The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - October 4, 1999 - 5B

Hawks seek 'Golden' chances
against CCHA competition

By Stephanie Offen
Daily Sports Writer
One question still remains in the
minds of the crowd after Saturday
night's Michigan hockey game. The
fans stood for the Canadian national
anthem bewildered by one thing -
who exactly is Wilfrid Laurier?
Each NCAA hockey team is
allowed to play one exhibition game
against a team from another country.
This season the Wilfrid Laurier
Golden Hawks' traveled from their
univeristy in Waterloo, Ontario to
compete with the Wolverines.
"This was a great experinece not
only for the coaching staff but also
for the players because of the intensi-
ty and the atmosphere," Wilfred
Laurier coach Tony Martindale said.
"We got to experience the football
game today too, and that was a lot of
fun for our guys. Anytime our guys
can come here and play a team of this
calliber with this speed and commit-
ment it's great for our guys."
Michigan was the Golden Hawks'
second CCHA opponent for the
weekend. Wilfrid Laurier faced Notre
Dame Friday and was defeated, 4-1.
The Golden Hawks compete in the
Western Conference in their province
of Ontario. Wilfred Laurier competes
with Waterloo, Western Ontario and
Windsor to make up the four-team
conference.
The teamr's members are generally
a little older then U.S. college ath-
letes. Canadian college hockey play-
ers generally compete with their col-

lege teams after a pro career, accord-
ing to Phil Rogers a sophomore at
Wilfred Laurier. The team roster
includes many junior players that are
finished with their Ontario Hockey
League careers,
After the regular conference
schedule, the Canadian colleges com-
pete in a national tournament similar
to the ones that in which NCAA
teams compete.
Games against NCAA members
are highly respected by the Canadian
teams. Winning or losing doesn't
matter as much to these clubs as the
fact that they are able to compete
with such a high calliber team.
"We have a lot of respect for the
University of Michigan,' Rogers said.
"We have had this game marked on
our calendar for a while now. We've
been looking forward to it for a while
now so we were all up for it."
WEAKENED DEFENSE: Captain
Sean Peach suffered a groin injury dur-
ing Friday night's Blue-White scrim-
mage and did not compete against
Wilfred Laurier Saturday evening.
Michigan was faced with the
unexpected loss of three defenseman
before the beginning of this season.
The loss of Peach leaves the
Wolverines with only six elgible play-
ers on defense.
After Saturday's win, Michigan
coach Red Berenson listed Peach as
doubtful for next weekend's games
against Notre Dame. Berenson was
unsure whether Peach would skate at
all this week.

"The defense played really wel
considering the circumstances. with-
out a guy like Sean Pcaeh," sopho-
more Jeff Jillson said. "Obviously
since he is a captain it hurts that much
more A lot of guys stepped up and
took on their roles. We didn't give up
that many shots and after the first five
or ten minutes we started plaving a lot
better and getting more comfortable."
E en with the loss of Peach, the
Golden lkawks still only managed 13
shots. The Wolverines had more than
four times that amount with 56 scor-
ing attempts.
A NEW VFACE: Because of the lack
of defensemen on this year's
Michigan hockey team, prospective
walk-on defensemen were given a lit-
tle more hope at this year's try outs.
Six team hopefuls skated with the
team in Friday's Blue-White game.
And one, freshman Brad Fraser,
joined the team for Saturday's victo-
ry.
"He didn't play much early in the
game but we tried to play him more as
the game went on," Berenson said.
"He's not hopeless. He can definitely
help the team."
Fraser had two shots in Saturday s
game, both in the second period.
Last year Fraser was a member of
the Sault St. Marie Indians. The
Indians are a Junior A club of the
North American Hockey League.
Fraser also competed with
Compuware, the same club with
which Huntzicker, Shouneyia.
Swistak and Mink played.

, . DANNY KALICK/Daily
Indsight is 20/20: Despite a 6-2 loss at the hands of the Wolverines, Wilfrid Laurier coaches said the Golden Hawks enjoy
the opportunity to play CCHA opponents.

Berenson praises play of frosh as Yost crowd extends welcome
Newcomers score four of six goals in exhibition win over Wilfrid Laurier

' y Chris Grandstaff
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan hockey fans got a glimpse of
the future this weekend as the folks at Yost
Ice Arena welcomed six newcomers to the
Wolverines for the split squad Blue/White
game on Friday, and an exhibition against
Wilfrid Laurier Saturday night.
This year's freshmen crop - which
includes J. J. Swistak, Mike Cammalleri,
Andy Hilbert, Mark Mink, Jed Ortmeyer
.Oid John Shouneyia - wasted no time in
showing why it is such highly touted group
in Friday's Blue/White game as four differ-
ent members of the class of 2004 lit the red
lamp.
"I thought the freshmen played well to a
man," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.
"Each one of them had a good game, not
just because four of the six goals were
scored by freshmen, but because starting
Oith Hilbert's and Ortmeyer's line they
ayed good hockey.
"Shouneyia was good, he had a nice goal,
and made some good plays. Mark Mink
scored a nice goal and did a couple other
good things, Swistak scored a goal and
showed the kind of player he is. I thought
Cammalleri handled the puck like a veteran
in the game, I was really impressed,"
Beenson said.
Berenson wasn't the only one impressed
by the young Wolverines. Michigan goalie
Vsh Blackburn had his hopes of a second
raight Blue-White shutout dashed when

"To go on the ice during warmups and see
the crowd, it was just unreal feeling to be
out there.
- Andy Hilbert
on Yost Ice Arena

Hilbert fired a shot past him in the first
period - the only goal he would allow all
night.
"Hilbert blew one by me, so he's pretty
good," Michigan goalie Josh Blackburn
said, laughing.
"The freshman played great tonight. I
think they're going to have a good year,
they're good players, they work really hard
and I have a lot of faith in them."
Hilbert, who for the past two seasons has
played for the USA National Development
Team in Ann Arbor, seemed right at home
on Saturday night as well earning one of the
three'stars of the game and assisting on half
of the goals scored by the Wolverines.
His playmaking ability is a welcome
sight for the Wolverines, who struggled in
that category last season, and justifies why
many tabbed him as the top collegiate
recruit this season.
But for Hilbert just getting to play in
front of the always lively Yost crowd was
enough to make his night.

