48 - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - February 3, 1997
HocKEY
Hat trick highlights Botterill's scoring bonanza
By Mark Snyder
Daily Sports Writer
For Michigan left wing Jason Botterill, this week-
end placed him back where he finished last season
- as one of Michigan's pri-
mary offensive weapons.
Against Ohio State on
Thursday and Bowling Green
on Saturday, Botterill recorded
four goals and one assist to
spark Michigan's 6-1 victories
in each contest.
When Michigan ended last
season and began this cam-
paign, Botterill was on
arguably the top line in the Botterill
nation, paired with center
Brendan Morrison and right wing Bill Muckalt.
The three were Michigan's top returning scorers
and always in the mix of the Wolverines' power play.
But about a month into the season, Michigan
coach Red Berenson moved Botterill to a line with
center John Madden and forward Warren Luhning.
Instantly, Botterill's focus was altered as he was
playing on a line with fellow enforcer Luhning.
"(Playing with different lines) is a good practice
to get into," Botterill said. "If you're used to playing
with a bunch of different individuals, it's not going
to be that much of a change."
He moved once again, before the halfway point of
the season, to a line with center Mike Legg and right
wing Sean Ritchlin - a trio that led Michigan this
weekend with 13 points between them.
Botterill, Michigan's largest player at 6-foot-4,
and more than 220 pounds, takes his assistant cap-
tain title to heart. He continued his physical style of
play recently, leveling opponents with hard checks,
but now the goals have started coming as well.
"I've been trying to take the body out there,"
Botterill said. "Whenever you can get a goal, it
makes taking the body more enjoyable."
In the last three weeks, Botterill's numbers have
begun to reflect his hard work.
Beginning with his four-point night against
Alaska-Fairbanks on Jan. 10, Botterill has been on a
hot streak. He has scored nine goals to go along
with four assists in the three-week stretch.
With his hat trick Saturday, Botterill tied forward
Matt Herr for the team lead in goals with 23.
Against Bowling Green on Saturday, he showed
why he is so highly coveted by the NHL team that
owns his rights - the Dallas Stars.
In the middle of the second period, Michigan was
hanging on to a 2-1 lead and the game remained in
doubt - an unusual situation for the Wolverines.
But Botterill put to rest any doubts of a Michigan
defeat.
He netted two goals in a 4 1/2 minute span, high-
lighting the team's most explosive period this sea-
son in terms of shots on goal.
Of Michigan's 26 shots, eight came off of
Botterill's stick, a fact not lost on Bowling Green
coach Buddy Powers.
"He got two of those tough goals around the net,"
Powers said. "He's a big, strong guy who we just
couldn't control."
As if to make his three-week streak fitting,
Botterill scored a goal of the highlight variety to
repeat his effort against Alaska with another h,
trick - this time against the Falcons.
Botterill slapped at the puck just inside the blue
line while charging toward the net and tucked the
puck inches below the crossbar and inside the pole.
"He just put a bullet in the corner of the net for
(his) third goal," Powers said.
The senior forward was not troubled by how
many men were on the ice, as his gaze was fixed on
the net. With his first goal on the power play, the
second at even strength and the final one short-
handed, Botterill has proven he is multi-talented
Michigan 2 3 1-6
Ohio St. 0 1 0--1
First period -1. UM, Legg 16 (Botterill, Morrison),
6:08 (pp); 2. UM, Luhning 15 (Crozier), 11:25.
Penalties- OS, Meloche (roughing), 1:46; UM,
Legg (roughing), 1:46; OSU, Richards (hooking), 3:28;
OSU, Cousineau (slashing), 5:36; UM, Frescoln (slash-
ing), 7:29; OSU, Selleke (interference), 13:22; UM'
Ritchlin (elbowing), 15:14. Second period - 3. UM,
Hayes 4 (Madden, Rominski), 6:09;4. UM,
Berenzweig 5 (Crozier, Merrick), 6:40; 1. OSU,
Boisvert 8 (Power), 12:17; 5. UM, Madden 16,
(Morrison, Sloan), 12:34. Penalties - UM, Herr (hold-
ing), 8:03; UM, Peach (slashing), 9:02; OSU, Boisvert
(charging), 9:02; OSU., Schaffnit (cross-checking),
10:40; UM, Schock (interference), 11:22; OSU,
Skaleski (high-sticking), 14:16; UM, Frescoln (high-
sticking), 17:20; 0SU, Lafrance (high-sticking). 17:20;
UM, Bourke (hit after whistle), 17:20; 0OSU, Dufour
(hooking), 18:58.
