4 - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 8, 1999
Puck talk , , Key play
"bSaturday night, 8:40 remaining in
We deserved to be hammered and the second period
embarrassed." Lake Superior 6 Ohio State 3 - Michigan center Bobby Hayes slips at
- Michigan coach Red Berenson, the blue line and loses the puck to Ohio
showing his annoyance toward his team's g Ma chg State's Hugo Boisvert, who pceeds to
performance in Fridays 6-3 loSuperior r,3l3 score the game-winning goal.

The Daily Stars
The Michigan Daily hockey writers'
picks for Michigan's three stars of
this weekend's games.
-. gie Yos kE A Am
FANS-
The Yost fans set a post-renovation
attendance record Saturday night:
as 6,711 people crammed them-
selves into the arena. This support
was even more remarkable after
Michigan's 6-3 loss to Uake
Supenor the night before.
- 2. MIKE COMRIE -
CENTER
Comrie helped Mich'gan daw its
way back into the Ohio State
game, as he drew four penalties in
the first period to help set up
Michigan's first goal. Comrie also
registered three assists on the
weekend.
- 3. 0o GASSOFF -
FORWARD
Gassoff was put in the lineup
Saturday and responded well, draw-
ing two Ohio State penalties and
sparking his team wth timely and
feroous checking.
Lake Superior 6, Michigan 3
Lake Superior 2 4 0 -6
Michigan 1 1 1 -3
First period - 1. LS, Praznik 11 (Vince), 8:09; 1.
Mich, Van Ryn 8 (Comrie, Berenzweig), 12:06, (pp);
2. LS, Cheeseman 7 (Vigilante, McCauley), 19:50.
Penalties - pS, Henderson (interference), 9:00; LS,
Turgeon (tripping), 11:54.
Second period -2. Mich, Alison 3 (Koch, comrie),
5:29; 3. LS, Henderson 20 kVince, Praznik), 5:54; 4.
LS, Praznik 12 (unassisted), 12:26 (sh); 5. LS,
Slukynsky 7 (unassisted), 13:40 (sh); 6. LS,
Walford 5 (Vigilante, Magnuson), 16:12 (pp).
Penalties - Mich, Crozier (roughing), 0:26; LS,
Thompson (slashing), 5:54; Mich, Jillson (holding),
5:54; LS, Palmer (slashing), 6:50; Mich, Comrie
(elbowing), 14:22; LS, Praznik (high sticking),
19:55; Mich, Peach (high sticking), 19:55; Mich,
Rominski (hitting after whistle), 19:55.
Third period --3. Mich, Langfeld 12 (Peach, Koch),
9:18. Penalties-- Mich, Jillson (roughing after
whistle), 1:07; Mich, Jillson (hitting after whistle),
9:01; LS, Vigilante (hitting after whistle), 9:01;
Mich, ilison (roughing).
Shosongoal-LS11-12-7-30;Mich9108-27.
Power Plays-ILS 1 of 5; Mich 1 of 3.
Saves - IS, Platt 89.7 -24; Mich, Blackburn 9-8-
x - 17; O'Malley x-x-7 -7.
Referee - Steve Piotrowski.
Unesmen - Tony Molina, Butch Friedman.
At: Yost Ice Arena. A: 6,412.

Icers try to fight frustration

By T.J. Berka
Daily Sports Editor
Frustration is a nasty word. Not only
is it hard to spell, it also yields a feeling
of helplessness and dissatisfaction.
Helplessness and dissatisfaction have
been synonymous with the Michigan
hockey team of late. After being swept
at home by Ohio State and Lake
Superior, the Wolverines find them-
selves in the midst of a five-game win-
less streak, their longest in 10 seasons.
Any streak of futility is hard for a
team, but it is even harder for the
defending national champions.
"This is definitely the most trying
couple of weeks in my Michigan
career," senior captain Bubba
Berenzweig said. "Our problems have
been purely defensive. We're giving up
more goals, but we aren't scoring any
more."
The defensive frustration came to a
head in the second period Friday night,
as the Michigan defensemen were
burned when pinching up, leading to
several odd-man rushes.
The Lakers took advantage of the
opportunities, scoring four consecutive
goals on Josh Blackburn without even a
whimper of resistance from the
Michigan defense.
"The second period was really

