4B -- The Micuigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 14 , 2000
Puck talk
"This isn't just attention, it's on-ice
stalking .,. But you're not going to
intimidate Mike Cone and I admire
him for that."
- Michigan coach Red Berenson on this
wveekends qttackv on Mike Conirie.
Michigan 7
9 ~Western Michigan 2
Michigan
9
Key play
Saturday, 1:44 into the third period.
After Western pulled to within 4-3,
Michigan junior Mark Kosick blasted a
shot past Western Michigan goalie Jeff
Reynaert to kick off the Wolverines S-goal,
thi n- period scoring frenzy
Western Michigan 3
mhe Michigan Daily hockey writers' picks
for the three stars of the
weekend.
- MIKE COMRIE-
CENTER
Notched five points this weekend and
moved into first place in the conference
in scoring with 46 points.
ANDY HILBERT -
RIGHT WING
With 4 points, continued his 11-game
scoring streak, the longest Michigan
streak in two years.
JEDORTMEYER-
LM WING
LErWING
Playing on the top fine, Ortmeyer has
blossomed -Saturday he scored a short-
handed, unasssisted goal.
Ortmeyer leads 'M'in top line debut
Blue youth movement leads with freshmen Hilbert, Ortmeyer on top line
By Geoff Gagnon
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan coach Red Berenson is
fond of saying that hockey is a game
about making chances count.
This weekend forward Jed
Ortmeyer took Berenson's adage to
heart.
Debuting on Michigan's top line,
the freshman who joined Andy
Hilbert and Mike Comrie, made the
most of his opportunity to start by
tallying two goals and one assist in
Michigan's two-game drubbing of
Western Michigan.
Michigan's 9-3 win over the
Broncos Saturday came on the
strength of an eight-point outburst
from Michigan's newly designed line
followed by a four-point showing in
Friday's 7-2 victory. Though not
alone in its offensive onslaught,
Michigan's top line certainly keyed
the Wolverines attack.
"it was a good night for that line,"
Berenson said. "Hilbert, Ortmeyer
and Comrie worked hard, they all had
a good game."
But it was the play of Ortmeyer
that may have turned more than a few
heads this weekend.
"He couldn't have played any hard-
er or better than he played tonight,"
Berenson said after Saturday's win.
And Ortmeyer's timing couldn't
have been any better.
Having replaced a bruised Geoff
Koch on the Wolverine's first line,
Ortmeyer was able to post a moral-
boosting weekend after several
weeks of modest offensive produc-
tion.
"I had some chances earlier this
season and just couldn't find the
back of the net," Ortmeyer said.
"Playing with these guys and getting
a few more chances has really helped
my confidence."
The outburst helped more than
Ortmeyer's psyche - it served as a
bold reaffirmation of Michigan's
offensive prowess.
Having slumped in its last several
games, scoring a meager seven goals
in the last three outings, Michigan's
output returned to league-leading
form, thanks in no small part to
Ortmeyer.
"I thought he was outstanding,"
Berenson said of Ortmeyer. "He's a
hardworking player and maybe not a
big goal scorer. We asked him to play
out of position on left wing and he
had big responsibilities on the top
live, the power play and the penalty
killing units."
And the Nebraska native left no
doubt that he answered the call this
weekend.
"You saw second-effort hockey
from him every shift he was out
there," Berenson said.
This was perhaps never more evi-
dent than on the freshman's short-
handed score in Saturday's game to
give Michigan a 3-1 lead.
Relentless in his pursuit of a loose
puck, Ortmeyer pushed the play into
the Western Michigan zone.
The winger fired a shot only to
recover the rebound and find himself
all alone where he made quick work
Bronco netminder Jeff Reynaert.
"That was a great second effort
goal, that's what I liked about it,"
Berenson said. "He just outworked
that other guy. He was so determined
to score."
The score came at perhaps the
most unlucky of times - 13:13 of
the second period - and proved that
for Ortmeyer, good luck is simply
making the most of your chances.