Tird period - 6. UM, Botterill 20 (Crozier, Legg),
4:46. Penalties - UM, Sloan (high-sticking). 1:31;
OSU, Skaleski (holding), 12:22; UM, Ritchlin (hit after
whistle, 10-mi. misconduct), 14:09; OSU, Fel(hit
after whistle, 10min. misconduct), 14:09; UM,
Morrison (roughing), 15:58; OSU, Jestadt (roughing),
15:58; 0OSU, Richards (hooking), 16:19; 0OSU, Skaleski
(roughing), 18:15; UM, Rominsk (slashing), 18:15;
OSU, Selleke (roughing), 18:53; OSU, Richards (rough-
ing), 18:53; 0OSU, Schaffnit (roughing). 18:53; UM,
Berenzweig (roughing), 18:53; UM, Luhning (rough-
ing), 18:53.
Shotson goal - UM 18-20-13 - 51, OSU 5-7-2 -
14."
Power Plays - UM, 1 of 9; OSU,0 of 6.
Saves - UM, Turco 5-6-x -11, Malicke x-x-2 -2;
OSU, Aho 1617-12 - 45.
Referee - Steve Piotrowski.
Linesmen - Don Cline, Steve Mcinchak.
At: Ohio Expo Center Coliseum. A: 1,850.
'This is the worst rink in the league ... I hate it here'
Bowling Green fans fed up with Yost faithful; bruiser Botterill cites psychologist's influence on performance
By Jim Rose
Daily Sports Writer
Yost Ice Arena is known around the CCHA for
its loud, rowdy and admittedly abusive crowds.
But as much as the Michigan hockey team loves
its home fans, it is probably safe to say that for
fans of opposing teams, a visit to Yost can be a
less-than-pleasant experience.
Take Gary Punchard. The father of Brett
Punchard, a Bowling Green
left wing, spent his Saturday
night watching his son's team
lose to the Wolverines, 6-1. £
That would have been enough O
to upset him.
But seated directly behind the
Bowling Green bench,
Punchard and the majority of
the Falcons' faithful were also
directly in front of what is
arguably Yost's most obnoxious, er, spirited cheer-
ing section. Needless to say, Punchard was ...
well, this is what he had to say about the historic
building:
"This is the worst. This is the worst rink in the
league. The foul language is atrocious. They love
to throw stuff. I hate it here."
But how do you really feel, Mr. Punchard?
PSYCHED: Who says hockey players are brutes?
After Saturday's convincing win, several
Michigan players spoke about the importance of
the second period, in which the Wolverines quelled
a Bowling Green comeback attempt and effective-
ly put the game out of reach. Michigan outshot the
Falcons, 26-11, in the second frame, and turned a
1-0 lead into a 4-1 advantage.
And to what did the Wolverines attribute the
strong performance? Stingy defense, perhaps?
Timely scoring?
How about psychology?
Team psychologist Dr. Hugh Bray received
credit for the team's second period, although he
wasn't on the ice or even on the bench.
Senior intellectual Jason Botterill said the team
has been working with Bray on strategies for sus-
taining intensity and focus through the second
periods of games. And earlier in the week,
Botterill mentioned that the Wolverines were al*
working with Bray on the difficulties of playing in
front of un-Yost-like crowds.
"It's a little more difficult, compared to Yost,"
Botterill said. "But we're an experienced team and
we've talked a lot about that in the last few weeks,
especially with our psychologist, Hugh Bray.
