The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, Octoer 4,1993--5
Freshmen show potential to keep
Michigan among national elite
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Left Wing
Player
No.
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
By PAUL BARGER
DAILY HOCKEY WRITER
All nine of them were nervous and unsure about how
they would feel as they stepped on to the ice in front of the
crowd at Yost Ice Arena for the first time. All of them were
overwhelmed by the sound of "The Victors" as they made
their way to the playing surface. All of them were excited
to show what they could do outside of the slower-paced
practice sessions.
Thisnightmeanta lot to the Wolverine freshmen as the
annual Blue-White game marked
the beginnings of their careers as
hockey players at Michigan. This
is not just another group of rook- :.
ies thatisexpected to bide its time
on the bench until the coaches
decide it's time to play with the
big boys.
There are high expectations f N
for this group and the coaching
staff is counting on a contribution
from all of them throughout the 1993-94 campaign.
"All nine freshmen will get ice time this season,"
Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "They were all high
profile players coming in, but it is a big jump to the college
game.:I think that can all make an impact.",
The newcomers understand the importance of the roles
with the Wolverines and are eager to do whatever they can
to help the team to victory. With the well-documented
departure of many of last season's top players, the fresh-
men realize that they have to step up quickly.
"I'll do whatever they ask me to do," John Madden
said. "Checkinglines, penalty killing, power plays, what-
ever will help the team."
Madden (forward, Barrie Colts) is joined by Jason
Botterill (forward, St. Paul's School), Peter Bourke
(defenseman, Grosse Pointe South), Chris Frescoln
(defenseman, Detroit Freeze), Mike Legg (forward, Lon-
don Nationals), Warren Luhning (forward, Calgary Roy-
als), Brendan Morrison (center, Penticton Panthers), Harold
Schock (defenseman, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings) and Blake
Sloan (defenseman, Boston Jr. Bruins).
The success of this young group of men could very well
stem from the strength of their unity. In the short period of
time that they have known each other they have formed
close friendships and can rely on one another on and off the
ice.
"We live close together and have a lot of classes with
each other," Botterill said. "It's pretty special, we all get
along really well. We're coming together as a group."I
Whiletle closeness of the group may be at the core of
their progress during the next four years, sheer talent will
be what the fans will witness on the surface. All nine of
them have amassed impressive biographies and have
already shown that they belong on the squad.
Friday night's Blue-White game was a coming out
party of sorts for the newcomers. They got their first taste
of the Yost experience and the Yost faithful got their first
taste of them.
"It felt great when we came out and heard 'Hail to the
Victors,"'Bourke said. "It was very exciting and the game
was very fast paced."
Madden, who hails from Barrie, Ontario, was in awe of
the 2,225 fans that came to the arena to watch a scrimmage.
Imagine what will be running through his mind when 7,000
crowd the rink for the Oct. 30 home opener.
"It is probably the most fans I have ever played in front
of," he said. "I loved it. I got goose bumps when we came
out and the band was playing 'The Victors."'
The forward liked the sound of the fabled Michigan
fight song so much that he scored two goals and tallied two
assists, triggering the pep band into multiple verses of the
march. Other contributors were Morrison (1 goal,1 assist),
Botterill (1 goal), Legg (2 assists) and Frescoln (1 assist).
The freshmen performance compared favorably with
that of others who went on to have stellar first seasons. The
veterans took notice of the skills and ability of the newest
of their teammates.
"They did very well," sophomore Ryan Sittler said.
"They are all very talented and have a lot of confidence.
They took their time and made the right plays."
The coaches got a good look at the freshman and
seemed pleased with their overall performance. Not only
was Berenson scouting his new player's abilities, he was
trying to see how they would take to a fast-paced game
situation, with a good-sized crowd looking on.
"It was their first game in Yost, so to speak, with the
crowd," Berenson said. "We like to give them a feel for the
mentality of Yost and I thought they handled it pretty
well."
The team needs everyone to step up their game so it can
maintain the level of success the team has enjoyed in recent
years. Juniors will have to play like seniors, sophomores
like juniors and, of course, freshman like sophomores. If
ever a group was up to the task it is this one.