And that's something Ortmeyer is
determined to do.
Miumgan 7, vestern Micnigan 2
Westem 0 1 1 -2
Michigan 1 3 3 -7
First period -I. UM, Kosick (Shouneyia; Mink), 1:48
(pp). Penalties -- WMU, Gagnon (obstruction-hook-.
ing), 0:32; WMU, Cousineau (slashing), 1.00; UM,
Comrie (elbowing), 8:21; WMU, Redenius (obstruction-
holding, 1215; UM, Roemensky (tripping),19:21.
Second period-2. UM, Koch (Matzka, Vancik). 1:1.3
(sh); 1. WMU. Gove (Andrews Cousineau ,12:55 (pp);
3. UM, Matzka (Trainor), 16:01; 4. UM, Comrie (unas-
sistedJ), 18:39, Penaties-.-WMU, Redenius (obstruc.
ton-hooking),5:28; UM, Jillson(inerference), =45
UM, Peach (roughing), 20:00; WMURumble (rough.
log), 20:00; UM, Peach (roughing), 20:00.
Third period -2. WMU, Gagnon (Wanng, Andrews),
2:06 (pp); 5. UM, Mink (Kosick, Koch), 6:35; 6. UM,
Ortmeyer (Comrie, Hilbert), 12:09 (pp); 7, UM, Matzka
(Mink), 18:02 (pp). Penalties - UM. illson (cross.
checking), 1:18; WMU, Lukasak (interference), 10:21;
WMU, Gagnon (hooking), 12:17UM, Meick (cross.
checking). 12:17;:tUM, Matzk~a (highsticking), 12:54;
WMU, Lukasak (obstruction-holding), 14:09; WMU,
Wanng(roughing), 15:01:WMU Mills (elbowing),
17:17: UM, Fraser (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:17;
WMU, Townsend (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:17;
UM, Merrick (roughing), 18:29; UM, Merrick (10-
minute misconduct), 18:29.
Shots on goal -WMU, 4.11-13 -28: UM, 912-9 -
30.
Power Plays --WMU, 2 of 7:UM, 3of 8.
Saves - WMU; Reynaert 8-96 - 23 :UM, Blackburn
4-1012 -26.
Referee -- Mat Shegos
Linesmen -- Brian Hill, Craig Usko
At Yost Ice Arena
Attendance: 6,321
lDAVID KATZ/Daily
With one point on Friday, and three points Saturday, freshman Andy Hilbert contin-
ued his scoring streak to eleven games, Michigan's longest in two years.
Streak pla~1,ce-.s HilbDert
among Michigan.elte
By Stephanie Offen
Daily Sports Edor
Comrie punishes Bronco abusers
By Chris Grandstaff
Daily Sports Editor
Michigan 9, Western Michigan 3
Western 0 3 0 -3
Michigan 1 3 5 -9
ist perid-1.UM, Comrie (Hilbert, Huntzicker),
7:54 (pp. Penalties--IM, ilson (hIghsking),
5:38; WMU. Bishai (hooking), 6:34; UM, Ortmeyer
(roughing). 7:54; WMU, Gove (roughing), 7:54; WMU,
Gagnon (cross-checking), 12:25; WMU, Miller (trip-
ping), 12:25.
Second period -2. Koch (Langfeld), 4:46; 3.UM, Mink
(Shouneya, Peach), 7:57 (pp); 1. WMU. Gave (Sishai),
11:35 (pp); 4. UIM, rtmeyer {unassisfx.a 13:13 (sh); 2.
WMU, Gve (ishai ,Crane), 15:09 (pp;;3.4VMU, Rymsha
(Mills, Gove), 17:32 (pp). Penalties - UM. Comrie (cross
checking), 0:25; WMU, Luksak (tripping). 5:20; WMU,
Cousineau (delaying the game), 6:50: UM, Hilbert (trip-
ping).10:40; UM, Roemensky (roughing), 11:35; UIM,
Comrie (high-sticking), 14:12; UM, Vanik (interference),
16:06; UM, Hunticker (tripping), 16:58; WMU. Rumble
(charging), 20:00.
