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108 - The Michigan Daily - FACEOFF 2000 - Thursday, October 5, 2000

The main event

The challengers

The Michigan Daily - FACEOFF201

PREVIEW
Continued from Page 4B
- ultimate deja vu, they will have to take
their play to the next level especially
on the offensixe end.
Three of those seniors. Matzka.
Josh Langfeld and captain Geoff
Koch, are tough, gritty .workhorse
forwards who haxe steadily
increascd their scoring production
each year -especially when it
comes to crunch time. leach tallied
three game-winning ggoals last year.
And Lanefeld notched the bitwest
winning goal of his life three years
ago, scoring in overtime to clinch the
national title in 1998.
But that's not all. The loss of
Comrie doesn't seem so bad when
the coaches consider the amount of
depth on their bench.
"I think we'll have a better balance
on the team this year without
Comrie," Berenson said. "An only
one-line team will now become a
three-or-four line team this season.
Adding another dynamic to the
front line, senior Mark Kosick and
sophomores Andy Hilbert and Mike
Cammalleri will bring speed and
sniper-like shots into the mixture of
muscle and hustle.
Even when the offense has off-
nights, the intimidating and experi-
enced defensemen will keep the
Wolverines within striking distance.
"I think the strength of our team is
on defense and in goal," Berenson
said. "That's what we're going to
build on."
All-America Jeff Jillson's decision
to stay in school for his junior year
will solidify an already-strong blue-

line that returns senior assistant cap-
tain Dave Huntzicker along with vet-
erans Bob Gassoff and Jay Vancik.
who led the team with an impressive
plus-29 rating last year.
Top recruits Mike Komisarek (6-4,
240 pounds) and Andy Burnes have
ca ught the coaches' attention in
practice and are expected to con-
tribute early as fresmen.
Komisarek "has the ability to be a
top Division I defenseman."
Berenson said. "Andy's a solid play-
er who plays physical, hard-nosed
and with a lot of ilntensitx."
Michigan couldn't have a better
last line of defense than junior net-
minder Josh Blackburn. who after
returning from injury last season
recorded a stifling 2.38 goals against
average - stopping more than 90
percent of opponents' shots.
But Berenson knows that the 41-
game war hasn't even begun, and
xhen looking at his schedule he
feels that nothing is going to come
easy.
"Sometimes as a player you take
for granted that your going to play
well because you played well last
year," Berenson said. "My perspec-
tive is that every year is a new year.
It doesn't matter what you did last
year and you can't expect everything
to repeat itself."
Despite receiving I1 of 12 first-
place votes in the CCHA coaches
pre-season poll, the Wolverines
know the battle must be won on the
ice.
"Nobody is going to lay down for
Michigan," Berenson said.
But these Wolverines would
expect nothing less.

'M' faces
a versity,
stands tall
By Arun Gopal
O .tiir Spurts\Yiitcr
The 1999-00 season was a time of'
tlux for the Michigan ice hockey team.
Time and auain, the Wolverines oxer-
came adversity and growing pains to put
together a typically good season -
Michigan claimed another CCHA regu-
lar-season championship before bowgi

N096 tale of the tape:
No.6notre dame
coach: Dave Poulin, sixth year
players to watch:
Dae Inman - Jr. - center
Dan Carson - Jr. - left win "Mike
Tony Zasowski -- So.-goatender Tyson's
a Punchout"
this season vs.Michgacunt"at
Jan. 23, 2001 Ann Arbornteart
Feb. 16, 2001 Anan ArborBadul
last season:
last year's record: 16-18-8
last year's GCHA record: 11-10-7 (5) -
last year vs. Michigan
Oct. 8, 1999 UM 6. ND 1