"It was unbelievable," Hilbert said. "To
go on the ice during warm-ups and see the
crowd, it was just an unreal feeling to be out
there."
The rest of the freshmen also played well
against the first opposition of their colle-
giate careers. All of them saw significant
ice time and displayed a lot of poise against
Wilfrid Laurier, despite the fact that the
Wolverines trailed 1-0 after the first period.
"We were tested early and I thought our
young players played hard and played well,"
Berenson said. "They played with confi-
dence and patience and that's good."
The offensive potential of the young
Wolverines is a good sign for a Michigan
team that would like to improve on their
scoring from last season and make yet
another run at the Frozen Four.
But the real test for these newcomers,
and just how much of an early impact they
will make, begins Thursday and Friday
when the Wolverines travel to Notre Dame
for their CCHA opener against the Irish.

4.

DANNY KAI(cK/Gaily
Freshman center Andy Hilbert had three assists in Saturday's season-opening 6-2 victory over Wilfrid
Laurier.

LAURIER
Continued from Page 1B
big positive that we came together at
the end."
Michigan had 28 shots on goal in the
first period but was unable to convert
ything. Wilfrid Laurier goalie Frank
'nkovich, who towered over both
teams at 6-5, was a big part of the
Wolverines problems - literally.
Ivankovich was sharp - he had 50
saves for the game, an impressive per-
formance especially after playing on
Friday night against Notre Dame.
"Our goaltending was outstanding,"
Wilfrid Laurier coach Tony Martindale
said. "That really helped us. But - by
piaying both (Friday and Saturday
.ght), we were really tired by the end."
Down early, the Wolverines outlasted
the Hawks down the stretch.
Only 3:38 into the second period,
center Mike Comrie - who led last
year's team in scoring - fired a shot
past Ivankovich on a Michigan power
Blue 5, White 1
Blue 2 1 2 - 5
hite 1 0 0 -1
First period - Blue, Merrick 1 (Langfeld), 5:25;
White, Hilbert 1 (Ortmeyer, Magnusson), 12:49;
Blue. Swistak 1 (Vancik), 18:26. Penalties -
White, Magnuson (tripping), 4:12; Blue, Murray
(hooking), 6:37; Blue, O'Rear (cross-checking).
8;39: White, Gassoff (high-sticking), 18:31; Blue,
Huntzicker (interference), 19:47.
Second period - Blue, Shouneyia (Langfeld), 16:04.
Penalties - White, Koch (tripping).4:01; Blue.
Kosick (roughing), 5:10: White, Gassoff (roughing),

play off assists from Hilbert and
defenseman Jeff Jillson.
The Wolverines never looked back.
Comrie also touched off the
Michigan scoring frenzy in the third
period. Junior Josh Langfeld added two
goals. The final two tallies came from
sophomore defenseman Jay Vancik and
junior winger Scott Matzka.
Saturday's game allowed the
Wolverines to discover major weak-
nesses that should be corrected before
they face Notre Dame on Thursday in
the regular season opener.
Friday's Blue-White game was a lit-
tle bit different. In fact, to most of the
2000-plus fans in Yost Ice Arena that
night, Michigan could do no wrong.
The crowd was treated not only to a
game, but also an autograph and skate
session with their favorite players.
The Wolverines were just as enthusi-
astic as their fans.
"It was a lot of fun," Blackburn said.
"My main concern was not coming out
and playing awful, getting scored on,
Michigan 6, Wilfrid Laurier 2
Wilfrid Laurier 1 0 1 - 2
Michigan 0 2 4 -6
First period - WL, Lowe (unassisted), 4:33.
Penalties - WL, Dineley (holding the stick), :57;
WL, Allaby (hooking), 3:31; Mich, Langfeld (interfer.
ence), 5:28; WL, Simons (slashing), 8:13; Mich,
Koch (charging), 10:45; Mich, Gassoff (roughing),
10:45; WL, McRea (roughing), 10:45; Mich,
Cammalleri (tripping), 12:55; WL, Ambrosio (trip-
ping), 14:10; WL, Stewart (slashing), 17:23; Mich,
Kosick (slashing), 17:23.
Second period - Mich, Comrie (HilbertJillson),
3:38: 'Mich. Lngfeld ilso, Conmrie, 12:42.

look like an idiot and have to skate
around with all these little kids who'd
tell me how bad I am..."
"It's easy to get excited for this
game. It's the first game and you're just
excited to play in front of people."
Blackburn didn't have to worry, he
made 13 saves and allowed only one
goal in the contest - a positive indica-
tor for the Wolverines.
After the contest ended, the players
returned to skate for half an hour with
their fans.
"It was really cool (skating with the
team)," said Il-year old Michael Waite
from Ypsilanti. "It was fun meeting
new players from last year."
It was a good night for both players
and fans.
"It was unbelievable," Michigan
defenseman Kevin Magnuson said.
"You just see their faces light up and
they get so excited to be with guys who
are in the limelight a little bit. A lot of
them are just cruising around and don't
know what any of this means, they're
just having fun."


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