The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 29, 1993 - 11
'M' icers split weekend pair
Blue beats Minnesota, 6-0; loses to Wisconsin, 5-3
EVAN PETRIE/Daily
Michigan captain Brian Wiseman returned to the rink Friday against Minnesota after suffering a knee injury the
previous weekend. Wiseman had four assists in the 6-0 victory over the Gophers, giving him his 200th career point.
pR
ANDY DE KORTE
Judgement of De Korte
AUBURN HILLS - With Friday's game against
Minnesota and Saturday's against Wisconsin
being the Michigan hockey team's only scheduled
meetings with those teams, this weekend was crucial to
he Wolverines' Big Ten chances. Considering
Michigan's sweep of Ohio State the previous weekend,
two victories would have given a tight grip on the
conference lead.
But of course, there is no Big Ten hockey conference.
Michigan is in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
while Minnesota and Wisconsin are in the Western
Collegiate Hockey Association.
Michigan's two games plus two Michigan State
games against Minnesota and Wisconsin at The Palace of
Auburn Hills comprised the 1993 College Hockey
Showcase. The first of a four-year agreement pits
perennial powers of the CCHA and WCHA schools who
are also members of the Big Ten in other sports. Not a
tournament, no one will play a team from its own
conference.
The storied hockey histories of the Gophers and the
Badgers give these latest clashes more significance.
Wisconsin played Michigan in the first Wolverine hockey
game in 1922. Minnesota played the second game and
has played Michigan more times than any other team,
Oeading the all-time series 116-105-15.
"We don't play these teams enough," Michigan coach
and former player Red Berenson said. "So it's really
special when we do. It's important for our team to play
these types of games."
"I think it's a real neat setup," Michigan State coach
Ron Mason said. "But to say one conference is better than
the other (based on these games) would be misleading."
Mason said this even before Wisconsin completed its
come-from-behind victory against the Wolverines. The 5-
* Badger victory in the second game Saturday night
evened the conference records. All the participants
finished 1-1, leaving no clear-cut winner.
. The level of play clearly illustrated that the barriers to
a Big Ten conference are based more on geography than
philosophical differences among the four.
"The two teams you saw out there are not that dissimilar,"
Big Ten title on line
at College Showcase
Minnesota coach and former player Doug Woog said. "I wish
we had a Big Ten league. We should match-up the schools
because they have the same standards and that type of thing,
not to insult the other schools."
"We play a similar type game," Berenson said. "Our
players come up through the same system. We recruit a
lot of the same players as Wisconsin. We both go after
the highest class of player."
Still the logistical problems of forming a Big Ten
association even plagued this tournament. The
tournament could not safely use the Big Ten name as part
of its billing because Ohio State could not participate.
"Right now, I think this tournament is pretty
saleable," Wisconsin coach Jeff Sauer said. "It would be
nice to get Ohio State in here, but doing things with five
teams is tough. You might have to rotate out and then
someone might be upset. This is fun."
Woog's feelings about the showcase bordered on delight.
"They could recognize a Big Ten champion (like they
used to)" Woog said. "They could give out rings or
watches or something."
As Woog pointed out, while there was never a formal
Big Ten hockey conference, a Big Ten champion used to
be recognized within the WCHA.
Ohio State is currently the joker to crowning a Big
Ten champion. The Buckeyes will not play any WCHA
teams this season, making it hard for the Gophers or the
Badgers to stake a Big Ten claim.
.Since Michigan lost to Wisconsin, it will not have a
winning record against the Badgers this year. Only a
victory against Wisconsin in the NCAA playoffs would
allow the Wolverines to even the season mark.
Thus, given that each team lost a game at The Palace,
similar matchup problems arise between all the teams,
and Ohio State's absence is not the only problem. Hockey
has become the opposite of football. The Big Ten
championship is mythical, and the national championship
will become concrete.
Where does this leave the College Hockey Showcase?
With four of the best college hockey teams of all time,
combining for 17 national championships, coming
together for three more years.
By ANTOINE PITTS
DAILY HOCKEY WRITER
AUBURN HILLS -The first Col-
lege Hockey Showcase, matching the
Central Collegiate Hockey Associa-
tion (CCHA) against the Western Col-
legiate Hockey Association (WCHA),
ended Saturday night as Michigan,
wearing its yellow jerseys for the first
time this season, suffered its first defeat
of the season.
