4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - December 10, 2001
44
Slap shouts
"When you have 5,000 fans in your home
rink and one of the biggest games of the year
in the league, and to come out and play like
that, you don't deserve to be in the league."
- Miami forward Jason Deskins after his team was swept
by Michigan this weekend.
FRIDAY'S GAME
9 Michigan 3
Miami 2 (OT)
SATURDAY'S GAME
Michigan 5
Miami 2
Key play
Friday, :57 into overtime
With the score tied 2-2, Mike Cammalleri
received the puck at center ice and skated into
the Miami zone for the game winning goal that
would have been difficult for anyone to stop.
4
THE DAILY'S STARS
The Michigan Daily hockey writers'
picks for Michigan's three stars of the
weekend.
Mike Cammaleri
Center
Cammalleri scored the game-winning
goal :57 into overtime to give Michigan
the win in Friday night's game, and then
followed up with two goals and an
assist in Saturday's victory.
Eric Nystrom
Forward
In addition to his two assists, Nystrom
scored a shorthanded goal on Saturday
night, and then added the game-winning
goal early in the third period.
Jed Ortmeyer
orward
Ortmeyer rounded out the brilliant per-
formance of Michigan's first line, notch-
ing three assists during Saturday's
victory.
'M' SCHEDULE
This week:
Saturday vs. Harvard
Yost Ice Arena, 7:35 p.m.
After posting a 2-2 non-conference
record thus ar with losses to Min-
nesota and Minnesota-Duluth, the
Wolverines need to extend their cur-
rent five -game winning streak
against Harvard. Wins in non-CCHA
games will play a big part in the
NCAA Tournament selection
process.
How THE TOP 10 FARED
No. 1 St. Cloud (12-1-1) def. Colorado Col-
lege 3-0, lost to Col. college 5-1
No. 2 Minnesota (11-1-3) def. Denver 2-1,
lost to Denver 4-3
No. 3 Denver (11-1-0) lost to Minnesota 2-1,
def. Minneso a 4-3
No. 4 New Hampshire (9-2-2) lost to Clark-
son 8-5, def. St. Lawrence 5-4
No. 5 Michigan State (10-3-2) def. Northern
Michigan 4-2, def. Northern Michigan 3-0
No. 6 Massachusetts-Lowell (10-2-0) def. St.
Lawrence 4-0, def. Clarkson 3-2
No. 7 Boston University (831) def. U-Massa-
chusetts-Amherst 5-2
No. 8 Northern Michigan (8-3-1) lost to
Michigan State 4-2, lost to Michigan State
3-0
No. 9 Cornell (7-2-1) def. Niagara 2-1, def.
No. 10 Nebraska-Omaha (9-5-2) lost to Alas-
ka-Fairbanks 4-2, lost to Alaska-Fairbanks 3-1
FRIDAY'S GAME
Michigan 3, Miami 2 OT
Cammalleri' will is
his strongest weapon
By Seth Klempner
Daily Sports Writer
OXFORD - Nineteenth century
German philosopher Friedrich Niet-
zche believed that the "will to power"
was the catalyst for human behavior
and struggle. He believed'that people
strive to become the master of their
space and to extend their force over all
that resists its extension.
It is highly unlikely that Michigan
junior Mike Cammalleri had Nietzche
in mind when he
stepped onto the HOCKEY
ice for overtimeC
Friday night Commenary
against Miami.
But the alternate captain perfectly exe-
cuted the philosopher's principles on
the "will to power," demonstrating
why he is the top player in college
hockey.
Determined to end the game on his
own terms, Cammalleri received a
breakout pass from sophomore
defenseman Andy Burnes at center ice
and brought the puck up the ice with
one Miami defenseman to beat.
He curled towards the top of the cir-
cle after crossing the Miami blue line
and, using the helpless defenseman as
a screen, released a sniper-like wrist
shot that ripped into the net 57 seconds
into overtime. It happened so quickly.
that neither Miami goalie David
Burleigh nor the Miami defender had
any time to react. After the goal, the
Michigan junior didn't jump around,
but merely raised one arm in celebra-
tion. He had done only what he
expected to do - score the game-win-
ning goal in dramatic fashion while
making it look easy.
"In overtime, I guess it is a matter of
will," Cammalleri said after scoring
his third game-winning goal in the
past three games. "It comes down to
having played three periods and one
team wanting it more than the other."
It seems that when you have that
level of skill you not only get to pick
your spots, but you are also able to
execute in those spots.
The goal did not come without help
though. After the game, a modest
Cammalleri gave credit for the since to
former administrative assistant, Brian
Wiseman. Prior to the game, Wiseman
told Cammalleri to shoot high on
Burleigh because he tends to lower his
glove when he goes down.
These performances have not been
out of the ordinary for the Wolverines'
top playmaker.
