48 - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 29, 1999 Puck talk ,,ertPucktalk "fVicould play here for the rest of my life, Once we got on the ice, we forgot we were Iwould,But they only give you four 70Michigan brothers years. - Denver senior center Paul Comrie, on - An emotional Michigan center Bobby his emotions during the game against his Hayes, on playing at Michigan, Denver 3 younger brothe Michigan freshman after Saturdays game. center Mike Comrie. The Daily Stars The Michigan gaily hockey writers' picks for Michi n's three stars of the weekend's playoff games./ L1 JOSH BS xsr N I GOALTENDER' In his best game of the season, Blackburn held the best offense in the nation to one goat in regulation time against New Hampshire. - 2. THE SENIORS - In their final campaign, the Michigan seniors gaveaagallant ef ort,ading the Wolveines to a CCHA championship and nealy to the Frozen Four. -3.SCOMATA - 'FORWARD ' Matzka played with heart and determination against some of the> best lines in the county While not necessarily putting up big numbers, 'his dedication will lead the." Wolverines for years to come. 1999 East Regional All- Tournament team Most Valuable Player Steve Kaiya, Maine Forward Mike Souza, New Hampshire Forward Darren Haydar, New Hampshire Forward Steve Kariya, Maine Defenseman Bubba Berenzweig, Michigan Defenseman David Cullen, Maine Goaltender Josh Blackburn, Michigan Blackburn 'invincible' at Regiona By David Den Herder Daily Sports Writer WORCESTER, Mass.--There was a general consensus in Worcester among New Hampshire fans before Saturday's game at the Centrum Centre. "Boy, are we glad that Marty Turco graduated," conveyed many of the Wildcats' fans. After Saturdays game, it was differ- ent. Something more along the lines of - "Oh, my. Is this guy better?" This guy - Michigan freshman goal- tender Josh Blackburn - might very well be. Or so buzzed the Centrum press box Saturday night. Even as the the rain fell in Worcester, even as the Wolverines fell so gallantly in the ironic and sometimes cruel fourth period of the NCAA Tournament, maize-and-blue faithful had something to beam about Saturday night. "He looked invincible," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. Invincible. Blackburn saved 32 of 34 heartstopping shots from the Wildcats. He most clearly led Michigan in both demeanor and performance. "Blackburn" buzzed the airwaves leav- ing the Centrum Centre. "Blackburn. Save made by Blackburn!" "If there were any questions coming into the NCAAs about Josh Blackburn, those questions have been answered," Berenson said. That much was apparent after Michigan's first game. When the Wolverines came out ice-cold on both sides of the puck against Denver, Blackburn got the call. It seemed as if the Pioneers were on a 28-minute power play. The puck rarely left the Michigan zone - but it rarely left the sight of the freshman goaltender, I - nearly who saved 12 of 13 in the first (com- pared to the one and only shot that Denver goalie Stephen Wagner faced in the first). Were it not for Blackburn's extraordi- nary play in the first, Michigan's five- goal tear in the second half of the game may not even have been enough to allow the Wolverines to advance. "The guy who really made the differ- ence in the game was Josh Blackburn," said Berenson after one of the most exhilarating offensive surges in Michigan history. Blackburn made it possible, and set the stage for his phenomenal perfor- mance on Saturday. Early again in the game, Michigan was out-roughed and overpowered in its own zone, outshot 14-4 in the first. Blackburn went from steady, to impres- sive, to downright showstopping as he consistently spoiled New Hampshire scoring chances. The only puck that got by him was a put-back from a wrister that never should have been taken - a result of a failed Michigan clearing attempt As the game (ever-so-slowly) moved through the third and into overtime, Blackburn preserved Bobby Hayes' game-tying goal in every manner possi- ble. And when the puck ended Michigan's season on a garbage put-back at 3:16 into the fourth, Blackburn's trademark - his perfectly ice-cold poise -did not waver. "I just kind of saw it in there,' Blackburn said, "and I thought, 'Well, it's over."' Perhaps this season. But the Josh Blackburn era at Michigan has only begun. ': s ,,, _., A . MARGARET MYERS/DWly Michigan goaltender Josh Blackbum halts one of the 32 shots he stopped against New Hampshire on Saturday. His stellar perfor- mance won Blackburn NCAA East Regional All-Toumament honors. 