awful," Michigan assistant captain Dale
Rominski said. "There were a lot of
defensive lapses and a lot of missed
passes tonight."
A lot of these lapses came from an
effort than can best be described as
lackadaisical. Even as the Lakers were
scoring goal after goal, the Wolverines
seemed to be unemotional and unaffect-
ed.
"We came in a little too light
tonight' Rominski said. "I don't think
we took them as seriously as we could
have."
The Michigan drowsiness continued
into the first period of Saturday's clash
against the Buckeyes, as Neal Rech and
Eric Meloche took advantage of
Michigan miscues to take a 2-0 lead
just four minutes into the game.
The early goals, coupled with the
Lake Superior debacle, kept the
Wolverines frustrated and put doubt
into their minds about their ability.
"After how they ended their game
Friday, I think the early goals put a
question mark in their minds," Ohio
State coach John Markell said.
That doubt seemed to stick with the
Wolverines, as Michigan was unable to
provide much offensive or emotional
spark in the first period.
Assistant captain Bobby Hayes was

whistled for a 10-minute misconduct
penalty halfway through the period for
arguing a call, but it didn't seem to
jumpstart the slumping Wolverines.
But Mike Comrie helped change the
mood. The 172-pound freshman center
was singled out for punishment by the
Ohio State defenders, as they were
smacking, sticking and pushing him
around.
With 2:44 left in the first period.
Comrie and the Wolverines had
enough. After Ohio State goaltender
Jeff Maund froze the puck for a faceoff,
Comrie received more blows from
Hugo Boisvert. Geoff Koch rose to his
defense, setting off a melee that gave
the Wolverines a two-man advantage.
Sean Ritchlin then added a goal, putting
Michigan back into the game.
"I was happy with my team,"
Berenzweig said. "Tonight they kept
fighting - they didn't quit like last
night."
The Wolverines wasn't able to beat
the Buckeyes and end their string of
futility, but they hope to take the energy
thoy played with in the game and use it
to turn around their season.
"I like the way our team came back
the rest of the game," Berenson said.
"This game had the intensity of a play-
off game

Forward Bob Gassoff sparked a physical battle against the
eras penalties.

Bucks pass 'M' in CCHA

Ohio State 3, Michigan 2
Ohio State 2 1 0 -3
Michigan 1 1 0 -2
First period-1. OSU, Rech 5 (Dufour, Richards),
1:05; 2. OSU, Meloche 8 (Richards, Signoretti),
4:05 (pp); 1, Mich, Ritchlin 8 (Rominski, Matzka),
17:59 (pp). Penalties - Mich, Aiison (interfer-
ence), 3:01; OSU, Colsant (boarding), 4:39; Mich,
Murray (interference), 10:49; Mich, Hayes (1-
minute misconduct), 10:59; OSU, Jestadt (cross-
checking), 16:29; OSU, Boisvert (crosschecking),
17:16; 0OSU, Meloche (roughing after whistle),
17:16; Mich, Comrie (roughing after whistle),
17:16; OSU, Cousineau (roughing after whistle),
17:16; Mich, Koch (roughing after whistle), 17:16;
Mich, Koch (tripping), 19:59.
Second period - 3.OSU, Boisvert 19 (unassisted),
11:20; 2. Mich, Langfeld 13 (Berenzweig, Comrie),
16:31 (pp). Penalties - Mich, Hayes (slashing),
6:55; OSU, Richards (hooking), 15:20; Mich,
Matzka (hooking), 18:51,
Third period -- no oring. Penalties - Mich,
Berenzweig (hooking), 3:02; Mich, Langfeld (trip-
ping), 5:32; 0SU, Colsant (checking from behind),
10:19; 0OSU, Jestadt (hooking), 14:24.
Shots on ga - 0U17-10-24; Mich 107-10 -27.
Power Plays - OSUJ 1 of 7; Mich 2 of 6.
Saves -OSU, Maund 9-6-10 -25; Mich,
Blackburn 5-9-7 - 21.
Referee -Matt Shegos.
inesmen - Larry Lulich, Brian Aaron.
At: Yost Ice Arena. A: 6,711.

