4 Page 12 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 14, 1988 1988- 89 M' HOCKEY PREVIEW -- Icer BY TAYLOR LINCOLN In his first four years as Michigan head coach, Red Berenson has compiled a 61-96-2 record. Hardly encouraging, unless you consider that Berenson inherited a last-place team in 1985. After making gradual improvement in the first three years of Berenson's tenure, the Wolverines got a taste of winning last year. The 1987-88 squad posted MIchigan's first winning record since 1981 (22-19) and jumped from seventh to fifth place in the CCHA with a 17-15 mark. "We're starting to make progress," said Berenson. "This year we're shooting for the top four." THIS YEAR will be a test of sorts for Berenson's program. The '88 team will be the first squad entirely composed of players Berenson recruited. Senior co-captains Todd Brost and Myles O'Connor, both members of Berenson's first recruiting class, will be. expected to provide solid leadership. Brost, a center, is the career scoring leader on the current Mvichigan squad, while O'Connor is 38 points shy of becoming the Wolverines all-time leading scoring defenseman. Another key ingredient for the Wolverines' success hinges on 1 junior goaltender Warren Sharples. < Last year Sharples improved his goals-against average by more than one (5.14 to 4.10) and led the CCHA with 799 saves en route to winning 18 games and earning team MVP honors. BERENSON praised Sharples and his surrounding defensive core, saying, "Sharples has become a mature college goaltender, and we will have a more experienced defense than we've had in the past." Aside from O'Connor and Sharples, the defensive contingent looking to rise in CCHA Y. 4 Jim Ballantine and junior Ryan Pardoski and a trio of newcomers: Danny Felsner, Mike Helber, and Ted Kramer. Helber, a graduate of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, set a national high school record last year with 65 goals. Felsner burst on the scene in last week's intrasquad game with two goals and an assist. Last year's team alternated between highs and lows. Bright spots included a mid-season streak in which the Wolverines strung together six wins in eight games, including a two-game sweep of league powerhouse Michigan State. THE SEASON ended in disappointment as Michigan lost the final two games of its opening round three-game playoff series against Western Michigan, dropping the deciding game,10-0. "It was a tough way to end the year," said Berenson. "But we gained some humility and something to learn from." This year Berenson hopes the Wolverines can continue to improve upon the consistency that they displayed in the second half of last season. "In the last couple of seasons we had a tendency to fold up," Berenson said. "Last year we reversed that. We were a .500 team in the first half then became a really strong team in the second half." Berenson is cautious in his predictions, but optimistic about his team's potential. "There are five teams capable of finishing first, and we're one of them," he said. "We have a chance to win every game. We're learning how to win now." Brost considers the team's main goal to gain home ice in the playoffs (top four league finishers), and he will not be satisfied with being an also-ran. "This year we will expect to win every game," Brost said. "We're as good as every team in this league." Michigan's 1988-9 D ATE DAY OPPONENT Oct. 14 (Fri.) *MIAMI Oct. 15 (Sat.) *MIAMI Oct. 21 (Fri.) *ILL-CHICAGO Oct. 23 (Sun.) *ILL-CHIGAGO Oct. 28 (Fri.) *at Lake Superior Oct. 29 (Sat.) *at Lake Superior Nov. 4 (Fri.) *BOV&ING GRE Nov. 5 (Sat.) *at Bowling Greer Nov. 11 (Fri.) *at Ferris State Nov. 12 (Sat.) *at Ferris State Nov. 18 (Fri.) *OHIO STATE Nov. 19 (Sat.) *OH1O STATE Nov. 25 (Fri.) *at Western Mich Nov. 26 (Sat.) *WESTERN MIC Dec. 2 (Fri.) at Boston College Dec. 3 (Sat.) at Boston Univers Dec. 9 (Fri.) *MICHIGAN ST Dec. 11 (Sun.) *Michigan St. Dec. 16 (Fri.) *at Illinois-Chiga Dec. 17 (Sat.) *at Illinois-Chiga Dec. 29-30 Great Lakes Invit. Dec. 29 (Th.) vs. Michigan Tec Dec. 30 (Fri.) vs. Michigan St. EN ,n . Sity . ~ go go L. ,h Ockey Schedule SITE TIME ANN ARBOR 7:30 ANN ARBOR 7:30 ANN ARBOR 7:30 ANN ARBOR 3:00 Sault. Ste. Marie, M1 7:30 Sault. Ste. Marie, MT 7:30 ANN ARBOR 7:30 Bowling Green, 01H 7:30 Big Rapids, MI 7:30 Big Rapids, MI 7:30 ANN ARBOR 7:30 ANN ARBOR 7:30 Kalamazoo, MI 7:30 ANN ARBOR 7:30 4 kx 4 Chestnut Hill, MA Boston, MA ANN ARBOR East Lansing, MlI Chicago,111 Chicago, Ill Joe Louis Arena IN. Dakota JOHN MUNSON/Daily nior center Rob Brown returns after ints last year. Brown's offensive pecially needed this year since the leading the production Wolverines t team in will be havc lost l l J four of their top seven scorers from last year. Jan. 6 ( Jan. 7 ( Jan, 13 ( Jan. 14 ( Jan. 20 (1 Jan. 21 ( Jan. 27 ( Jan. 28 ( Feb.3 ( Feb.4 ( Feb. 10 (1 Feb. 11 ( Feb. 17 ( Feb. 18 ( Feb. 24 ( Feb. 25 ( Mar. 3-5 Mar. 11-12 Mar. 17-19 Mar. 24-26 Mar. 30-31 Fri. ) Sat.) Fri.) Sat.) Fri.) Sat.) Fri.) Sat.) Fri.) Sat.) Fri.) Sat.) Fri.) Sat.) Fri.) Sat.) *LAKE SUPERIOR *LAKE SUPERIOR *at Bowling Green *BOWLING GREEN *FERRIS STATE *FERRIS STATE *at Ohio State *at Ohio State *WESTERN MICH. *at Western Mich. at Notre Dame NOTRE DAME *at Michigan St. *MICHIGAN ST. *at Miami *at Miami CCHA 1st Round CCHA Finals NCAA 1st Round NCAA 2nd Round NCAA Finals NCAA Finals ANN ARBOR ANN ARBOR Bowling Green, 011 ANN ARBOR ANN ARBOR ANN ARBOR Columbus, OH Columbus, OH ANN ARBOR Kalamazoo, MI Notre Dame, IN ANN ARBOR East Lansing, MI ANN ARBOR' Oxford, OH Oxford, OHi 7:00 7:00 7:30 , 3:00 7:00 7:00 5:00,, 5/8 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 A 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 { t 4. 4 will be bolstered by juniors Brad Turner, Alex Roberts and Todd Copeland, and sophomore Mark Sorensen. "We should have a really good defensive core," said Sharples. "We have an opportunity to be a force in the league and in the nation." Offensively, Michigan must replace right wingers Billy Powers, Brad McCaughey, and Joe Lockwood. Also lost is left wing Bryan Deasley, a sophomore last year, who signed with the Calgary Flames (see story below). This foursome accounted for 41 percent of Michigan's goals last season. TOP RETURNING forwards include junior Rob Brown, who led Michigan in scoring last year (21 goals, 23 assists, 44 points), Brost (18-23-41), sophomore Don Stone (18-21-39), and junior Mike Moes (5-27-32). Filling voids left behind by departed forwards will be sophomore Campus Sites (Best 2-of-3) Detroit Joe Louis Arena Campus Sites (Best 2-of-3) Campus Sites (Best 2-of-3) St. Paul,MN St. Paul, MN ssociation (CCHA) game 1' 4 Apr. I * Denotes Central Collegiate Hockey (all games p.m.) Deasley departs 'M' for . . .:. _ y chance in th BY RICHARD EISEN "So, who did well in the intrasquad game," asked the person at the other end of the telephone line. He sounded just like any other Michigan hockey fan, hungry for any piece of information about the team. But, he is markedly different. "I am proud to say I played at Michigan for two years," the fan said. The fan is Bryan Deasley, who, last spring, forfeited his last two years of eligibility at Michigan by signing a contract with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League. Instead of being on the blue line in Ann Arbor, he is on the other end of the telephone line in Alberta. With the flick of his pen, Deasley changed from Michigan player to