9. Seniuorsfi nish -carees thankful for their Michigan -mem ories Through Overal Home: Away:E Neutra CCHAI CCHAI Comnri Langfe Kosick Berenz Van R Jillson Huntz Romin Hayes Matzk Ritchli Koch Peach Crozie Trainor Clark Meric Blackb Mura) Crawfo Gassof Vancik Magnu Ar'man Final Michigan Statistics all 42 games l Record: 25-11-6 15-4-0 6--4-6 i: 4-3,0 Record: 17-8-5 Finish: 2nd GP G A Pts +I- PIM e 42 1925 44 +19>40 ld 41 21 14 35 +11 84 42 12 21 35 +12 14 nwig 42 7 24 31 +3 38 yn 37 10 13 23 +7 52 38 5 18 24 +21:71 icker 41 5 19 24 +20 50 ski 41 15 8 23 +7 80 41 7 14 21 +9 114 a 40 7 12 19 +10 30 n 42 125 17 +5 55 40 4 12 16 +6' 101 37 3 11 14'+12 42 r 39 7 6 12 0 63 r 29 1 8 9 +6 8 41 4 2 6 +9 6 k 32 1 3 4 +2 61 um 41 0 3 3 0 0 y 16 0 1 1 -5 6 rd 81 0 1 1 0 16 f 19 0 0 0 -5 50 24 0 0 0 -5 26, uson 5 0 0 0 +1 8 9 00 0 0 .2 ~4f '>44'* ' «/4/444444445 4 44 4 4y*~~4444 44 <.~<4'44 -.4$4/4. By Mark Francescutti Daily Sports Writer WORCESTER, Mass. - As Darren Haydar slapped the puck past Josh Blackburn, an era of Michigan hockey came to a close. The last senior class entirely of the 90's would no longer grace the college hockey ice. Just minutes before the overtime goal put Michigan's hopes of a repeat cham- pionship in its grave, the Wolverines looked like they were going to pull out another of their nail-biting victories. But it didn't happen that way, and the seniors left the ice for the final time, ending a season in which the puck didn't always go Michigan's way. "I think that's why it's so hard right now," senior Sean Ritchlin said. "But looking back on it, I'm sure we'll sit down in two weeks and say that we had a good season." This season's Michigan campaign included its third CCHA championship in four years, a second-place CCHA reg- ular-season finish and runner-up at the GLI. And for the teams that Michigan 'owed' - according the walls inside of the Michigan lockerroom - Miami, Michigan State and Ohio State - the Wolverines exacted revenge against all of them at various points throughout the season. But two 'items' stick out for this senior class and makes leaving so diffi- cult - two championship trophies. ' "One's unbelievable but two is great;" Ritchlin said. "I'll never put on a jersey with these guys again, that's the hardest thing." Ritchlin had a most difficult four-year Michigan journey. The winger fell to a career-threatening injury at the end of his freshman year. But as a sophomore, he fought back, playing hurt at times. Last season, he, was injured during the playoffs. Putting; the past behind him, Ritchlin soared ink They came, they saw The Michif an senior class, like Dale Rominski said, has "seen it all." During th air four-year campaign, the Wolverines have won GUL, CCHA and natio wglchampionships, hockey showcases and numerous regular season ga nes. Here's part of the long list of their accomplishments: ® Two na ional championships - 1996, 1998 Three CHA Tournament championships - 1996, 1997, 1999 44 __.. __.__._ . * Two GUi championships - 1995, 1996 (Runner up in 1997, 1998) E Combined total record of 128-33-13 " A tearn record 34-0-3 home unbeaten streak from 1995-1998 * Helpinj3 two consecutive large freshmen classes come into their own. I I , this seasonh playoffs. He netted two goals and two assists in the CCHA Tournament along with a spot on the CCHA All-Tournament team. His aggressiveness on the ice helped Michigan's third line become the force the Wolverines needed in the postsea- son. "It was really tough for me,' an emo- tional Ritchlin said. "I had three tough years. I've been injured quite a bit. The last couple weeks I thought I played real- ly hard. I just tried to do the best I could." Ritchlin's efforts were echoed by all the eniors - from his linemate, Greg Croiier, to assistant captain Bobby Haves. Mayes was the difference in Michigan' series sweep of Bowling Green notching three goals, and an assist. All season long he's had to play head-to-head with the league's top cen- ters. Saturday against New Hampshire, he had the difficult task of containing Hobey Balker finalist Jason Krog. 4nd when it came down to one sim- p1 faceoff, Hayes beat Krog, ripped a slapper pa st New Hampshire goaltender Ty Conklin and gave Michigan the tying goal. 1"Jason and I were battling pretty hard for the draws," Hayes said. "He seemed vulnerable and so I went for it and caught the goalie off guard. It was then anybody's game from there. Michigan's never down, there's always a chance to come back?. Hayes was also emotional after this game, thinking back on his four years with extreme gratefulness. "It's