The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, October 24, 1994 - 7 D Blue, Tigers are B51 n os both 'Victors' MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily Colorado's Judd Lambert can only watch as Michigan's Mike Legg slips one by him in Saturday's victory. 'M' d By TOM SEELEY Daily Hockey Writer At every home hockey game the Michigan faithful proclaim one of the teams on the ice as "The Champions of the West." Ninety-nine percent of the time the last line of the Michigan fight song is an obvious cheer for the Wolver- ines. This weekend was not one of those times. This past Friday and Saturday nights, the opposing team at Yost Ice Arena could have thought that the maize- and-blue clad fans were singing about them. When the Colorado College Tigers skated out Friday night, they took the ice as the defending champions of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Fourteen years ago, Michigan was still a member of the WCHA and such confusion could not have happened. That all changed when Michigan joined Michigan State, Notre Dame and Michigan Tech in leaving the WCHA and heading for the more geographically compact Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Last season, Michigan finished on top of the CCHA, setting the stage for this weekend's contest between two of' last year's title winners. Coming into Friday night's game, only two spots separated the teams in the WMEB media poll. Despite both coaches' attempts to downplay the matchup, both teams had a lot to prove. The No. 3 Wolverines had to show that last week's 8- 0 dismantling of York University was no fluke. They also had to prove that the absence of last year's leading scorer had not left them high and dry. No. 5 Colorado College entered this weekend with the stench of last year's disappointing finish still hanging in the air. The Tigers finished first in the WCHA during the regular season but suffered an upset loss to Michigan Tech in the conference tournament. Then, after anticipating an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament, they were not invited despite a 23-11-5 record. In the first game of the series, the representatives from both conferences came out firing. As the game wore on, it looked like the squad from the WCHA looked like they had more to prove. To start the third period, the Tigers' Peter Geronazzo scored a one-handed goal with two Wolverines hanging on him to put Colorado College ahead, 5-3. After a Kevin Hilton tally pulled Michigan within a goal at the 10:02 mark of the period, the Tigers scored a mere minute later to extend the margin to two goals. They then proceeded to squash any hopes of a Wolverine comeback when R.J, Enga's short-handed goal put the game out of Michigan's reach for good. "We knew Michigan would be a good test for us, Geronazzo said. "All of our veterans are coming back with a bitter taste in their mouth after not getting to finish our season last year. We wanted to get this season started off right." Friday's loss pushed the Wolverines' backs against the wall. They had to show that their defensive lapses were not the status quo, and another loss would leave the Wolver- ines with two defeats at the earliest point in their season since 1987. The urgency of Michigan's plight was obvious in the first period Saturday as they scored three unanswered goals, including a short-handed score by John Madden. The Wolverines appeared to be well on their way toward victory, but the Tigers tied the game in the third period. With overtime appearing imminent, Jason Botterill scored in the game's last second to secure the win for Michigan. On the night, Warren Luhning - playing for the. injured Mike Knuble - had two goals and Botterill scored twice and added two assists. The Wolverines were 3-of-9 on the power play and kept Colorado College from scoring on its seven power play attempts. Botterill's last-second heroics notched this weekend's totals at one win apiece for the CCHA and the WCHA. It was an ending to this clash of the titans that even Hollywood could not have scripted better. The Wolverines and the Tigers battled each other this weekend like two Roman Gladiators, and in the end both emerged as "Victors." By MELANIE SCHUMAN Daily Hockey Writer A roller-coaster week full of frus- tration and elation kept the Michigan hockey team on its toes as it prepared for this weekend's matchup with Colorado College. Starting right wing Mike Knuble was absent from this ride until late fbursday afternoon when he suited up to practice after doctors cleared him to play. Warren Luhning stepped up last Monday, filling the void left by Knuble's exit and practiced with the top line of Brendan Morrison and Kevin Hilton. In not only a physical challenge, but also a psychological adjustment, Luhning rode this coaster ntil he got off the ice Thursday afternoon in disappointment. It seemed Knuble was ready. He prac- ticed and went to the team dinner before the game. Then he got a phone call. Trainer Rick Bancroft called Cot- tage Inn and told Knuble he was taking him to the hospital to undergo one last-minute test. The team ar- rived at Yost and dressed for Friday's *ame against Colorado College. An eerie feeling engulfed the team when it saw something wasn't right - Knuble's jersey was not in