22B - The Michigan Daily - Faceoff '96 - Monday, October 14, 1996 4* - e id 0 Monday, Oc er 14, 1996 SHOWCASE Contnue from Page 208 for the Hobey Baker Award. Co-captain Mike Crowley, a Hobey Finalist last sea- son, set single-season, Minnesota records in 1995-96 for assists by a defenseman (46) and total points by a defenseman (63). In goal, the loss of Moen is only a half-blow to the Gophers, as Moen split time in the net last season with now- junior Steve Debus, who won 12 straight games at one point last season. four of last season's top-10 scorers. Senior Erik Raygor, the top returning scorer, finished fifth on the squad with 13 goals last season. Junior Joe Bianchi leads four junior forwards that look to replace the departed leadership. Even more inexperienced is the Badger defense, with freshmen and sophomores accounting for six of the nine defensemen. 'M' hockey no longer seconi Fans give icers respect equal to that of other i The Badgers are coming off a season """"''" in which they did not make the NCAA, tournament for the first time in nine years.199596 Mich 7, WlnStn.3 Questions surround an inexperienced Wisconsin team at virtually every posi- g tion except one - goaltender. Senior Kirk Daubenspeck was in net I4/G/t Oe A for the majority of the past two seasons, including a team record 55 consecutive starts. Last season, Daubenspeck posted Kirk Eaubenspek $r4 GoaLender a 4.01 goals-against average and an .885 Erik Rigo .. . For ward save percentage. Joe Blanc.h.... Jr... F.rwrd. On offense, the Badgers retain only Y MINNESOTA SPORTS INFORMATION Brian Bonin, 1996 Hobey Baker Award winner, wheels around the net against Wisconsin. The Gophers must find a way to make up for his loss due to graduation. Bulletin Boards Corkr Boards Antenna Wire speaker/" Tepon MlkCrates CableWre for Cable V and Full line of do it yourself Extension Cords and Accessories Surge Protectors MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME Make your living space as comfortable as you like...DO IT YOURSELF and save! IVYS Continued from Page 21B Gaudet, who has led the Bears toward the top since taking over in 1988. Four seniors will vie for those positions, while three junior forwards should provide sufficient depth. The defense will be smaller but faster this season, as three of the biggest players on the team graduated. Senior co-captain Bill McKay, along with three juniors, will play the biggest roles on defense. One of those juniors, Bob Quinnell, scored seven goals and dished out seven assists last season as a freshman. Junior Jimmy Anderson will also contribute with solid one-one-one defense. In net, junior Jeff Holowaty and senior Brian Audette will battle for the starting role. Although the Bears lost goaltender Mike Parsons to gradua- tion, it was Holowaty that logged the most minutes last season. At one point, Holowaty went 3-0-6, LOFT SUPPLIES-AUTO ACCESSORIES-TOOLS GLI Continued from Page 21B goals-against average and an .872 save percentage. Caravaggio will likely bat- tle for time with sophomore David Weninger, who went an impressive 11- 7-2 in his rookie season. At the blue line, first-year coach Tim Watters will expect a lot from his team, as he stresses defense. Senior Travis VanTighem will be the defensive leader, after finishing second among the squad's defensemen with 18 points. Additional leadership will come from a less offensive-minded senior defender - Eric Jensen. The key to success for the Huskies could be the emergence of an offensive leader. Candidates include juniors Andre Savage and Jimmy Roy, as well as three senior forwards. Savage, who scored four game-winning goals last season, posted a team-leading 40 points on 13 goals and 27 assists. Roy also topped all Huskies with 17 goals and three short-handed conversions. Senior Jeff Mikesch's speed, along with senior Kyle Peterson's size, 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, will also help the Michigan Tech offense. - Dan Stillman By Dan Stillman Daily Sports Writer Has the time come when Michigan hockey should be men- tioned in the same breath as the football and basketball teams? The Michigan Daily obviously thinks so, otherwise you would not be reading this first-ever edition of Faceoff, the hockey coun- terpart to football's Kickoff and bas- ketball's Tipoff. But, more importantly, how do Michigan fans view hockey? The sta- tus of Mi c h igan hockey on a Agv national level is limited to that . imtd othtof college hockey tit hockey in gen- eral. And despite its increasing popular- new sens ity, it would be over-zealous to put col- respect, a lege hockey in the same class as basket- ball and football. The exposure and sup- won't be port simply do not compare yet. So the meaningful question is the them ugh status of Michigan hockey in the eyes of the fans of Michigan sports. Has hockey hit the big-time for good, or is everyone M ichi merely jumping on the bandwagon of a national champion? To find the answer, one need only attend a game at Yost Ice Arena, home of the Wolverines. The high energy in the air at a Michigan hockey game rivals, if not surpasses, that of a Michigan football game. And as far as basketball is concerned, the intensity in Yost puts to shame the often drab atmosphere in Crisler Arena, even .when it is sold out. A seemingly endless barrage of tra- ditional, sometimes hostile, cheers, together with a pep band that resonates throughout the arena makes for a truly exciting environment. People who have not cared about hockey a day in their life attend one game at Yost, and they become addicted before they know it. So many have done so, the arena is virtually sold out for this season. _ If you're still not convinced of the importance of hockey around these parts, maybe the University will per- suade you. It has spent $5.5 million on the renovation of Yost, currently in its final stages. The improvements have reduced the arena's capacity but have eliminated obstructed-view seats and improved many areas of the 72-year-old facility. championship. And by wat< maybe, they wi do not win the < At least, it's On othe pos come to our & Michigan coach ets a new sense lightly." Enthusiasm phenomenon, he coach Red Bere player, they pack according to Bei But in 1984 Isour kets a e of and peop taking qtly o - Red Beren gan hockey co -Self Service Copies *Electric Supplies *Cut Keys & Re-Key Locks -Knife Sharpening -Basic Lumber *US Post Office Station -Housewares -Office Supplies =VISAI 6-2 663-2111 Carpenter Bros. Hardware posting a 1.90 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in the nine game span. Audette has played more of a clutch role in 12 games of action over the past three years, as two of his five victories have come against Princeton in the ECAC playoffs. - Dan Stillman 2753 Plymouth Road Mall at Huron Parkway DINE IN.+CARRY OUTI .90009 OJAN., WIREWORLP SPORTS CENTER Bring this coupon in for $1 OFF Open skating for students (only 5 minutes from campus) 2140 Oak Valley Drive 1 913-4625 Ann Arbor, MI 48103 FILE PHOTOS/Daily Above: Goaltender Marty Turco hoists a Michigan flag in celebration of his team's national title. Right: The Wolverines gather around their championship plaque. I _ "