At Ferris State last weekend, with
the score tied at four and just over one
minute to play in the third, Cammalleri
pulled another game-winning goal out
of his bag of tricks.
"It is nice to see that the skilled
players can score big goals," coach
EMMA FOSDICK/Daily
Mike Cammalleri and Jed Ortmeyer were instrumental in helping Josh Blackburn pick up a 5-2 win on Saturday night.
Red Berenson said of Cammalleri's
recent efforts. "Some guys score a lot
of goals and some guys score clutch
goals and Mike Cammalleri has been
(doing both) for us. If we have a guy
that is a clutch player right now it is
Cammalleri."
When asked if their was any way to
stop the center, fellow junior John
Shouneyia shook his head and smiled,
adding that it is not a job he envies.
Said Shouneyia: "He's definitely the
best player in the league, there's no
question about it. When he wants to,
he can take the puck end to end and
make something happen. When we
need a goal, he makes something hap-
pen. He can control the game.
"I don't think you can shut him
down really. Some players are just too
good, and he's too good. (Shutting
down) players like (him) ... good
luck."
Unfortunately for many of the
Michigan hockey fans, plays like these
haven't yet occurred at Yost Ice Arena.
But with the majority of Michigan's
remaining games are to be played at
home, clutch goals may soon become
a familiar site to the Yost faithful.
REDHAWKS
Continued from Page 1B
Miami's failure to clear the zone.
"No, there were no lingering affects (from Friday's loss), we
have no excuses," said Miami captain Jason Deskins. "I don't
know what to say, we came out and laid an egg. It showed in
the second period, in our defensive zone coverage. We had no
heart, no pride, no desire. When you have 5,000 fans in your
home rink and one of the biggest games of the year in the
league, and to come out and play like that you don't deserve to
be in this league. We have no excuses, Michigan is a great
hockey team, but obviously we are not as good as we think we
are."
Michigan controlled the entire first period of Saturday's
game, firing 14 shots on Burleigh. Still, Miami kept Michigan
off the scoreboard by blocking shots and forcing Michigan to
shoot wide. But with less than a minute to play, John
Shouneyia was able to slam home an Eric Nystrom rebound
on a four-on-three powerplay. The goal was his sixth of the
season and it extended the juniors' point streak to six games.
The goal was Michigan's only powerplay tally of the week-
end in four opportunities. The Wolverines came into the week-
end with a .185 conversion rate on the powerplay.
But the Wolverines were not as strong on the penalty kill,
allowing two powerplay goals and a shorthanded goal on the
weekend.
Michigan didn't let up after the first intermission on Satur-
day. With Mike Komisarek in the penalty box for high-sticking
to begin the second period, Nystrom picked up a clearing pass
that hit a linesman and skated the length of the ice before dek-
ing Burleigh with his backhand to put Michigan up 2-0. The
breakaway goal was Michigan's third shorthanded score of the
season. With four points Saturday, Nystrom now leads all
freshman in scoring with seven goals and 14 points.
Michigan goalie Josh Blackburn helped the Wolverines by
stoning the RedHawks through the first two periods. Black-
burn, who has lowered his goals-against average to 2.71, fin-
ished the night with 25 saves on 27 shots. In addition,
Blackburn stopped three third-period breakaways that could
have turned the momentum around and allowed Miami back in
r
i-Alf
Shouneyia heating up
at rght time for icers
0
Michigan
Miami
1 1 0 1 -3
S1 00 -2
Fkst pedod- 1. Miami, Kompon 4 (Edwardson, Deskins),
147 (pp); 2. UM, Rymnar 6 (Gajic, Shouneyla), 19:44. Penal-
ties-UM, Werner (obstructioNooking), 1:34.
Second pedod-3. Miami, Grant 2 (Edwardson, Waford), :55
(pp); 4. UM, Bumes 1(Mink, Murray), 4:52. Pena les -
Miami, Stevens (tripping), :36; Miam, Deskins (hit after whis-
te), 7:58; UM, Rogers (hit after whistle), 7-58.
7irdpedod- Penalties- Miami, Noechleb(checking
from behind), 16:33; Miami, Stewart (crosschecking), 19:25;
UM, Komisarek (hit after whistle), 7:58.
Overtime period - 5. UM, Camaledl 12 (Bumes), :57
Shosongoal -UM, 101252-32; MIA, 1087-0-25.
PowerPlays-UM,0of2; FSU Oof1. ,
Saves - UM, Blackburn 9-7-0 --23; MIA, Burleigh 9-11&1
-32.
Referee - Steve Piotowski
ULnesmen--Butch Friedrnan, Bruce Vida
At Goggin Ice Arena, Oxford. Attendance:2,850.
SATURDAY'S GAME
Michigan 5, Miami 2
EMMA FOSDICK/Daily
Josh Blackburn had a solid weekend, allowing just two goals
In each game en route to a sweep over Miami.
the game.