By David Den Herder
Daily Sports Writer
As the Michigan hockey team extended its
winless streak to five games Saturday night with
a loss to Ohio State, the Buckeyes were busy
breaking a winless streak of their own.
Looking back to find a Buckeye victory at Yost
Ice Arena isn't easy. Before
the Q.J. Simpson trial, before -
President Clinton, before Hockey
grunge rock and before the
fall of the Soviet Union came
a moment in Ohio State hock- """""-__--_--___
ey history. On Nov. 17, 1989, the Buckeyes dou-
bled up Michigan, 6-3, to sweep a weekend
series.
And with their 3-2 victory at Yost Saturday, the
first in more than nine years, the Bucks have
eclipsed Michigan in the CCHA season stand-
ings.
"Nobody could have predicted it, but I just felt
our team was ready to go," Ohio State coach John
Markell said. "Just by the way they were practic-
ing - there was a hunger there, and they proved
it tonight"
Coupled with the loss to Lake Superior on
Friday, Michigan coach Red Berenson called it a
tough weekend for the team and the program.
"It's been a lot of years since anybody has
come in here and won,'particularly the two teams
that played here this weekend," Berenson said.
"But they're good teams and Ohio State's playing
very wellythere's no question."
AND WE DO THANK YOU... Allegations of a
Michigan-Ohio State hockey rivalry were sup-

ported this weekend when Yost. faithful set a new
post-renovation attendance record of 6,711. Fans
crammed into standing-room-only zones, lining
the tops of seating areas and leaning over bal-
conies.
"If you look at the standings, you see three Big
Ten schools up there," Markell said. "Michigan's
got such a storied tradition - and now Ohio State
with it's new building - hopefully with our pro-
gram coming up we can compete year in and year
out with them. I think that rivalry will be gener-
ated just by the fans, and the kids on the ice."
Michigan walk-on forward Rob Kohen quietly
disputed the attendance count Saturday, claiming
the figure was actually higher than announced.
"They didn't count me," Kohen said.
POWER UP: One thing Michigan can't blame
for this weekend's woes is the power play produc-
tivity. Michigan defenseman Mike Van Ryn
scored on the man-advantage against Lake
Superior, and Michigan's only two goals against
Ohio State also came on the power play. Sean
Ritchlin and Josh Langfeld each converted an
opportunity to keep Michigan in the game with
the Buckeyes.
But, the power play gave up more than it pro-
duced on Friday night. Two consecutive short-
handed goals -- first from Lake Superior's Tobin
Praznik and then form Fred Slukynsky - capped
off a night of fast breaks and odd-man rushes for
the Lakers.
"We all cheated on the offensive side of the
puck tonight, and that's what you're going to get,"
Berenson said. "Any team in the league could
hammer us just as badly."

MARGARET MYERS/Daily
Senior defenseman Bubba Berenzweig said that Michigan's biggest weakness during its five game win-
less streak was its defense.

Next
Opponents
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Western Michigan
Western Michigan
(ichi State (at Joe
outs )

Blue winless streak grows to five

Feb. 13
Feb. 19
Feb. 20

How the USCHO
Top 10 fared
Rankings and records as of Feb.,1,
Na 1 North Dauta (20-2-2) beat Michigan
Tech 9-3, 3.1,
No. 2 Maine (19-2-4) beat Northeastem 5-L
vs. New Hampshire, inc.
No,)3 New i e(21-4-I) vs. Maine, ky-
No.4 Michgan Stat (20-3-5) tied Notre
Dame 2-2, beat Lake Superior 32.
No. 5 Colorado Colee 1-8-1) bea
Minnesota 5-,3-1.
No. 6 Michigan (1764) lost to take
Suiperior 6-3, lost to Ohio State 3-2.
No.?7Boston College (164-2) beat Mass-
Amherst 5-4 (Or).
No. 8 Pinceton (144-1) lost to Colgate 3-t,
lost to Cornell 84
No 9 Notre Dame (15-7-3) tied Michigan
State 2-2, beat Alaska-ianks 5-2
No. 10 Denver (15-9) beat Air Force 7-3,
beat Minnesota State 6-4