Michigan fan. Deasley, a North York, Ont. native, is currently a member of the Canadian National Hockey team, on loan from the Flames. Once his tenure with the National Team is over, Deasley, at age 20, said he would join the Flames for the playoff drive in March. "I'm not upset being put on loan," Deasley said. "We play 70 games, playing the Russians 30 times and Czechoslovakia about 20, so there'll be a lot of great games." TODAY, Deasley and the rest of the Canadian National team will leave for a 30 day Iron Curtain tour, playing against the Russians and the Czechs. Instead of skating tonight for Michigan coach Red Berenson, Deasley will be skating in Red Square. For two years, Deasley skated in Red's Square - Yost Ice Arena.. Going into his third year for the Wolverines, Deasley had a chance to expand on his 31 goals and 15 assists. But Deasley opted for the pros, a decision with which coach Berenson does not agree. "I feel very strongly that the timing of Bryan's decision was not right," Berenson said. "I feel very strongly that he had a lot more to accomplish as a college player, to get more school under his belt. e big league "I don't know if a person 19 years of age is mature enough to go to a professional hockey lifestyle. If a player was exceptional enough to slip into the NHL, it wouldn't be fair for me to try to hold him back." "It was a real tough decision. The Flames gave me a good salary," Deasley said. "Plus, they gave me a multi-year contract for a little security." DESPITE leaving Michigan, Deasley will not neglect his studies. He plans to take courses at the University of Calgary, using those credits toward a Michigan degree. He also plans to attend school here during the summer months. Although Berenson was not happy with Deasley's departure, knowing that Deasley will study softens the blow. "It's a tougn tasK for a ooy to comnici piu inzury and a university. He's one of the few," Berenson said. "I want to graduate from Michigan. It's a great school and I love it," Deasley said. "I miss everything about it. The playing, the guys, my girlfriend and those Saturdays on the road when the Wolves were all set to play the (Michigan State) Spartans." BERENSON said it is difficult to see the affect of Deasley's absence since the Wolverines have yet to play a game but, "Bryan's leaving now opens the door for a younger player to come in and fill the spot." Defenseman Todd Copeland, Deasley's first year roommate, feels the team will fair just fine. "When he was injured last year, we did pretty well," he said. "The team has a lot of youth and enthusiasm, we'll be able to overcome." Despite leaving Michigan in midstream, there is no bitterness, no hidden feelings. Michigan hockey knows where Deasley stands, Deasley knows where Berenson stands. "I hope he does well. I don't want to wish him bad luck," Berenson said. "But I feel Bryan made a poor decision, he knows it, his parents know it and Calgary knows it." 4 4 4 4 Left winger Bryan Deasley elected to forego his final two years of eligibility favor of pursuing an NHL career with the Calgary Flames of the NHL. As 1987-88 Deasley was the Wolverines fourth leading goal scorer. ROBIN LOZNAK/Daily at Michigan in a sophomore ii. Lake Lake Superior Michigan State Western Michigan Bowling Green Nickname - Falcons Colors - Burnt Orange and Seal Brown Enrollment - 17,300 Arena (Capacity) - BGSU Ice Arena (3,400) Nickname - Lakers Colors - Royal Blue and Gold Enrollment - 2,800 Arena (Capacity) - Norris Ice Arena (3,200) Nickname - Spartans Colors - Green and White Enrollment - 42,096 Arena (Capacity) - Munn Ice Arena (6,255) Nickname - Broncos Colors - Brown and Gold Enrollment - 24,500 Arena (Capacity) - Lawson Arena (4,000) a