18B - The Michigan Daily - Faceoff '99 - Thursday, October
14, 1999
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Thursday October 14, 1999 - Faceo
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Last season a roller-coaster for M'
Michigan braces for year after several key ro
DAILY FILE PHOTO
The Michigan hockey team entered the 1998-99 season with a lot of
questions to answer. Gone were goaltender Marty Turco - the NCAA
career wins leader - and prolific goal scorers Bill Muckalt and Matt
Herr.
"People asked how was Blackburn going to follow Marty Turco?"
Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "Everybody heard the hype of Mike
Comrie, but could he replace the seniors that graduated before him. Jeff
Jilson was the big recruit on defense and every one wanted to see how
he played. They all lived up to the expectations people had for them and
that was a key to our season."
The Wolverines season was a roller coaster ride. Michigan stumbled
out of the gate - losing at home to Niagara and was slaughtered by
Northern Michigan, 6-1, on Halloween night.
But until Christmas the Wolverines went undefeated - rising to No.
3 in the nation.
But the New Year was not friendly to the Wolverines. From mid-
January until late February the Wolverines were a winless 0-4-4 - their
longest winless streak in a decade.
The streak placed the Wolverines on the NCAA Tournament bubble
heading into the CCHA Tournament.
But the Wolverines regrouped and defeated Ohio State and Northern
Michigan to claim the CCHA Tournament title and a berth as a No. 5
seed in the NCAA Regional in Worcester, Mass. After falling behind
Denver, 3-0, in the second period of the regional semi-final, Michigan
stormed back with five straight goals to move on to the regional final
against New Hampshire.
For 60 minutes the Wolverines and Wildcats battled to a 1-1 draw,
thanks to the outstanding goaltending of Josh Blackburn. But, the
Wildcats proved to be too strong as Jason Krog ended the Michigan sea-
son with an overtime goal.
While the Wolverines missed the Frozen Four for the first time in five
years, they left an indelible mark on college hockey. - Chris Grandstaff
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Pictures clockwise from
top left.
Josh Blackburn makes yet
another great save against:
New Hampshire.
Rookie Mike Comrie on
the move at Yost Ice
Arena. Senior captain
Bobby Hayes moving the
puck off th eboards
against Northern Michigan
in the CCHA Tournament
Championship game. Sean
Peach, Mark Kosick among4
others celebrate a goal
against Ohio State in the
CCHA Tournament semi-
finals.
DAILY FILE PHOTO
By Geoff Gagnon
Daily Sports Writer
As Michigan sets its season in
motion with hopes of returning to the
NCAA Tournament that it's known so
well, it's forced to realize there will be
an unfamiliar cast of characters that
will play a big role in leading the team
there.
Most notably, a talented freshman
recruiting, class eager to prove itself
will be vying for playing time and
respect as Michigan's newcomers.
But their services are desperately
needed.
With defensive uncertainty plaguing
the team all fall, the squad was dealt
more unfortuante news concerning its
goal-stopping ability.
Sophomore Josh Blackburn, a key
component in last season's CCHA
Tournament title run, was sidelined just
days after he led his team to a 11-4
weekend advantage over Notre Dame.
Injured with torn ligaments in his toe,
Blackburn was forced to undergo
surgery in a move that will force the
Wolverines to be without him for at
least three months.
The announcement of Blackburn's
setback became only the most recent in
a string of losses the Michigan program
has unexpectadly suffered this fall.
Headlined by the early departure of
sophomore defenseman Mike Van Ryn
who was elected an assistant captain
last spring, the Michigan back line bid
goodbye to three of its own before the
start of this season.
But Michigan coach Red Berenson
is determined to keep his team
focussed on what they need to do -
regardless of who that team is.
"I really don't think it'll affect us as
a team that much," Berenson said prior
to losing Blackburn.
"I mean losing them in the summer,
is not like loosing three players in the
middle of the season. Our team is just
starting out so their loss wont be that
damaging."
Rather than worry about losses in his
roster, Berenson said he'd like to con-
cern himself with what Michigan is
gaining in its freshmen.
Andy Hilbert, one of the nation's
premier recruits from a year ago, joins
a talented incoming group set to bolster
offensive productivity.
"Our incoming freshman class
should be talented," Berenson said.
"We're going to expect a lot form Andy
Hilbert, John Shouneyia and Mike
Cammalleri."
Interestingly, Cammalleri, a
Canadian scoring phenom, will join
former fellow teammates Mark Mink
and John Shouneyia to form an explo-
sive offensive line that may lead
Michigan for several years to come.
Also on offense, expect to hear from
the likes of Mike Comrie and Josh
Langfeld who headline a crew of
proven goal scorers.
So proven in fact, that Berenson says
the attention that Comrie received last
year in being honored as the CCHA
Freshmen of the Year will only help
opponents single in on the speedy cen-
ter.
Berenson said he hopes that players
like Comrie and fellow sophomore
Mark Kosick can continue to excell
without falling into a sophomore-
slump.
"That's a real big challenge for every
player. The first thing you have to do is
prove yourself and show that youre a
good player. They all did
that,"Berenson said.
"Now they need to take that a step
further. These guys aren't rookies -
theyre marked players."
While the Michigan offense may
have to work to keep from falling short
of expectations - the mission is not as
simple for the defense.
Expectations vary for the defense,
largely because little is known about
how they can operate together. With the
return of six veteran defenseman, expe-
rience at that spot may not be an issue.
Depth, however, has been a concern
leading the team to add walk-on Brad
Fraser to help slodify the lineup. Also
lacing up at defense for Michigan will
be junior Dave Huntzicker, Kevin
Magnuson, Jeff Jillson, and team
Captain Sean Peach.
Expect new rule changes that limit
physical play to work toward
Michigan's advantage with smaller,
faster, skill players.