"This was not a blowout game and I thought Blackburn kep
us in there,' Berenson said. "We were turning the puck over
too much and we were on our heels the last 10 minutes of the
game. I didn't like the way we played in that part of the game."
Blackburn played well on Friday night as well, allowing jus
two goals.
By Chris Burke
Daily Sports Writer
OXFORD - When the Michigan
hockey team was struggling to a 2-4-1
record early this season, one of the main
points that coach
Red Berenson HOCIKEy
stressed as essential Notebook
to turning the team
around was getting
the offense kick-started.
Over the last six games, junior John
Shouneyia has answered the call.
With a powerplay goal 19:09 into the
first period on Saturday night,
Shouneyia extended his point streak to
six consecutive games after notching an
assist on Friday night.
In those six games, Shouneyia has
recorded four goals and six assists for a
total of 10 points.
"John is one of our better players,"
Michigan coach Red Berenson said.
"He got off to a slower start, but I think
he's getting more confidence now, is
more comfortable and he's playing the
best hockey of his career right now, and
t we need that.
r "Obviously (center Mike) Cammal-
leri faces the other team's best defense-
men and the best forwards and the
t wings so it's good to get a one-two
punch going."
As the center of Michigan's second
line, Shouneyia has exploded offensive-
ly since freshman Milan Gajic joined
fellow freshman Jason Ryznar on his
line.
r That combination connected for
Michigan's first goal of the weekend
e with just 16 seconds remaining in the
first period on Friday night.
a Shouneyia won a faceoff outside the
Miami zone, Gajic controlled the puck
and sent it to Ryznar, who blasted a one-
timer by Miami goalie David Burleigh.
r Then on Saturday night, Shouneyia
e put Michigan ahead for good, when he
lit the lamp on the powerplay with 50
seconds to go in the first period.
With Cammalleri off to play on the
Canadian World Junior team for the
next four weeks, Shouneyia's streak will
make him the leading candidate to fill
Cammalleri's center spot on the first
line.
"Holes are going to be open,"
Shouneyia said. "Guys are going to be
moved up. It's definitely an opportunity
for everyone to step up and make things
happen."
SPLIT DECISION: Twice during Satur-
day night's 5-2 Michigan win, referee
Steve Piotrowski waved off apparent
goals. But fortunately for Michigan, he
decided to allow one of them.
With the RedHawks trailing 2-0 in
the second, Miami forward Todd Grant's
original shot was saved by goalie Josh
Blackburn, but the forward then crashed
into Blackburn - jarring the puck
loose and into the net.
Piotrowski immediately waved off the
goal and instead called a two-minute
goaltender interference penalty on
Grant.
"It seemed to change the whole tone
of the game after that, but it probably
could have gone either way," said Miami
coach Enrico Blasi.
Later, at a critical point in the game
with Michigan ahead 2-1, Nystrom
kicked a rebound of a Cammalleri shot
to his stick and fired it into the net. After
some discussion, that goal was allowed,
and it turned out to be the game-winner.
"I couldn't believe it" Nystrom said.
"I clearly put it in with my stick but I
guess the referee's position - he was
behind me - he saw me kick it up to
my stick and put it in. It could've been a
turning point in the game."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. BERENSON: Sat-
urday was Berenson's 62nd birthday.
Berenson is a perfect 5-0 on his birthday
in the 18 years as the head coach of
Michigan. .
"It's not fun when you're on the road
and you're really thinking and worrying
and preparing for a game so there's not a
lot of enjoyment during the day," Beren-
son said of how he spent his birthday.
"We've got a bit of a break in the
league and this was important, but for
(my) birthday I'll take the win anytime."
6
0
6
Michigan
Miami
113 -5
0 0 2 -2
Firstpedod -1. UM,Shouneyia 6 (Nystrom, Ortmeyer),
19:09 (pp). Penalties - UM, Rogers(crosschecking), 8:42;
Miari, Knupp (hit after whistle), 7:54; UM, Martens (hit
after whistle). 17:54; Miami, Kompon (hooking), 18:57; UM,
Konisarek (high sticking), 20:00.
Second peod -2. UM, Nystrom6(unassisted), :27 (sh).
Penalties - Miami, Grant (goaltender interference), 3:36;
Miami, Grant (10-minute misconduct), 3:36; UM, Nystrom
(high sticking), 7:42; UM, Vacik (slashing), 15:45.
ThId period-3. Miami, Deskins4 (unassisted), 5:01; 4.
UM, Nystrom 7 (Cammalleri),6:56; 5.Cammalleri 13 (Ot-
meyer, Nstrom), 7:42; 6. Knupp 1(Jrdine, Grant), 17:41; 7.