No. 7

tale
boo

coach: Buddy Powers, seventh year
players to watch:
reg Day -Jr. -forward
Lois Mass -Sr. -defenseman
Tyler Masters -- So. -- goalie
this season vs. M gG
Oct. 20, 2000 Broiling Green
Oct. 22, 2000 Bowling Green
last season:
last year's record: 17-19-1
last year's CCHA record: 12-15-1(8)
last year vs. Michigan
Dec. 3, 1999 BGSU 4,UM 2
Dec, 4. 1999 UM 3, BGSU 1
Mar. 3. 2000 UM 3, BGSU 1
Mar. 4, 2000 BGSU 6, UM 3



i

DANNY KALIcK 'Dady
Now that Mike Comrie is playing junior hockey, senior assistant captain Scott
Matzka will have to assume more of the scoring load for Michigan this season.
Comrie who? CCHA coaches speak out
Michigan's leading scorer last year. Mike Comrie, decided
to leave the Wolverines before his junior season to play
major juniors for the Kootenay Ice of the Western
Hockey League. a
But according to other coaches around the CCHA, it
sounds like Michigan will be just fine without the
Hobey Baker finalist.
"The toughest game we played against them
(Michigan) last year was without Mike in the line-
up. I think Michigan will be outstanding this
year. They're less predictable without Mike F
Comrie, which makes them more dangerous." cente ike
Scott Borek - Lake Superior Comrie could
have been a
In reality, I think he could have been a leading Hobey
little bit of a side show. I could be wrong. k
but my impression is that he could have been a side show in the locker
room. Actually, he's selfish. Sometimes I saw him on the ice and I
thought he was selfish. In the end they might be better off without him."
Bob Daniels - Ferris State
"Probably the most talent in the league. There's a reason why they're
ranked number one. It will be up for the rest of us to beat them."
Enrico Blasi - Miami (Ohio)
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out to Maine
N C A A
t o u r n a -
ment.
T h e
t r o u b I e
started in
August of
last year,
when the
p r o g r a m
was rocked
by a most
unexpected
announce-
ment --
sophomore
de fen se -
man Mike
Van Rvn,
w h o
appeared to
be on the

in the second round of the
'99-00 vitals
The final stats from
Michigan's 1999-00
season:
* Record: 26-9-4
* CCHA: 19-6-3
CCHA finish: 1st
* Reached semifi-
nals of CCHA tourna-
ment
0 Advanced to sec-
ond round of NCAA
Tournament
Leading scorer:
forward Mike Comrie
(21-34-55)

N08tale
N .o-fE
coach: Bob Daniels, ninth year
layers to watch:
Rob Collins - Jr. - forward
Phil Osaer - Sr- goaltender
Kevin Swider - Sr.- forward
this season vs. Michigan
Nov. 10, 2000 Ann Arbor
Nov. 11, 2000 Ann Arbor
last season;:
last year's record: 21-16-4
last year's CCHA record: 13-13-2 (6)
last year vs. Michigan
Feb. 4, 2000 UM 4, FSU 2
Feb. 5, 2000 FSU 4, UM 2

r of the tape
erris state

N.9

"Mike
Tyson's
Punchout"
counterpart:
King Hippo



tale

No.iro



tale of
Ohio

the tape
state

BRANDON SEDLOFF/Daiy
Jeff Jillson won't be sleeping much this
season. The Wolverines have one of
their toughest schedules in years.
Money shots
These are the leading returning scorers in
the CCHA:
1. David Gove, Sr., WMU (17-23 - 40)
2. Michael Bishai, Jr., WMU (15-18 - 33)
3. Pat Leahy, Sr., Miami (14-17 - 31)
4. Adam Hall, Jr., Mich. St. (19-10 - 29)
5. Jean-Francois Dufour, Ohio St. (10-17 - 27)
Kevin Swider, Sr., Ferris St. (14-13 - 27)
7. Andy Hilbert, So., Michigan (14-12 - 26)
8. Mark Kosick, Sr., Michigan (12.12 -24)
Chris Gobert, So., N. Mich. (15-9 - 24)
Dan Carlson, Sr., N.D. (13-11 - 24)
11. Rustyn Dolyny, Sr., Mich. St. (&15 - 23)
Jeff Jison, Jr., Michigan (6-17 - 23)
Bobby Andrews, Jr., UAF (6-17 - 23)
14. Greg Day, Jr., BGSU, (11-12 - 23)
15. Josh Langfeld, Sr., Michigan (814 - 22)
Rob Collins, Jr., FSU (&14-22)
Greg Zanon, So., UNO (2-20-22)
18. David Brisson, So., UNO (12-9-21)
David Cousineau, So., WMU (6-15-21)
20. Steve Rymsha, Sr., WMU (10-10-20)