"We can't worry about the atmosphere, what it's
like. We're gonna be playing, hopefully, down the
road in NCAA games in big arenas where there's
a quiet atmosphere."
Botterill's ties to psychology stem from a fan*
ly connection - his father, Cal, is a wide
respected professional sports psychologist. Papa
Botterill has worked with, among others, Mike
Keenan's 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York
Rangers.
No word as yet whether Botterill plans to dis-
cuss his team-high 90 penalty minutes, including
six on Saturday, with Bray - or his father.
AND WE DO THANK You: Before Saturday night's
game, Yost Ice Arena public address announces
Glen Williams was inducted by the Dekers Cl6
- the hockey program's booster organization -
into the Dekers' Michigan Hockey Hall of Fame.
Fan favorite Williams, who has handled
announcing duties for 27 years, has developed an
acute sense of timing with the Yost faithful.
Toward the end of each game, the crowd asks him
"How ... much ... time ... is ... left?" and
Williams replies with the formulaic "Last minute
of play in the period - last minute." The typical
crowd response is "Thaaaaank youuuuu."
If Michigan is way ahead, Williams has been
known to answer with a "You're welcome," muO
to the crowd's delight. But Saturday, in acknowl-
edgment of the Hall of Fame induction, Williams
responded, "No, thank you."
STOLEN STUFF: During Thursday's game at the
Ohio Expo Center Coliseum, the Wolverines had
about $1,000 in items stolen from their locker-:
room. Personal items and team parkas were among
the lifted items.
Bowling Green 0 1 0 --
Michigan 1 3 2 - 6
irst period -1. UM, Luhning 16 (unassisted), 19:04.
Penalties - UM, Hayes (interference), 5:56; BG,
Adams (cross-checking), 8:44; BG Eldred (slashing)
12:10; BG, Punchard (slashing) 15:50; UM, Rominski
(unsportsmanlike), 15:50; BG, Edinger (unsportsman-
like) 15:50; UM, Herr (interference), 17:19.
Second period -1. BG, Fry 13 (Price, Faulkner),
1:35; 2. UM, Legg 17 (Schock, Ritchlin), 2:03; 3. UM,
Botterill 21 (Legg, Morrison)(pp), 11:15; 4. UM,
Botterill 22 (Ritchlin, Legg), 14:47. Penalties - UM,
Frescoln (holding), 4:25; BG, Eldred (holding), 9:57;
UM, Frescoln (hooking), 16:54; UM, Schock
(unsportsmanlike), 17:33; UM, Hayes (unsportsman-
like), 17:33; BG, Perrault (unsportsmanlike, cross-
checking), 17:33; BG, Punchard (unsportsmanlike,
served by livonen, 10-min misconduct), 17:33; BG,
Price (roughing), 18:24; UM, Botterill (roughing),
1E124.
Third period - 5. UM, Morrison 21 (Legg, Hayes)
(pp), 10:57; 6. UM, Botternll 23 (Schock, Hayes) (sh),
12:37. Penalties - B, Johnson (roughing), 4:39; BG,
Desjarlais (roughing), 4:39; UM, Schock (roughing),
4:39; UM, Peach (roughing), 4:39; UM, Botterill
(roughing), 4:39; BG Eldred (high-sticking), 5:24;
UM, Rominski (high-sticking), 5:24; UM, Crozier
(interference), 7:43; BG ,Crombeen (roughing), 9:07;
UM, Crazier (high-sticking), 12:16; UM, Turco (inter-
ference, served by Bourke), 14:14; BG, Price (rough-
ing), 16:22; UM, Schock (roughing), 16:22; BG,
Desjadais (slashing), 17:50; BG, Perrault, double
minor (slashing), 18:40; BG, Eldred (10-min miscon-
duct), 18:40; UM Botterill (slashing), 18:40.
Shots on goal - BG 3-11-5 - 19; UM 13-2610 -
49-
Power Plays - BG, 0of 8; UM, 2 of 8.