One question arises: How will these players adjust to
the idea of playing on the third or fourth line when they are
used to first line action? The freshmen seem to be prepared
for anything and are ready, willing and able to contribute
in any way that they can.
"If we can't help on the first line, we'll help on the
second and third line," Madden said.
It is good that the freshmen seem to like "The Victors"
so much because they will hear it constantly over the next
four years. Group aspirations extend all the way tothe peaky
of college hockey, a national championship. Their unity,
ability and confidence suggests that these goals are within
their reach.
Ryan Sittler
Mike Stone
Rick Willis
Anton Fedorov
John Madden
17
12
11
14
6-2 200
6-0 185
6-0 190
6-0 195
So.
Sr.
Jr.
-Jr.
Fr.
18 5-11 180
Sittler, the seventh pick in the 1992 NHL draft, could be
Michigan's highest scoring left winger this year, according to
Berenson. Stone is a solid performer at any forward position and
may be the conference's best penalty-killer.
Center
Player
Brian Wiseman
Kevin Hilton
Ron Sacka
Brendan Morrison
Mike Legg
No.
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
16
5-6 180
10 5-11 170
7
9
15
5-10
5-10
6-0
175
175
175
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Fr.
Fr.
Berenson says Wiseman could be the best player in the CCHA.
Wiseman's passing and puck-handling skills will certainly be a
strong point for Michigan this season. Hilton should improve upon
a solid rookie season.
Right Wing
Player
No.
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
David Oliver
Mike Knuble
John Arnold
Jason Botterill
Warren Luhnlng
26
22
5-11
6-3
185
210
20 5-10 ' 192
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Fr.
Fr.
19
28
6-3 205
6-2 190
Michigan needs Oliver to score at a rate similar to that of a year
ago. Knuble provides offense and can intimidate with Stone.
Arnold or Botterill will need to step up and provide quality time.
Defense
Player
No.
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
Tim Hogan
Mark Sakala'
Alan Sinclair
Steven Halko
Peter Bourke
Chris Frescoin
Harold Schock
Blake Sloan
23
2
6-0
195'
195
r.,
r.
3 G-3 220
24
5
4
6-1 185
6-0 185
6-3 190t
Jr.
So.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
6 5-10 175-
27 5-10 185
Defense is Michigan's big question mark. Hogan, Sakala, Sinclair
and Halko need to show they're leaders, and the freshmen can't
afford to make rookie mistakes.
Goalie
Player
No.
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
Steve Shields
Chris Gordon
Al Loges
31
35
30
6-3
6-1
210
165
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
6-2 185
Shields is closing in on the all-time NCAA career victory mark, and
he is one of the best goalies in the country. Gordon and Loges
give the Wolverines as much depth at goalie as any team in the
nation.
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DOUGLAS KANTER/Dally
Wolverine seniors David Oliver and Mike Stone scrap for the puck in Friday's Blue-White game.
October
15-16 at Alaska Fairbanks
January
doesn't want the record to take away
from the team."
Patience
Even if the Wolverines are
successful this year -even if they
win the national championship -
Shields will have to be patient. The
defense may be good, but it is
inexperienced, and that will show in
the early part of the season.
"There will be some nights we'll
need me a lot and other nights we
won't need me as much," Shields
said. "We'll have to be patient."
BLUE-WHITE
Continued from page 1
coach Red Berenson said. "I was wor-
ried about our conditioning, but it
wasn't too bad."
Things got rolling in the third pe-
riod with the Blue team scoring the
first two goals. Freshmen forwards
Jason Botterill and John Madden each
scored to put the Blue up 5-3 with
12:44 remaining.
Annwernlav ioa1bvMikeKnuble
"I guess I should be a little more
understanding with it being the first
game," Shields said. "We expect a lot
out of each other and I expect a lot of
myself."
The White opened the scoring just
47 seconds into the game. Knuble's
shot from the right circle evaded
Shields for the game's first goal.
4 The Blue took a 3-1 lead into the
first intermission after goals by Mad-
den, Ryan Sittler and David Oliver.
The White managed the only scoring
of the second neriod - goals by
15
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