The event, held before a two-day
crowd of 27,916 at The Palace of Au-
burn Hills, featured Michigan and
Michigan State from the CCHA, play-
ing Minnesota and Wisconsin, from
the WCHA.
The Wolverines (10-1-1 overall)
fell to Wisconsin (7-4-1), 5-3, as the
leagues split the fourgames. TheCCHA
teams got their victories Friday night as
Michigan defeated long-time foe Min-
nesota(3-6-3), 6-0, and Michigan State
(7-3-3) topped Wisconsin, 4-2. The
WCHA got revenge Saturday with
Wisconsin's victory and Minnesota's
6-5 defeat of Michigan State.
Wisconsin overcame athird-period
Michigan lead en route to its victory.
The score stood knotted at two entering
the third when Mike Stone's fifth goal
of the year gave the Wolverines a one-
goal lead, with 12:21 remaining. All
Michigan would have to do is hold the
Badgers off for the rest of the third
period to repeat last year's NCAA re-
gional final victory.
However, Wisconsin scored two
goals plus an empty-netter to earn the
victory. Brian Rafalski beat Steve
Shields with his first goal of the year
for the game-winner.
"We proved to people that we're a
good hockey team," Wisconsin coach
Jeff Sauer said. "I think we proved to
ourselves that we can play with the best
in the country. Thereal positive thing is
FORREST
Continued from page 9
the most part - we've got a chance
to be a pretty good team," Fisher said.
Michigan had such an armory last
year that it rarely needed to be
exacting on both ends of the floor.
The Fab Five and its supporting cast
would normally grab a double-digit
lead midway through a contest. They
would typically let the advantage slip
away in the closing minutes and then
find a way to pull out the victory in
the waning seconds.
That style of play will not suffice
this season. If Howard or Rose get
into foul trouble, Michigan may be
doomed. The team cannot call on a
horde of experienced reserves.
If the team has a considerable lead, it
will have to hold it dear. Michigan must
use the tools it has with the smallest
amount of mental errors.
"Everybody's got to do a little bit
more," Fisher said.
Certainly the slack created
through significant departures must
be tightened by others.
"We don't miss Chris as much as
it seems," Fife said.
Maybe so. But the absence of
Webber and last year's depth will be
inconspicuous only if Michigan plays
the brand of complete game it did in
Springfield.
the way we came through adversity
tonight."
"You've got to give them credit for
coming back in the third period," Michi-
gan coach Red Berenson said. "When
they were down they kept pressure on
and got the goals they needed."
Max Williams was positioned be-
hind the net with the puck. He faked
one way, causing Shields to cover the
net on that side but sent the puck in the
opposite direction. Rafalski had a wide
open net, as Shields did not react, to
score his first of the year.
"I thought (Williams) was coming
out the other side," Shields said. "Ob-
viously, he already swept it back the
other way."
"There's a blind spot for goalies
and when you're following the puck
there's a point where you have to start
going back and he got beat on it,"
Berenson said. "He didn't sense dan-
ger. They made it look easy."
Michigan got off to a quick start in
the game. The Wolverines capitalized
on their first two power-play opportu-
nities with goals from Mike Knuble
and Brian Wiseman. That two-goal
lead stood up until the last minute of the
first period.
Four Michigan penalties gave the
Badgers an opportunity to get back into
the game. Andrew Shier scored a
power-play goal and Rob Granato
notched an even strength goal, both in
the last minute of play.
"They're a good team," Berenson
said. "They're an experienced team.
We knew they would be better than
(Friday) night coming off the loss to
(Michigan) State.
"These are the kind of games we
need to play in order to get a better feel
for our team."
Despite belonging to different con-
ferences, the Badgers and Wolverines
are familiar rivals.
"We've played three games the last
three years against Michigan and all
three of them have been great hockey
games," Sauer said. "I think that's a
credit to college hockey."
The past two years, the teams have
faced each other in the NCAA tourna-
ment. The Badgers ousted Michigan
two years ago in the Final Four but the
Wolverines bounced Wisconsin from
the tournament last year. Michigan
defeated the Badgers, 4-3, in overtime
in the regional finals.
"They came out, they had revenge
on their minds," Stone said. "We
knocked them out last year and they
wanted to get us back."
Friday's victory over Minnesota
saw the Wolverines record their first
shutout in 28 games. The first period
belonged to David Oliver. The senior
right wing recorded a natural hat trick
- three consecutive goals. It was
Oliver's third career tftee-goal perfor-
mance. All three of Oliver's hat tricks
have come against the Gophers.