Third period-S. tM, Kosick (Hilbert, luntzicker),1:44
(pp); 6. UM, Comrie (unasisted).9:47; 7. UM, Peach
(rtmneyer. Comre, 15:57:;tUM, Tranor (Shouneyia,
Murry), 18:4- UM, Hbert (Kosick, Jilson),;19:50 (pp).
Penalties- WMU, Rymsha (roughing), 6:37; UM.Peach
(raighing). 6:37; UM.Huntzicker (hooking), 7:24; WMU,
Mills (sasirng), 19:00.
Shots on goal --WMU 745--20; UM, 1,818 -44
Power Plays-- WMU 3 of 8; U 44of 7.
Saves - WMU, Reynaert 17-13 - 35 UM,-
lackburn 7-5-5 - 17.
Referee -Matt Shegos
Unesmen - Brian Hill; John Pearson.
At: Yost Ice Arena
Attendance: 6,417
Midway through the third period of Saturday's 9-3
shellacking of Western Michigan, Michigan center Mike
Comrie showed why, as only a sophomore, he is a legiti-
mate contender for college hockey's highest honor, the
Hobey Baker Award.
The play took less than 10 seconds.
Comrie went low to block a shot from the Western
Michigan point, picked up the puck and then proceeded
to race down the ice toward the Broncos' waiting goalie,
Jeff Reynaert.
With a burst of speed, Comrie quickly outdistanced
himself from everyoneelse on the ice save Reynaert --
who could not make the save, as Comrie fired a shot
through the goaltender's legs:
The goal was the third of the weekend for the native
Albertan, who now sits tied atop the CCHA scoring list,
with Michigan State's Shawn Horcoff.
At 46 points for the season, the two are just four points
behind the country's leading scorer, Steve Reinprecht of
Wisconsin.
Comrie now ranks 17th nationally in goals scored with
17 and fourth in the country in assists with 29.
But as easy as Comrie makes scoring goals seem, this
season has been a chore for the Michigan center. Since
opening the year with a flurry of goals, Comrie has been
singled out as a target for opposing teams.
That punishment has limited Comrie's scoring ability
- if you can call ranking second in the nation being lim-
ited.
The abundantly talented, but undersized center started
the season averaging over two points per game through
the first eleven games of the season. Since garnering the
additional attention though, Comrie's average has dipped
to a still stellar 1.59 goals per contest.
This is due in part to Comrie's forced retaliation to
cheap shots and constant abuse - often leaving him in
the penalty box. But, despite leading the team in both
penalty minutes and received physical abuse, he's more
than willing to take the punishment if it can help out the
team.
"It's something I've learned to deal with," Comrie said.
"I just have to keep my head and stay disciplined, and
then try and capitalize on them when they're in the box.
"If they want to take penalties out on me they can take
penalties out on me. I'll take it all night if we can capi-
talize on the power play."
And while Michigan coach Red Berenson applauds
Sophomore Mike Comrie sat beside
his linemate at Saturday's press confer-
ence. Freshman Andy Hilbert had just
joined the ranks of the Michigan hockey
elite. But to no one's surprise, the mod-
est winger wasn't even the first to com-
ment on his accomplishment - an i1-
game scoring streak.
The streak was montioned, and the
press-conference
room immediately HOCKEY
fell silent. Noe o
Comrie, a "big Notebook
brother" of sorts,
was quick to knock on the wood of the
table when Hilbert was asked about his.
scoring streak.
Hilbert's streak continued with an
assist on Friday and a three-point effort
Saturday against Western Michigan.
But even if the streak was jinxed
Saturday after Hilbert led the Wolverines
to a 9-3 victory, he has still put himself
among the Michigan hockey greats. The
last Wolverine to have the I I-game scor-
ing streak was Bill Muckalt, when he led
the Wolverines to a national champi-
onship two years ago.
Hilbert, who has three more years of
eligibility, is quickly emerging as a
leader on Michigan's top line.
