidence with them into the top half of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings. Last year, Michigan was a young team sporting ten unproven newcomers. This year, all those players are back. The team is still young, but now they are knowledgeable and attuned to the ways of college hockey. "HAVING ALL these young players is an advantage," stated fourth-year coach Red Berenson. "We are growing and the improvement of the team will come from these kids." With an additional season under their belts, the Wolverines should gel more quickly than last year. In the 1986-87 season, Michigan suffered through a 4-14 start before they stepped on the right track and found some direction, finishing with a 10-7-1 season-ending streak. This year Berenson's team could be a top force in the league. "We won't struggle this year like last year," said Berenson. "We have more poise and more chemistry. We are full of guarded optimism that we can finish in the top four." Although the bulk of the team's chemistry lies with the sophomore class, the Wolverines also exhibit some senior pride which should add guidance to the mixture. Michigan's senior class is led by assistant captains Joe Lockwood and Brad McCaughey and right winger Billy Powers. All three players, who have been drafted by NHL teams, should provide strong leadership and solid play. JUNIOR CAPTAIN Todd Brost and junior defenseman Myles O'Connor help to balance out the age and experience of the team. O'Connor's skills and character will be tested this season as he steps in to fill the void left by last year's defensive dreadnought, Jeff Norton who joined the United States Olympic Team. Berenson believes O'Connor can aptly handle this responsibility of leading the most talented defense he has seen in his Michigan coaching career. "O'Connor is our most experienced defenseman and he is a good two-way player. He handles the puck well and gets the puck out of our zone. Defense should be a strength for us." Berenson said. The offense also possesses greater balance along with more skill and more size. Berenson expects to see a balanced scoring attack coming from any of seven players. Lockwood, Brost, McCaughey, Powers, Mike Moes, Rob Brown, and Ryan Pardoski make up the nucleus of the offense. Last year, McCaughey was second only to the league's second- highest scorer Brad Jones in team scoring, with 26 goals and 49 points. UNFORTUNATELY, the offense will have to do without the services of prolific left wing Bryan Deasley, who is out for four to six weeks with a broken ankle. Deasley represents Michigan's first ever first round NHL draft pick. He was selected by the Calgary Flames. Sophomore Warren Sharples takes over the netminding duties full time with classmate Glen Neary filling in as backup. "I'm happy to have the starting job but I haven't proved anything yet." said Sharples. "I'm in a familiar position though. I've seen all the teams and been in all the buildings and I have experience to draw on now. I know what to expect." "Sharples is a reflex goalie. He improved his skating and his puck handling and is capable of making the big save," said Berenson. SOPHOMORE walk-on Tim Genyk will serve as the third goalie. This year's recruits look promising and should contribute but they will not have the pressure of last season's ten newcomers. Mark Sorensen will start on the blue hre and so far Sharples is happy to hay Sorensen in front of him. "I'm glad we got him," said the Michigan goalie "He's impressed me so far. Only time will tell but I think he'll be top calibre by the time he's done." Said Berenson: "Sorensen can 4andle the league. He is well :epared for college hockey. He sees ,ie ice well and understands the game." Michigan is a team which feels its has a lot to prove to itself and to the, fans but this pressure should act as a spark for an up and coming team. I t Daily Photo by JOHN MUNSON Michigan center Mike Moes is one of ten returning sophomores who bring confidence and poise to the Wolverines. Michigan hopes to recapture their season-ending form of last year and better its 14-25-1 record. SEVEN TOP GOAL SCORERS RETURN: Blue exhibitsbalanced By IAN RATNER Despite a disappointing seventh- place finish in the CCHA last season, Michigan looks forward to returning six of its seven top goal scorers from a team that scored 