"We don't have the size that maybe
we've had in the past," Berenson said.
"But I hope we are faster and can move
the puck better."
1999-2000 Mui
Date Opponent
Oct. 1516 Massachusetts
Oct. 22-23 Alaska-Fairban
Oct.30 Yale
Nov. 5 Ohio State
Nov. 6 Ohio State
Nov. 12 Miami
Nov. 13 Miami
Nov. 19-20 Lake Superior !
Nov. 20 Notre Dame
Nov. 26 Minnesota*
Nov. 27 Wisconsin*
Dec. 3 Bowling Green
Dec. 4 Bowling Green
Dec.10 Nebraska-Omal
Dec. 11 Nebraska-OmaK
Dec. 29 Lake Superior S
Mich.Tech or M;
Jan. 7 Michigan State
Jan. 14 Miami
Jan. 15 Miami
Jan. 21 Ohio State
Jan. 29 Ohio State
Feb. '4 Ferris State
Feb. 5 Ferris State
Feb. 11 Western MichIg
Feb. 12 Western Michig
Feb. 18 Northern Michig
Feb. 19 Northern Michig
Feb. 25 Michigan State
Mar. 3 Bowling Green
Mar. 4 Bowling Green
Mar. 10-12 CCHA first roun
Mar. 14 CCHA play-in gai
Mar. 17-18 CCHA tourname
March 24-25 NCAA West Reg
March 25-26 NCAA East Reg
Apr. 6-8 NCAA Frozen Fc
* College Hockey Showcase
*~ Great Lakes Invitational
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Sprint PCS' presents
WOLVERINE FANS...
DON'T MISS THE 1999-2000
COLLEGE HOCKEY SEASON AT "THE JOE"
Daily
Hockey
Writers'
Preseason
Picks
Michigan CCHA finish
CCHA champion
CCHA runger-up
CCHA tournament winner
oil F. , x: :ry a...
I
II I
STEPHN~uIE UMA
OFFEN SUBRAMANIAN
I
GAGNON GRANDSTAFF
2nd
Michigan State
Michigan
Michigan
M~ICIGAN
S
CCHA player of the year Eric Meloche (OSU)
GLI champion Michigan.
CCHA Coach of the Year Dave Poulin (ND)
2nd
Northern Michigan
Michigan
Michigan State
Mike Comrie (UM)
Michigan
Rick Comley (NMU)
Northern Michigan
North Dakota
Michigan
Boston College
Miami
J. J. Swistak
2nd
Michigan State
Michigan
Michigan
Ben Simon (ND)
Michigan
Rick Comley (NMU)
North Dakota
Michigan State'
Boston College
New Hampshire
-Lake Superior State
John Shouheyia
1st
Michigan
Michigan State
Michigan State
Mike Comrie (UM)
Michigan
Guy Gadowsky (UAF)
New Hampshire
Boston College
Ohio State
Michigan
Alaska-Fairbanks
Andy Hilbert
Team
1. Michigan (10)
2. Michigan State (2)
3. Northern Michigan
4. Notre Dame
5. Ohio State
6. Bowling Green
7. Ferris State
8. Lake Superior
9. Miami
10. Western Michigan
11. Nebraska Omaha
12. Alaska Fairbanks
Points
140
131
121
104
93
89
67
56
53
38
25
19
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ONLY $105/seat adults, $52.50/seat for students
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JmITA u 0 j-
NCAA semifinals
(Champion in bold)
Surprise CCHA team
Favorite 'M' freshman
Michigan State
Maine
North Dakota
Boston College
Nebraska-Omaha
J.J. Swistak
I
I
QUALITY 16
Jackson Rd. @ Wagner (1/2 mile west of Webers Inn)
West bound 1-94 or M-14 exit @ Zeeb Rd. & go East one mile on Jackson
35TH ANNIVERSARY GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL " DEC. 29 & 30
MICHIGAN STATE vs. LAKE SUPERIOR STATE " FEB. 5
MICHIGAN STATE vs. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN " FEB. 26
CCHA CHAMPIONSHIP " MAR. 17 & 18
NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP " APR. 15
I
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A M AI. AN FALL MATINEES
.SATURDAY&SUNDAYIO&11AM
October 16th & 17th November 6th & 7th
fws Quest for Camelot Rugrats (G)
October 23rd & 24th November 13th &14th \ w
Antz (PG) Jack Frost (PG)
October 30th & 31st November 20th & 21st
Muppets from Space Prince of Egypt (PG)
Last year's record: 15-19-9 Last year's record: 15-19-4
Last year's record: 17-19
-
-
-
ALL AUDITORIUMS INCLUDE
Digital Stereo
Dolby SRD & DTD
High back rocking chair seats with
cupholders
STADIUM SEATING givesN
you an unobstructed view
Last year's results vs. Michigan:
W 3-2
1998-99 games against Michigan
November 26 Ann Arbor
Players to watch Pos.
Nate Miller F
Dylan Mills D
Last year's results vs. Michigan:
T 1-1
1998-99 games against Michigan
November 27 Ann Arbor
Players to watch - Pos.
Steve Reinprecht C
Dustin Kuk F
Conference WCHA
Last year's results vs. Michigan:
None
1998-99 games against Michigan
Oct. 15/16 Ann Arbor
Last year's record: 13-14-
Last year's results vs. Michigan:
None.
1998-99 games against Michigan
Players to watch
Mark Concannon
Josh Reed
Conference
Pos.
F
D
Hockey East
Players to watch
Alex Westlund
Jeff Hamilton
Conference
Pos.
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tMEASURED 8Y Vq.IAI(MO? WEIGHT) L
lWITH THIS AOD'EXPRES 1111t4M OD
Conference
WCHA
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