been an unbelievable experi. ence;' Hayes said of his four years as a Wolverine. "If I could play here for the rest of my life, I would, But they only give you four years. I'm so proud of my class. We did everything we could, we gave everything we had for this team. And we'll continue to keep on giving as much as possible in the future. "Once a Michigan man, always a Michigan man." Dale Rominski greeted reporters with an air of satisfaction. He tried to look at Saturday's loss on another level. "Maybe it's good that this (overtime loss) happened in a way too, because there were so many times we were on the other end and won that game." Rominski said. "Now we understand what it is like to be on the other side. And when one looks at the checklist of accomplishments for a hockey team, whether it's championships or team unity, the Michigan departing seniors, as. Rominski put it, have "seen it all" r: ,: : ., YYYY " r ""- MYIiY I1WLIYYYYYY 11hMYY i18YYYtllli - Y'r :' Michigan 5,1 Denver Michigan Denver 3 1 2 0 -3 0 2 3 -5 First perod-1. DU, Engstrom 16 (Ritson, Patterson), 13:11. Penalties - Mich, Crozier (inter ference), 5:33; Mich, Comrie (high sticking), 10.04; DU, Pettinger (hooking), 10:23. SecondI perkod - 1. DU, Rison 8 (Patterson), 6:34; 2. DU, Veres 8 (Kidd), 7:44; 3. Mich, Crozer 7 (Kosick, Matzka), 12:09; 4. Mich, Ritchlin 12 (Kosick), 16:11. Penalties - Mich, Koch (high sticking), 0:50; DU, Pettinger (holding), 2:47; Mich, Peach (cross checking), 12:59; DU, Stauss (hook- ing), 17:27. Third perod -1. Mich, Huntzicker 5 (Koch, Matzka), 6:11; 2. Mich, Rominski 15 (Jillson), 10:20; 3. Comrie 19 (unassisted), 13:40. Penalties - Mich, Jilison (roughing), 410; DV,. Kdd (rough- Ing), 4:10; Mich, Hayes (roughing), 5:24; DU, Popadynetz (holding the stick), 5:24; Mich, Hayes (holding), 11:00; DU, Comrie (holding), 11:00; DU, Veres (tripping), 11:14. Shotsongoal-DU,13441-18; Mich,112-1i1-24. Power Piays - DU 0 of 4; Mich 0 of 4. Saves - DU Wagner 1-108 - 19; Mich, Blackburn 12-2-1-15. Referee - Jeff Bunyon. linesmen - Paul Scleparis, Richard Zannetti. At: Worcester's Centrum Centre, Worcester, Mass. Attendance: 8,509. New Hampshire forward Mike Souza, moments before netting the only regulation goal against Michigan goaltender Josh Blackburn. W ldcats' top line impresses defense New Hampshire 2, (OT) N. Hampshire 1 0 Michigan 0 0 By David Den Herder Daily Sports Writer WORCESTER, Mass. -"Who will make the headlines in Hockey East's 15th season?" So goes the slogan of the conference in its anniversary year. (For answer, see above). Carrying perhaps the most prolific total offense in the nation and the intangible twinge of vengeance, New Hampshire dethroned the no-name but stubbornly defending national champi- ons Saturday. And the Wildcats did it with a steady, suffocating pressure. "They're a one-line team," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We haven't faced a line this good this year." . In fact, with 192, New Hampshire's top line had more points coming into the East Regional than Michigan's top two lines combined, plus third-line center Mark Kosick. The Wildcats' Hobey Baker finalist he did a great job today." Perhaps most notable was the speed of the Wildcats, especially after occa- sional Michigan miscues. The Wildcats' forechecking against Michigan also seemed overpowering, and it gave Michigan fits attempting clear their own zone. "Their offense was pretty quick;" Berenzweig said. "They've got a lot of talented players, as Krog showed me at the end of the game." Krog's scoop inside led to Darren Haydar's game-winning overtime goal. The assist was Krog's 48th of the sea- son, to complement his 32 goals. "There's one-on-one battles, we knew that coming in. That's going to be'the difference in the game," Krog said. "It is nice to get some revenge on (the Wolverines) for the disappoint- ment they gave us last year.? Krog experienced firsthand last sea- son's disappointing 4-0 loss at the hands of the Wolverines in the NCAA semifinals. 0 1 -2 1 0 --1 First period -1. UNH, Souza 20 (Haydar, Krog), 1950. Penalties - Mich, Jil'son (roughing), 5:57. Second period - no scoring. Penalties - UNH, Sadowski (boarding), 0:47. Third period - Mich, Hayes 7 (unassisted), 10:00. Penalties - none. Overtime -UNH, Haydar 30 (Krug), 3:16 Soa ao - UNH, 14812-34; Mh, 4-111- 21. Power Plays - UNH 0 of 1; Mich 0 of 1. Saves - UNH, Conklin 4-1141 -20; Mich, Blackburn 13-8-10-1- 32. Referee - Mike Schmitt. Linesmen - Derek Shepard, John Campion. At: Worcester's Centrum centre, Worcester, Mass. 1 '.W LU,