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