Cammalleri 14 (Ortmeyer), 19:03 (en) Penalties- Miami,
Stewart (hit after whistle), 1:43; UM, Gaic (hit after whistle),
1:43; UM, Shouneyia (tripping), 8:17; Miami, Stewart (10-
minute misconduct), 8:38; Miami, Knupp (unsportsrnlike
conduct), 10:37; UM, Woodford (crosschecking), 10:37;
UM, Vancik (holding), 15:55.
Shotsongoal-UM,J414-11-39;Miami,8613-27.
PowerPlays-UM,1of 2; Miami,lof 6.
Saves-UM, Blackburn 8611-25; Miami, Burlegh13
I3M-34.
Referee-Steve Piotrowski
Unesmen - Butch Friedman, Bruce Vida
At Goggin Ice Arena, Oxford. Attendance: 2,850.
AROUND THE CCHA
Nebraska-Omaha (6-6-2 CCHA,
9-7-2 overall) entered this weekend
in a second-place tie with Michi-
gan.
After two consecutive losses to
upstart Alaska-Fairbanks this
weekend, the Mavericks now find
themselves four points behind
Michigan, which took care of busi-
ness in Oxford.
Above the Wolverines (8-3-2,
10-5-2) in first place is Michigan
State (10-3-1, 12-3-2), which took
First line too much for RedHawks
By Chris Burke
Daily Sports Writer
OXFORD - For 60 minutes of
action in Friday night's series opener
against Miami, the Michigan hockey
team showcased its offensive balance.
The Wolverines' top line of center
Mike Cammalleri and forwards Eric
Nystrom and Jed Ortmeyer was held to
just five total shots on goal through
three periods of play, while the third
and fourth lines tallied 11 shots com-
bined.
The result of Michigan's efforts was
a 2-2 tie heading into overtime.
But from that point on, the Wolver-
ines' stars took over.
Cammalleri finally found open ice on
his first shift of overtime after a pass by
defenseman Andy Burnes. Cammalleri
crossed the Miami blue line and
snapped a wrist shot over the shoulder
of the Redhawks' goalie, David
Burleigh to win the game.
"We had so many rushes and so
much speed, and the ice is great out
there," Cammalleri said. "(Ortmeyer)
and (Nystrom) are making plays out
there and we are getting it to the net,
but never really had the chance to bury
one. We feel great out there and those
are usually the nights when (the pucks)
are going in like its nothing - then
finally in overtime (one did.)"
Michigan's top line caught fire from
there, and recorded 10 of Michigan's 11
total points in Saturday's 5-2 victory.
The solid effort from the second, third
and fourth lines combined with the
spectacular performance of the Wolver-
ines' top line sent Michigan out of the
series with two wins - and sent Miami
searching for answers.
"They're quality players and you have
to pay special attention to them, and
when you don't they make you pay," said
Miami coach Enrico Blasi of-Michigan's
first line. "I think they played extremely
well, all four lines - we weren't up for
the challenge."
It was during the latter stages of the
first period on Saturday night that Cam-
malleri, Nystrom and Ortmeyer truly
came to life.
After Michigan defenseman Nick
Martens and Miami forward Chris
Knupp were each given two-minute
penalties with 2:06 to go, Michigan
received a 4-on-3 powerplay when for-
ward Mike Kompon was called for
hooking.
With the first line trio joined on th
ice by forward John Shouneyia, it took
Michigan less than a minute to record a
goal.
From there, the RedHawks were on
their heels.
Nystrom finished the game with four
points (two goals, two assists), while
Cammalleri recorded three points (two
goals, one assist) and Ortmeyer tallied
three assists.
"We just wanted to work hard," Ort-
meyer said. "It paid off with a couple of
goals - we just wanted to set the tone
for the whole game."
Said Nystrom: "Just lately - last
weekend against Ferris and this week
end - we've really been clicking. I
think that since we've been put togeth.
er, we've been doing a pretty good job
and complement each other."
Cammalleri has led the way all yea
for the Wolverines and has now totalec
24 points inmjust 17 games.
"He's an unbelievable player," saic
Nystrom. "Anytime he has the puck,
he's a threat - it's just God-given skill
that he has, and he uses it great."
I
.t
I
b
By the numbers
5. The length of Michigan's current winning streak, its longest of the season.
4. The number of goals that Michigan's first line (Mike Cammalleri, Eric
Nystrom and Jed Ortmeyer) scored in Saturday's win.
3. The number of shorthanded goals Michigan has this season, after Nys-
trom tallied one on Saturday night to put the Wolverines ahead 2-0.
2. The position Michigan now holds sole possession of in the CCHA stand-
ings, three points behind first-place Michigan State.
1. The number of career goals defenseman Andy Burnes has as a Wolverine
after notching one with 15:08 left in the second period on Friday night.
a
MICHIGAN LEADERS *
CCHA STANDINGS
CCHA LEADERS
COMJ4A DR nlI NTI TTY
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