Saves - BG, Petrie 12-23-8- 43; UM, Turco 3-10-5
-18;.
Referee - John Kelly.
Linesmen - John Nowosatka, Don Cline.
At: Yost Ice Arena. A. 6,687.
In the CCHA race, Bowling Green, not Michigan, is between a rock and a hard place.
FALCONS
Continued from Page 11B
What race? CCHA belongs to Wolverines
By Andy Knudsen
Daily Sports Writer
Don't expect another co-champi-
onship this year in the CCHA.
What was a close race just two weeks
ago is now turning into a walk-over by
the Wolverines.
Michigan has a three-point lead and
three games in hand over second place
Lake Superior, a five-point lead and two
games in hand on Miami (Ohio), and is
seven points ahead of Michigan State.
But senior Harold Schock doesn't
think the team
should pay
attention to the
standings.
"I think we
can get in trou-
ble if we're con-
cerned with the
CCHA title
race," Schock
said. "We
should be most-
ly concerned with how we're playing.
"Our freshman year we just about had
the league wrapped up as early as any-
body ever had, and we kind of took a
nosedive from there. We won the CCHA
but we never really came back to the full
form that we were at."
In that 1993-94 season, Michigan lost
four of its last five games in the regular
season, and lost its first game in the
NCAA tournament to Lake Superior.
Despite having the standings posted
outside the lockerroom, Michigan coach
Red Berenson agrees that the CCHA
title should not be a point of focus.
"We're not keeping score," Berenson
said. "The important thing to me is how
we're playing. We put ourselves in a
position where if we play well, first place
will take care of itself."
And on Saturday against Bowling
Green, the Wolverines played well.
Extremely well.
They showed the form necessary to
win the one title that is on their minds.
The one title necessary to make this
season a success - in the minds of the
fans, media and the players.
Michigan has posted an amazing
record - losing only once in 29 games.
But the Wolverines' play in many of
its 25 wins left something to be desired.
"We want our team to play up to a level
- a Michigan level - and not down to
another team's level,' Berenson said.
Saturday's second period was
Michigan hockey - like it's supposed to
be.
It was fast-paced, physical and domi-
nating. The passes were crisp, on target
and unselfish.
Were it not for a great performance by
Bowling Green goalie Bob Petrie,
Michigan would have come away with a
lot more than three goals from its sea-
son-high 26 shots in the stanza.
"That might have been our best period
in a game for us as far as dominating or
controlling the play and generating a lot
of shots and opportunities;" Berenson
said.
Bowling Green coach Buddy Powers
couldn't help but be impressed - and
probably depressed - by Michigan's
performance.
"Eighty-percent of the second period
was in our side of the rink;' Powers said.
"When a good team with deep talent
decides they're going to play hard and
play the game the way it should be played,
that's the result you're going to see.
"They just basically kicked our butts
- that's the bottom line."
Left wing Jason Botterill - who has
been crediting the help of team psychol-
ogist Hugh Bray recently (isn't it hard to
picture a hockey player on a psycholo-
gist's couch?) - said the team has been
motivated by its own success.
"We realized that we worked hard in
the last couple weeks to earn first-place,
especially against Miami," Botterill said.
"We don't want to let it slip away."
Berenson had his own philosophical
input on the team's improved play.
"Sometimes when you start off a
tough climb and you find out it's easy,
you let up a little bit" he said. "But our
team is getting used to now - whether
it's easy or not - we're going to keep
working hard."
Putting all philosophy, psychology
and other babble aside, Michigan has,
eight games before the playoffs - three
against Lake Superior and one against
Michigan State and Miami.
It's possible to still blow the CCHA
championship.
But more importantly, it's possiblep
have some sort of letdown or change
momentum, similar to this senior class'
freshman season, that would send them
home early from the NCAA tournament.
It won't happen. Not with the experi-
ence and leadership of this senior class.
And not if Michigan plays like it did
Saturday.
Bowling Green's physical play may have held Michigan down temporarily, but the
Wolverines continue to dominate the CCHA.
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