coach: Enrico Blasi, second year
players to watch:
Jason Deskins, Jr., forward
Pat Ceahy, Sr., forward
Nick Jardine, So., forward
this season vs. Michigan
Oct. 27, 2000 Ann Arbor
Oct. 28, 2000 Ann Arbor
lastseason:
last year's record: 13-20-3
last year's CCHA record: 10-15-3 (9)
last year vs. Michigan
Nov. 12, 1999 UM4,MTami 2
Nov. 13, 1999 UM 4, Miami 3.(OT)
Jan. 14, 20~0 UM 5, Miami 2
Jan. 15, 2000 UM 5, Miami 1

coach: John Markell, sixth year
players to watch:
Andre Signoretti -Sr.--defenseman
JeanFrancois Dufour - Sr. -defenseman
this season vs. Mbusgan
Jan. 12, 2001 Columbus
Jan. 13, 2001 Columbus
last season:
last year's record: 13-19-4
last year's CCHA record: 9-16-3 (11)
last year vs. Michigan
Nov. 5, 1999 UM 6, OSU 1,
Nov. 6', 1999 UM 8. OSU 4
Jan. 21. 2000 UM 6, OSU 4
Jan. 29, 2000 UM 1, OSU 1.

r

"Mike
Tyson's
Punchout"
counter-
gart:Piston

verge of stardom. abruptly decided to
leave school.
Van Ryn was actually the third
defenseman to leave the program. fol-
lowing two recruits who transferred for
academic reasons. Michigan appeared
to be thin on the back line, but Berenson
and his assistants remained unfazed.
The Wolverines added walk-on Brad
Fraser before the season and gained the
services of Mike Roemensky in mid-
season, stabilizing Michigan's defense.
If that had been the only controversy
that the Wolverines had faced. the sea-
son would still have been considered a
success. But the rapidlv dwindling
defensive corps was nothing compared
to what happened in October, when star
goaltender Josh Blackburn broke his
right foot in a freak accident and was
forced out of action for 19 games.
For most teamsthis would have been
disastrous. But Michigan remained
unfazed. Backups L.J. Scarpace and
Kevin O'Malley filled in well, guiding
the Wolverines to 13 wins in
Blackburn's absence. Blackburn made
an auspicious return just after the New
Year, shutting out Michigan State, 2-0,
in front of a packed house at Munn
Arena in East Lansing.
Last season also saw the development
of a corps of skilled young forwards.
Freshmen Andy Hilbert, Mike
Cammalleri, J.J. Swistak, John
Shounevia and Jed Ortmeyer stepped
into they lineup and became instant con-
tributors. Together, they gave Michigan
a deep, talented and versatile group of
scorers who helped offset the loss of
departed seniors Bill Muckalt and
Bobby Hayes.

A e
Y E/A R $




Ntale of the.
0.11f tape:
w. michigan
coach: Jim Culhane, second year
players to watch:
Daid Gove - Sr - right wing
Mike Bishai -Jr. - center
David Cousineau - So. -
defensenmen
this season vs. NHchigar
Jan. 19. 2001 Ann Arbor
Jan. 20, 2001 Kalamazoo
last season:
last year's record: 12-21-3
last year's CCHA record: 10-15-3
(T-9)
last year vs. Michigan
Feb. 11, 2000 UM7, WMU 2
Feb. 12, 2000 UM 9, WMU 3
Mar. 10, 2000 UM 4, WMU 2
Mar. 11, 2000 UM 6, WMU 2
"Mikev -
Tyson's
Punchout"
counter-
part: Von -

N. 12

tale of the tape:
alas'ka-fairbanks

coach: Guy Gadowski, second year last year vs Michigan
Oct. 22, 1999 UA 4,
play ers to watch; UM 2
Bobb Andrews-Jr. - forward Oct. 23, 1999 UM 4
Lance Mayes-So.-goalie UAF 1

this season vs. Michigan
Nov. 17, 2000 Ann Arbor
Nov. 18, 2000' Ann Arbor
last season:
last year's record: 6-25-3
last year's'CCHA record:, 4-22-0 (12)

"Mike
Tyson's
Punchout"
counter-
art: Glass

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