153 goals in league play. Unfortunately, the Wolverine defense allowed 174 goals (second worst in the league). Michigan also lost its leading goal scorer Brad Jones (32 goals) to graduation. "Other teams thought if they could shut Jones down, they could shut our team down," said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. "And often that was true." Berenson plans to offset the loss of Jones with a more balanced scoring attack that features four senior wingers, junior captain Todd Brost, four sophomores, and a talented crop of newcomers. SENIORS B R A D McCaughey, Joe Lockwood, and Billy Powers add experience at right wing. McCaughey tallied 26 goals and 49 points last season and should provide much needed offensive firepower. Berenson feels that McCaughey, an Ann Arbor native, can be as prolific a scorer as Jones. "If he's on his game every night, he can score goals with the best players in the league," said Berenson. Lockwood, an alternate captain along with McCaughey, has proven to be a solid two-way player. He collected 13 goals last season, scoring including a school-record five shorthanded goals. Powers is another scorer. He contributed 13 goals during his junior campaign. "Powers is capable of producing big numbers. It's a matter of consistency," said Berenson. "You'll see senior pride on this team and that will help our forwards overall." Michigan's centers are solid but small with a pair of 5-8 players in Brost and sophomore Rob Brown, and 5-10 Mike Moes. "I like big centermen but I haven't been able to find them," said Berenson. "But talent and character is more important than size." BROST NOTCHED 16 goals and 47 points last season. His exceptional work habits led to his selection as team captain by his teammates. With a season of college hockey under their belt, Moes and Brown will be expected to provide steady play.- Both sophomores played prominent roles on the penalty- killing unit as they contributed four of a team record 16 shorthanded goals. And Brown's grinding style impresses his coach. "Brown will outwork most players," said Berenson. Michigan's newcomers have an opportunity to contribute regularly at left wing with the loss of Bryan Deasley. The sophomore is out for at least the first four weeks of the season. A first-round pick of the NHL's Calgary Flames Deasley broke a bone in his ankle, falling down stairs before fall practice. But classmate Ryan Pardoski is healthy and 12 pounds heavier. Newcomer Don Stone looks to have secured himself on a line with McCaughey and Moes. Stone, who possesses a" deft scoring touch, shifted from the center position. Other newcomers vying for playing time are forwards Kent Brothers, Billy Jaffe, and Jim Ballantine. But coach Berenson stresses that the pressure to perform WlAr MICHIGAN a vv ao 1987-88 Hockey Roster No. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 29 30 Name Todd Copeland Mark Sorensen Myles O'Connor Randy Kwong Brad Turner Mike Moes Billy Jaffe Todd Brost (C) Joe Lockwood (A Don Stone Rob Brown Kent Brothers Jeff Urban Ryan Pardoski Billy Powers Brad McCaughey Alex Roberts Tim Helber Bryan Deasley Jim Ballantine Warren Sharples Gary Lorden Sean Baker Glen Neary Tim Genyk k) Pos. D D D D D C RW C ) RW C C RW LW LW RW (A) RW D C LW C G D LW G G Ht. 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-2 5-11 6-1 5-8 6-0 5-10 5-8 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-2 5-11 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-1 Wt. 205 180 180 181 200 190 195 175 180 165 172 200 190 170 185 195 195 170 205 170 185 195 195 200 194 Yr. So. Fr. Jr. So. So. So. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. So. So. So. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. So. So. HEAD COACH: Gordon "Red" Berenson ASSISTANT: Larry Pedrie GRAD ASSISTANTS: Rob Palmer, Doug May GOALIE COACH: Stefan Popa TRAINER: A.J. Duffy Michigan Schedule Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.. Nov. Nov. Nov. 9 10 16-17 23-24 30-31 6-7 13 14 BOWLING GREEN at Bowling Green at Miami at Ohio State ILLINOIS-CHICAGO at Ferris State at Michigan State MICHIGAN STATE WESTERN Jan. 8-9 Jan. 15-16 Jan. 22-23 Jan. 30 Feb. 5 Feb. 6 Feb. 12-13 Feb. 26 OHIO STATE at Ilinois-Chicago MICHIGAN STATE at Michigan State at Western Michigan WESTER N MICHIGAN LAKE SUPERIOR at B'owling Green Nov. 20 i