"It's not very hard to get some points
when you have guys like (Comrie and
freshman Jed Ortmeyer) playing on your
line," Hilbert said. I just give them the
puck and let them wheel around every-
body and they find the back of the net"
Hilbert may have been modest about
his accomplishments.
After coming to Michigan as a center,
Hilbert has played right wing all season
- a move that has allowed him to play
on a line centered by Cornrie. Hilbert
seems to have found a new niche, which
is evident in the ohemistry between he
and Comrie. The two rank among the
conference's leading scorers.
"Some players have higher expecta-
tions hanging over them than others,'
Michigan coach Red Berenson said.
"Andy's one of those players with high
expectations. You can see now that he's
gaining confidence and he's emerging
DAVID KATZ/Daily
Sophomore Mike Comrie scored three goals this weekend
which places him atop the conference scoring list.
Comrie's ability to shrug off the on ice abuse, he also
believes that on many occasions this season that abuse
has gotten out of hand.
"This isn't just attention, it's on-ice stalking," Berenson
said. "It's intimidation, and mugging. It's a lot of fear tac-
tics that players use to try to intimidate other players.
But you're not going to intimidate Mike Comrie, and I
admire him for that. He's a tough kid, he's a player and
when he comes to the rink you don't have to get him
ready to play because he's ready."
Comrie seems to be readying his game at just the right
time. Comrie's five-point performance over the weekend
precedes arguably the two biggest weekends of the season
- a two game set at third place Northern this weekend
followed by a weekend against second place Michigan
State.
and continuing to improve.
"And he's doing this at a position he's
never played in his life, at right wing, but
I think he's a great right winger."
FULL STRENGTH?: Last Saturday, a
wounded Michigan team lost 4-2 to
Ferris State. Three of the team's leading
scorers, Mark Kosick, Geoff Koch
and Josh Langfeld, were spectators for
the contest.
But this weekend, all three showed
their faces against Western.
Koch and Kosick - returning from
back and knee injuries, respectively -
led the team to Friday's 7-2 victory, scor-
ing the Wolverines' first two goals.
Koch left Friday's game in the third
period with nagging back problems. But
he returned to score the second goal of
Saturday's game, and played throughout
the contest. The goal came on an assist
by Langfeld, who returned after sitting
out two games with a sprained ankle.
LEADER OF THE PACK: With the sweep
of the Broncos, Michigan continues to
stand alone atop the CCHA:
And while the Wolverines' position
may have stayed the same. the two teams
on their heels swapped places.
Northern Michigan and Michigan
State, who are chasing Michigan for that
top spot, faced each other this weekend
in a two-game series with implications
for the regular-season conference cham
pionship.
The Spartans moved up to No. 2 in the
CCHA with a sweep over the Wildcats.
Michigan State now stands four points
behind the Wolverines, while Northern
fell to No. 3, five points out of first place.
Next weekend it will be the
Wolverines who will be in the hot seat.
Michigan travels to Northern to face the
Wildcats for the first of two weekends
that will have huge implications on th
regular season championship.
After traveling up north, the
Wolverines return home for a weekend
series against Michigan State. They will
play one game at Yost and a second non-
conference game at Joe Louis Arena-
The contest at Joe Louis will not affect
the race for the CCHA crown.
The Wolverines finish up the season
with a hare-and-home series against
Bowling Green.
BRONCOS
Continued from Page IS
and get them the puck too."
For his efforts on Saturday, Ortmeyer
led the post-game lockerroom rendition
of 'The Victors,' an honor afforded to
the team's most valuable player.
After the weekend series, the
Wolverines are once again full-strength
Mark Ksick, Koch and Josh Langfeld
all returned to the lineup and made an
impact, too.
On Friday night Kosick kicked off the
goal marathon followed by Koch who
gave the Wolverines a two-goal lead.
Junior forward Matzka led all scorers in
the first game with two goals and an
assist.
- Fiday~ at Northern
Michigan, 7:05 p m.
