16A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 2, 1998
No. 1Michigan St
HOCKEY
No. 4 Ohio Sate
(31 5 4
No. 1 Boston Universiy
New Hampshire
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No, 4 Wisconsin
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(26=1311
No. S Yale
(13-8-3)
No. 3 Clakoo
Ohio State
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No. 2 Boston, Co!ege
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No4 2 .Noah Dakot
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(23-8-3)
(25-875)
Colorado
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No. 3 Mi(
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Michigan
No. 6 Colorado College
No. 6 Princeton
MMMMMMMMMMI
(25-12-3)
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Boston College aims to be first
team to win championship in
hometown in 26 years
BOSTON (AP) - No men's hock-
ey team has won an NCAA champi-
onship in its hometown since 1972,
when Boston University took the
title at the old Boston Garden.
The Terriers, who had been to five
consecutive final fours; looked like
a good bet to do it again this year in
the tournament they are hosting. But
it will be Boston University's Green
Line rival, Boston College, trying to
take the trolley to the title when the
tournament starts today.
"It's a unique experience for us,
because we're three or four miles
away. And we still have lobster sent
to us" by the organizers, Boston
College coach Jerry York joked yes-
terday during a coaches' news con-
ference. "We're excited about win-
ning a championship. Certainly, to
do it in our backyard would be a
phenomenal thing for all of us."
Boston College (26-8-5) will play
Ohio State (26-12-2) in the late
game tonight, with Michigan (3(-
11-i) playing New Hampshire (25-
11-1) in this afternoon. The champi-
onship is Saturday night.
Michigan, which won its eighth
championship in 1996, is in its
fourth consecutive final four and its
sixth in seven years. New
Hampshire is in its first.
All three games at the 18,000-seat
FleetCenter are sold out, and the
crowd figures to be heavily favored
toward the two New England teams.
"We're going to be playing a very
good hockey team in a hostile envi-
ronment," said Ohio State coach
John Markell, whose Buckeyes
reversed last year's 12-25-2 record
to qualify as the year's biggest sur-
prise. "Playing in Boston against
Boston College, with possibly
16,000 fans cheering against us,
probably will wake us up pretty
quickly."
You'd think so, but that's not nec-
essarily the way it's worked in the
past.
College hockey has gone 25 years
without a local champion. And col-
lege basketball hasn't had a team
win in its home city since UCLA in
1972 and '68, although Kansas
('88), N.C. State ('74) and Kentucky
('58) all won in their home states.
NCAA football titles are decided
by bowl games and the polls, and the
College World Series has stayed in
Omaha, Neb., since 1950. The NFL
is the only major professional sport
with a rotating championship site,
and no team has ever won the Super
Bowl at home.
The hockey final four was held in
Colorado Springs, Colo., for its first
10 years before going to neutral sites
in 1958. Over the years, teams have
mustered significant home-ice
advantages - BU won twice just
across the state line in Providence,
R.l., Cornell won in Lake Placid,
N.Y., and Wisconsin won in Duluth,
Minn.
But, j.]ist as often, a "home" team
failed to take home the trophy;
Denver lost at home in 1964, and
Minnesota lost the '81 game in
Duluth and the '89 title in St. Paul.
York said his team, which plays at
the FleetCenter for the Beanpot and
in Hockey Last tournaments, won't
get any edge from. knowing the
arena s quirks. But not having to
travel. Plus having the students and
alumni a "T" ride away, will help.
"[very 24 yearswcevlsget it. I
guess." he sof the city's last final
four. "It's good to be at home. It cer-
tainly is an advantage."
AP PHOTO
Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson has led his Wolverines with calm and poise throughout his career. This season may
have been his biggest challenge in awhile, after losing a talented senior class to graduation last year.
Wildcats hopeful for ultimate glory,
finally know what it feels like'
WI L DCATS
Continued from Page 11A
in 1996 when the Catamounts got into the final four. This is
how it felt in Colorado Springs last year when No. 5
Colorado College made it into the final four. This is what it
felt like in BU and Michigan and Maine and Lake Superior
State all those years.
Now, it'sanother hockey behemoth that lies ahead:
Michigan, which is playing in its fourth straight final four.
And maybe after that, Ohio State or Boston College for
what one week ago seemed as likely as a UNH tuition
decrease.
With four of the greatest forwards in the nation.
improved defense and big-time goaltending, UNH has put
itself in position to match the Wildcat women with a cham-
pionship of its own.
If the Wildcats can win two games, and if they can silence
each and every one of their critics, and if they can go where
no UNH team has gone before, then this team will take its
place where it belongs in men's hockey lore: on top of the
world.
BERENSON
Continued from Page 11A
And in response, he has shined.
Throughout the season, Berenson's dis-
position never wavered.
When the media rained questions on
him about the 'fall' of his mighty pro-
gram, Berenson never changed his
song.
He continuously downplayed all the
hype of Michigan's surprising start to
the season, as he quietly watched his
voung team grow.
Berenson's mettle during what obvi-
ously was a trying season for the
Wolverines has brought Michigan to
the NCAA semifinals.
Where critics in the past may have
solely credited Michigan's talent for its
success - rather than its coaching -
the same cannot be done this year. This
time around, it has been Berenson that
has made the difference for the
Wolverines.
"It used to be when you were a
coach, you were the leader of the
flock," Berenson said. "Now I find that
I'm more of a shepherd, just walking
behind, picking up the strays.
"And. well, we have more strays now
than we did before."
It was a simple anecdote, yet all too
appropriate. Never in the past has
Berenson needed to play such a vital
role, but the coach has responded
strongly.
This was the second time in
Berenson's coaching stint at Michigan
that the Wolverines' winning percent-
age dropped from the previous season
- but no one will remember that. What
will be remembered is that this year's
team made it to Boston.
Yet of course, Berenson continues his
stoicism - but what else would you
expect ?
"It's another game in another buil4
ing," Berenson said.
Always focused on the task at hand,
driven toward another goal, the coach's
work isn't done yet -even though he
has exceeded the expectations of
many. But then again, that's what peo-
ple have come to expect from Red
Berenson.
"We didn't come here to play not to
lose," Berenson said. "We're not atea
that does that, we're going to play o
game.
i. - -
0
Call your mom.Te everyone
you're calling your girl.
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