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14 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 27, 1996
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Dale Rominski and other members of the Michigan hockey team visited C.S. Mott Children's Hospital last night. The
Wolverines spent time with kids in the burn, cancer and intensive care units for the third time in the past year.
'M' hockey visits Mott
Icers make third trip in last year to children's hospital
By Jim Rose
Daily Sports Writer
Last night, hockey wing Sean Ritchlin found himself
in a University hospital's intensive care unit for the sec-
ond time in a year.
Fortunately for Ritchlin, he was only visiting this time.
The Michigan hockey team traveled to C.S. Mott
Children's Hospital last night, visiting children in the
burn, cancer and intensive care units.
Ritchlin. who was hospitalized last year with a serious
leg injury, was just one of the team members who made
the trip.
The "From 'the Heart" charity organization helped
organize the visit, which was the squad's third scheduled
trip to Mott's since last September.
Sophomore wing Dale Rominski, whose Kermit the
Frog impersonation was the highlight of the evening for
one little girl, enjoyed talking with the youngsters.
"It's really worthwhile," Rominski said. "The kids real-
ly seem to enjoy it."
Michigan captain and senior center Brendan Morrison
was also in attendance. To hear him tell it, the children
weren't the only ones enjoying themselves.
"We love coming out here," Morrison said. "It's some-
thing we enjoy doing - and it's nice to see that the kids
enjoy it.
"That's why we're up here. It puts a smile on the faces
of some of these kids."
Morrison, Rominski, Greg Daddario, Mike Legg and
Peter Bourke visited cancer patients. Two other groups.of
players, accompanied by "From the Heart" organizers,
toured separate floors of the Children's hospital.
The Wolverines were scheduled to spend an hour and a
half moving from room to room but ended up signing
autographs and posing for pictures afterward for closer to
two hours.
At one point, after gathering around for several pie
tures in a row, the group even had two little boys snap-
ping photos of each other.
For some less-than-fortunate children who have been
subjected to tiny hospital rooms, the Wolverines provid-
ed a welcome change of pace.
Assistant captain Blake Sloan summed it all up.
"Some of the kids aren't even strong enough to talk, or
even open their eyes." Sloan said. "Some of these kids
are even in comas.
"But I remember last year. when we came to visit
Ritchlin, he was out of it - he didn't even know our
names. But when he got out of the hospital he told us
that he remembered us coming to visit. So I think it def-
initely makes an impact, even for the kids who aren't able
to tell us."
Rominski agreed with his teammate. saying that the
important thing isn't "who we are, so much - it's just th*
fact that we're here. Kids see the yellow jerseys, they get
to take some pictures - and that's fun for them."
Once again, Sloan had the words that put the night in
perspective.
"Being around these kids makes your own worries
seem a little less important," Sloan said.
"After spending some time in the intensive care unit it
doesn't seem like such a big deal if you've got a test
tomorrow."
--
Kickers look for improvement
entering new conference season
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By Nancy BergerI
Daily Sports NiterI
It might be premature for the t
Michigan women's soccer team to bet
eyeing a Big Ten championship.
especially when its conference
schedule begins today.
But for co-captain Debbie
Flaherty and her teammates, these
conference games will bring their
ultimate goal into focus.
"The games will become more
important," the junior midfielder
said. "It is easier to see what you
are playing for, like a Big Ten title
or an NCAA berth."
For the second consecutive year.
Michigan (3-1-2) will open its con-
ference season against Ohio State
(5-2).
When the Wolverines travel to
Columbus today, they will take with
them an 0-2 record against the
Buckeyes. In their previous two
meetings, Ohio State won both
games by identical 2-0 scores.
Michigan's history with Indiana
(4-1) is a little more victorious. In
1994, the Wolverines lost their first-
A.. it, Ti ct mp t tn inn i%-
Buckeyes had jumped out to an early
lead.
While Michigan's record versus
this weekend's opponents isn't some-
thing to brag about, the Wolverines'
overall conference record isn't some-
thing they would even want to dis-
cuss.
Over the past two seasons, the
Wolverines have accumulated a 2-
1 1-1 (.179) mark against the Big
Ten. They have only managed to win
We have been
playing together
more. We have all
the talent, we just
need to gel
more. "
- Debbie Flaherty
Michigan soccer player
one game in each of the last two sea-
sons while playing to a tie with
Micif C Sate lset ve
intra-conference play this year.
Despite what their record indicates
many of their conference games have
been closely contested.
"The Big Ten is close this year and
the title is up for grabs," Flaherty
said. "We are hoping for even better
than a .500 (record). We have come
close and tied in games and now it is
time to win.'
Michigan had its share of close
games against California and
Kentucky last week.
In the game against CalifornriaW
junior forward Ruth Poulin had -a
game-winning goal taken away on a
controversial hand-ball call with
just 30 seconds left to play.
With six ticks left on the cloak
against Kentucky, freshman EmiN
Schmitt just missed the net when the
ball bounced off the crossbar.
Last year, Michigan had an over-
time loss to Wisconsin, while at th*
1994 Big Ten championships they
managed to best Penn State ii a
penalty kick tiebreaker (3-1).
With the help of a highly touted
freshman class, Michigan will have
the depth and the talent to win the
close onimes a,,ainst tough oppo-
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