"I've had some luck against them
in the past," Oliver said. "I don't
know what it is. Youjust show up and
play your hardest every night. It was
just lucky that I was in the right place
at the right time."
The Wolverine victory also gave
Shields his 89th career win, a new
NCAA record.
"I'm just glad it's over," Shields
said. "I knew if we kept playing the
games I'd break it eventually. At the
end of the season I'll be able to reflect
on what I've done and what it means."
Shields passed former Bowling
Green goaltender Gary Kruzich for
the record.
"We're happy for him," Oliver.
said. "It was inevitable. It was good to
get off his back."
I-
All University of Michigan,
students, facul(y, and staff
ar-e invited to help kick off the new
FELLOWSHIP
OF
CHRISTIAN ATHLETES
With guest speaker
ROB PEINKA
Former U of M Basketball Standout
Wednesda.l, Decembe1r st
7:- 9 0 P.m
Michigan Union - Pond Room
For further information, contact Shelly Stevenson at 994-3068
or David Ralston at 429-3821
it
Italian Restaurant
Now .open 7 days a week
Serving Beer, Wine & Liquor
Featuring Authentic Italian Food
Cooked by Mama Rosa Herself
665-0444 - Take Out
300 Detroit St. at Catherine
across from Farmer's Market
Fife makes first career hoops start memorable
By CHAD A. SAFRAN
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - His ca-
reer point total in his first season was
10. In one half of the season's opening
contest against Georgia Tech, Dugan
Fife all but eclipsed that mark. Fife
knocked in nine points in Michigan's
80-70 triumph over the Yellow Jackets
Friday.
The 6-foot-2 sophomore guard from
Clarkston, Mich., connected on three
of four attempts from the field, includ-
ingtwo for three from three-point range,
and added one from the free throw line.
Fife even scored the Wolverines'
first points of the year on a three-
pointer just over one minute into the
game. The basket immediately tied his
career best of three points set against
*Central Michigan last season. Fife also
managtd to snare three rebounds in 26
minutes of action, equalling a career
best set last December against Cleve-
.Mll.
land State. Fife may have been able to
add to his totals had he not fouled out
with 3:16 remaining in the game.
All in all the former runner-up for Mr.
Basketball in the state of Michigan was
quite proud of the effort he put forth.
"It was a great feeling," Fife said.
"Lastyear,Ionly gottogo in blowouts. It's
a great feeling to contribute in a win."
As the point guard for the Wolver-
ines, Fife's main duty is to take care of
the basketball and he did, committing
only two turnovers while being de-
fended by Tech's lightning quick Travis
Best. Fife was also one of several Michi-
gan players to take turns guarding the
5-foot-I I guard and helped force Best
into missing nine of 15 shots from the
field.
It was a performance that may force
Michigan coach Steve Fisher to give
Fife continued floor time.
"Dugan made good decisions,"
Fisher said. "If he can have that kind of
game every time out, he'll continue to
get minutes."
The game provided Fife with his
first opportunity to start in a regular
season game. He was one of the starters
in both of the Wolverines' exhibition
games against Croatia Zrinjevac and
Sam Ragnone Attorney.
The fundamentally sound perfor-
mance gained Yellow Jacket coach
Bobby Cremins' attention.
"I thought Fife played a heck of a
basketball game; a really solid game,"
Cremins said.
Fife's father, Dan, captained the
1970-71 Michigan basketball team,
averaging 13.1 pointsagame forJohnny
Orr's squad that season. The younger
Fife may not reach that average this
season, but nine points a game and
timely baskets will compliment this
season's Wolverines just fine.
I
ATTENTION PREMEDS
1
I ATTENTION PREMEDS
MCAT SEMINAR
icz t + c s :- ,- rIr- ruC
" MULTI COLOR SPECIALISTS
* ARTIST ON STAFF
* RUSH ORDERS
* NEAR U OF M CAMPUS
1217 PROSPECT, ANN ARBOR 665-1771
FF with this ad.
IInclude
";
Top I
4
4
i
Ep~s~pom "StudryLou*~e e'LoV c
fnmnuarwom *"fALrudhI'T Fiti~s
Application Trends
Structure of all 4 MCAT Sections
Scorin#
R4 ^ m x Cnn'1
I
i
A '
I