his locker. Knuble's chest infection not only kept him out of both games this week- end, but it will also sideline him from practices and training of any form for at least three to four weeks. At this point, Knuble is out for the Nov. 4 TIGERS Continued from page 1 in the period, the Tigers still managed to put the game out of reach, scoring two more goals on just four shots. The Wolverines also played a bit carelessly at times. Enga tallied a short- Wanded goal - the first allowed by Michigan since the '92 season. In addi- tion, the Wolverines seemed to let up defensively after scoring, allowing Colorado College to score twice just seconds after Michigan goals. "I don't know if you can really point a finger at any one aspect of the game," Loges said. "I don't think any of us had an exceptional game, start- *ng from myself to the defense to the forwards, considering we've been and 5 homestand against conference foes Ohio State and Lake Superior State. "It's so hard to sit up in the stands and watch the team struggle and go through what they did (Friday night) and to not be there knowing I feel 100 percent fine," Knuble said. Knuble's biggest frustration is his awareness - knowing he has no aches and pains, but something hidden in- side is keeping him from playing. "It's a heartbreaker," he said. "My legs were a little bit wobbly coming out and it's really disappointing. It's something you have to get through on your own." Individually, Knuble will have more than a rigorous make-up session come time when he can begin his reconditioning. One day off is con- sidered a rest, but for each day there- after, a week of training is required to compensate. The entire team must step up its play to offset Knuble's injury. Friday night's shaky performance reflected the Wolverines' emotional ride. "We're more arrogant when he is playing with us," Luhning said. "The team looks a lot more to him to score goals. The first night we were missing him. Tonight, we clicked a lot more." Morrison, the No. I center, did score Friday night in the first period, tapping in the rebound of defenseman Chris Fox's shot. The top line lacked chemistry, though, as did the power play unit when Michigan failed to convert four chances. "Knuble was a big force on the team physically and he's a really good goal scorer. If I can do those two things, I can help fill in for him," Luhning said. Luhning did just that in Saturday's rematch. The team rebounded from Friday's loss, led by the starting line. "I played with Mike all of last year and we jelled last year and tried to carry it over to this year," Mornison said, admitting he misses Knuble on his wing. "Early in the year, we looked pretty good together. Obviously, it hurts your whole lineup because he is pretty creative out there ... and he opens up a lot of room. "(Luhning) is a power winger simi- lar to Knuble, but he doesn't have quite the finesse as Knuble yet and he'll get that with experience." Muscling his way toward two goals and a number of more quality scoring chances, Luhning's strength was apparent Saturday night. The Wolverines went three-for-nine on the power play, with Luhning scor- ing both his goals with a man ad- vantage. "I think (Knuble's absence) played a big part yesterday and to- day we kind of worked over it," Hilton said after Saturday's last- second victory. Hilton assisted on both Luhning goals. The coaching staff will now map out a long-term change of plans for Luhning and his teammates. Saturday's victory displays the char- acter of a Michigan squad without Knuble. The results of next weekend's road trip will confirm it. V U fa Here are the top 10 hockey teams in the nation according to the media as compiled by WMEB radio in Orono, Me. First- place votes are in parentheses. e adopting new illy members at Team 1. Boston (12) 2. 3. Michigan State (1) Minnesota Points 138 121 87 83 79 _50 47 4. Colorado College 5r Michigan (1) 6. Harvard 7. Clarkson We offer a variety of positions, FULL AND PART TIME. 8. Lake Superior State 42 Northeastern 10. Wisconsin. 42 19 cooks servers greeters service assistants buffet attendants cashiers skating with each other for the last three or four weeks." Loges saved 24 of 31 shots before being replaced by Turco late in the third period. Turco, a true freshman, started Saturday night and played the entire game, stopping 18 of 22 shots. As expected, the two-game set with the experienced and nationally-ranked Tigers did allow Michigan coach Red Berenson to assess what might lie ahead. "It's an awakening," he said. "We're going to go through this all year. We're not going to start off like we did last year. We're a different team, and we're going to be humbled like we were (Friday) and it's going to be a test of our team character and our team spirit and leadership." Others receiving votes: New Hampshire 18, Maine 16, Vermont 9, St. Cloud 8, West- ern Michigan 4, Massachusetts- Lowell 3, Norther Michigan 2, Bowling Green 2. We Offer: eFlexible schedules to work around your classes .Competitive wages to ease the high cost of education Apply in person at BIG BOY! Washtenaw & Huron Pkwy." Plymouth Rd at U.S. 23. Briarwood Mall Equal Opportunity Employer r $1 Rolling Rock bottles $1.25 Well drinks Monday Night Football QBi competition- win prizes . ... ..