Saturday:'at No rther
Michigan, 7:05 p.m.
The race for the CCHA crown is on -
Michigan is in the driver's seat Northem
Michigan and Michigan St.are in hot pur-
suit - this weekend will decide their fats.
N~o 1 VWininI(23-6- 1) clt. )L'.JUOK 4-U Ie.
St Cloud, 5-3.
No. 2 New Hampshire (19.6-5) lost to
Northeastem, 6-2; lost to Providence, 4-3.
No.3 Boston University (17-6-6) def. Mass.-
L.oweli, 5-3.
No, 4 North Dakota (20-7-3) def. Ak-Anchorage,
22; de. Ak-Anchorage 6-3.
No.5 Boston Colege (17-7-1) def. Providence,'
No.6 Michigan (22-7-1) def. Westem Michigan,7-
2; def. Westem Michigan, 9-3.
No.? Notihm ichigan (19-9-2) lost to
Michigan State, 3-2 (0; lost to Mihgan Stag2-
No. 8 Maine (17-7-4) def. Mass.-Amherst, 5-2; def.
Mass.-Amherst, 5-2.
No.9 Rensselaer (17-8-2) def. Yale, 4-1; lost to
Princeton, 4-3.
No. 10 MIchigan State (20-9-2) def. Northem
Michigan, 3-2 (OT); def. Northern Michigan, 2-0.
CCHA race heats up, State sweeps Wildcats
From staff and wire reports
Ryan Miller made 26 saves to
record his sixth shutout of the season
as Michigan State beat Northern
Michigan 2-0 Saturday night to com-
plete a weekend sweep in East
Lansing.
The win, a school-record seventh
shutout this season,Hmoved the
Spartans (15-7-' CCHA , 20-9-2
overall) past the Wildcats (14-6-2,
19-9-2) and into second place in the
league.
Miller broke the mark of five
shutouts set by Chad Alban during
the 1997-98 season, the same season
the Spartans had six shutouts.
The Spartans scored both their
goals in the first period. Andrew
Hutchinson opened the scoring at
14:39 for his second goal of the sea-
son. Adam Hall scored his 19th goal
on a power-play with 25 seconds left
in the period.
The first victory was a little more
difficult for the Spartans.
Michigan State took the Wildcats
into overtime before coming up with
the 3-2 win.
Hall backhanded a shot which hit
the post before going in and sealing
the victory.
Michigan State held a 2-1 lead
into the end of the third period until
Northern Michigan's Tyler
Barabonoff sent the puck past
Michigan State goaltender Josh
Blackburn with three minutes left in
game.
This game tightened the confer-
ence race.
The Spartans and the Wildcats
both face Michigan within the next
two weeks.
LAKE SUPERIOR 2, OHIO STATE 2:
COLUMBUS (AP)- Eric Meloche
scored twice while Ohio State had
the two-man advantage as the
Buckeyes and Lake Superior skated
to a 2-2 tie Saturday night.
Meloche's first goal in the first
period gave the Buckeyes (5-14-3, 9-
17-4) a 1-0 lead and his second gave
them a 2-1 lead. Ben Keup tied the
score up for Lake Superior (14-8-2,
15-3-2) the first time, while Chris
McNamara scored the second.
Jayme Platt made 37 saves for
Lake Superior State.
m
CCHA
Team
Michigan
Michigan State
W
17
15
L T
5 1
7 1
Pts
35
31
GP
23
23
GF GA
99 53
67 34
77~ "
OVERALL
W L T
22 7 1
20 9 2
34 0 '
a Mike Conme scored five points this weekend -
now with a 46 point total he has surpassed the
43 points he recorded en route to becoming the
team's leading scorer last season.
The Race Is On' t
Wfit just a to nth to l
.g Y _before the -- -, -,.,
ptaa s-v
CC A pla offs,.the ,
cetf~rnc ~2fiest
are eadnr vu for the
ii~ pus'h for.the ._
Next Up: at Northern Michigan.
On Deck: Michigan State
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