WIN LESS
Continued from Page 16.
Michigan zone, skated off the wrong
foot and fell to the ice. This allowed
Boisvert, the Buckeyes' leading scorer
to pick up the puck and skate right up to
Michigan goaltender Josh Blackburn,
smashing it past the freshman for what
would turn out to be the game-winner.
"Bobby Hayes has been a strong play-
er for us, but he made a mistake,"
Berenson said. "Things like that are
going to happen."
Center Mike Comrie tried his best to
bring the Wolverines out of their slump.
The freshman wheeled around Ohio
State defenders as if they were peewee
hockey players on two occasions, but
couldn't find the net on both cases.
Josh Langfeld found the net late in the
second. The winger spanked a power
play shot from the slot past Maund to
cut the Michigan deficit to one goal with
over 23 minutes of hockey left to play.
But two early Michigan penalties and
a fantastic Ohio State penalty kill con-
sumed much of the third period. Even
Comrie's last-second drive towards the

goal couldn't produce a Michigan
comeback.
"When they score on what seemed
like the first shift, it sets the stage,"
Berenson said. "We came back hard,
and we slowly dug ourselves out of the
hole. It's too bad the game wasn't any
longer. I thought we had the momen-
tum."
Despite the lost opportunity of
Saturday night's contest, the Wolverines
showed a recovery from their horren-
dous lack of defense against Lake
Superior - a scarcity that left Michigan
goalie Blackburn up a creek without a
paddle.
Defenders seemed lost, forwards had
trouble communicating and Michigan
missed more passes than a guy using
pickup lines from the back of a Bazooka
Joe wrapper.
"We didn't play well defensively. We
got outworked, outchecked and
outscored. We deserved to get ham-
mered and embarrassed," Berenson said.
The endless mistakes resulted in a
thrashing from the ninth-place Lakers,
their first win over the Wolverines in
almost three years.

The team from the Soo earned its
third victory against one of the CCHA's
upper-echelon teams in as many weeks,
thanks to a four-goal second period
showing that left Yost fans shocked.
"If you're not ready for the game and
not mentally prepared you're not goin
to do well; Michigan defenseman Mik
Van Ryn said. "Guys are going to have
to play a little more desperate. Anyone
could have beat us the way we played
tonight."
Berenson hinted that maybe the
Wolverines underestimated the Lakers.
"I think we looked at the standings
and (our players) thought they were
going to fatten up their goal and point
totals" Berenson said. "I've said all
along that there's not a big differenc
between the top teams in this league an$
the so-called bottom teams"
Michigan received a third-period goal
from Josh Langfeld as the Wolverines
seemed to strum up a little bit of life.
But it was too little, too late for the
struggling Michigan squad, which now
faces two weeks away from home and a
battle to remain amongst the CCHA
elite.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily
Josh Langfeld notched two goals this weekend, one of the only Michigan players to
show some offensive prowess in their two losses.

 CCH A Standings
s'~? N

State extends lead, Notre Dame closing on third

Team
Michigan State

W
is

L
2

CCHA
T
> 6

Pts
36

GP
23

w
21

L
3

T
6I

OVERALL

Gp
30

From StaffReports
Michigan State erupted to a 3-0 lead after two periods
aind- withstoodi a ]ate- La~ke 5unerior runto hbeat the Lakeirs-

game wrapped up.
But Lake Superior, fresh off a 6-3 upset over Michigan,
heat Michigarn Stategodtender TJoeTBlackbur twuice to

Forest Karr was steady between the pipes for Notre
Dame, turning away 19 shots to help keep the Irish unde-

1 :

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