The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 10, 2001- 9B
Komsarek and Helinen gain
confidence with National Team
By Steve Jackson
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan hockey players Mike
Komisarek and Dwight Helminen
gained at least one thing from their
experience with the U.S. Junior
National Team at the Summer Chal-
lenge - confidence.
As part of the team's off-ice bond-
ing, Komisarek took the squad to a 55-
foot cliff near Whiteface Mountain in
New York.
"It's pretty scary," Komisarek said.
"You have to gather up all your
courage and take that step - and the
next thing you know you are in the
water screaming. It's a rush."
In addition to the cliff, the players
were also given a chance to build up
some confidence during a four-game
series against Finland's Junior Nation-
al Team.
The two teams split the series 2-2.
The U.S. won the first two games easi-
ly, 6-1 and 4-1. But Finland pulled it
together after that.- winning game
three handily by the score of 7-3.
The Fins took the final game 3-2 in
a shootout.
"It's great to go against the top play-
ers in the world," Komisarek said. "It's
kind of a measuring stick for us. (Play-
ing those games) is great for our confi-
W dence heading into this season."
The experience should prove espe-
cially helpful for Helminen. The
incoming freshman scored one of
Team USA's shootout goals in game
four after garnering an assist earlier in
the game.
"I've been in a lot of shoot-outs, so I
wasn't too nervous for that one,"
Helminen said. "I had one just like that
in Finland during the World (Under-
18) Championships."
When his turn came, Helminen did-
n't have any idea what move he would
use to score.
"I was just thinking 'shoot.' "
Playing a four-game series is a
ORTMEYER
Continued from Page 1B
port.
"We just have to make them feel like they're part of the
team, and make sure that they know what they need to do,"
Ortmeyer said. "Just encourage them, and help them out with
any problems they have, so they feel comfortable on the ice."
The Michigan freshmen showed their enthusiasm by
singing a rousing rendition of "Hail to the Victors" at center
court.
Ortmeyer, who played in 27 games last season, tallied 21
points on 10 goals and 11 assists. Michigan missed his leader-
ship, work ethic and physical style of play, especially in its
late season games against Michigan State - one of the top
defensive teams in the country.
Not only is Ortmeyer eager to hit the ice again this fall, but
his ACL is currently 100-percent recovered.
"Ortmeyer is a good example of what a Michigan captain
should be," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "His work
ethic on the ice is exceptional, and the players are going to see
that every day. He's always been a team player. The team will
come first, and that's obviously important in a good leader."
Michigan normally names its captain early in the summer
through a team vote..But this year's decision was made by
Berenson and the coaching staff.
"Because of the loss of key players (Andy Hilbert and Jeff
Jillson) this summer and the timing of everything, we haven't
really had a chance to get the team back together for a vote of
this importance," Berenson said.
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson and his coaching staff
announced captains for the 2001-02 campaign on Friday:
CAPTAIN: JED ORTMEYER, JR. FORWARD
Ortmeyer missed most of the second half of last season with
a torn ACL. But that didn't stop him from scoring a career-
high 21 points in the season's first 27 games.
During his two seasons with the Wolverines, the Omaha,
Neb. native has tallied 45 points in 65 games.
ALTERNATE CAPTAIN: JAY VANCIK, SR. DEFENSEMAN
Vancik, a three-year letterwinner, has four goals and 13
assists in 103 career games on the blue line for the Wolver-
ines. Last season he posted a personal-best nine points on
one goal and eight assists.
ALTERNATE CAPTAIN: MIKE CAMMALLERI, JR. FORWARD
Cammalleri is the Wolverines' top returning scorer from last
year. He posted 29 goals and 32 assists for 61 points en
route to first team All-CCHA and second team All-American
selections.
ALTERNATE CAPTAIN: JOHN SHOUNEYIA, JR. FORWARD
Shouneyia was one of only five players to skate in all 45
games for Michigan last year. He has tallied 15 goals and 44
assists during his 82 games as a Wolverine.
BRENDANO0'DONNELL/Daily
Mike Komisarek was one of six returning players on the U.S. Junior Natioal Team
that competed against Finland at the Summer Challenge in New York.
unique and interesting experience for
the players; as the college hockey sea-
son is made up of just two-game
series.
"There's definitely a hate there,"
Komisarek said. "You see the same
guys, the same faces. You learn to hate
them."
As one of only six returning players
from last year's Junior National Team
that traveled to Russia, Komisarek was
recognized by his teammates as a
leader.
"He was one of the guys we looked
to," Helminen said. "He'd show us the
ropes."
Both Michigan representatives hope
to continue their international experi-
ence when the Junior National team
travels to Prague, Czech Republic for
the World Championships.
"The Summer Challenge was kind
of like a tryout for us," Helminen said.
The final roster will be selected in
early December. The U.S. will have
representatives following the progress
and play of all the candidates during
the upcoming season.
"We basically just concentrate on
what we have to do here (at Michi-
gan)," Komisarek said. "Then if we
make the team they give us a call, we
take our exams early and we're off."
When and if that call comes, both
players will be eager to go.
"Anytime you put on that U.S.
sweater, it's a tremendous feeling,"
Komisarek said. "You get a rush going
through your body. There are thou-
sands of kids that would love to wear
that jersey. You need to play hard for
them and your country."
ALYSSA WOOD/Daily
Last year, Mike Cammallerl scored more goals
(29) then any other Wolverine.
Bonds blasts three out of Coors
2001-2002
MICHIGAN HocKEY SCHEDULE
Sept. 28 Blue/White (Ex) 7:35 pm
Sept. 30 Queens (Ex) 2:05 p.m.
Oct. 6 Michigan State 7:05 p.m.
Oct. 9 US NTDP U-18 Team 7:35 p.m.
NEBRASKA-OMAHA. MAVERICK STAMPEDE
Oct.
Oct.
8:05
Oct.
Oct.
Oct.
Oct.;
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
12 Providence 5:05 p.m.
13 Minnesota-Duluth or-Nebraska-Omaha 5 or
p.m.
19 Western Michigan 7:05 p.m.
20 Western Michigan 7:35 p.m.
26 Northern Michigan 7:35 p.m.
27 Northern Michigan 7:35 p.m.
2 Alaska-Fairbanks 7:05 p.m.
3 Alaska-Fairbanks 7:05 p.m.
16 Nebraska-Omaha 7:05 p.m.
17 Nebraska-Omaha 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 11 Alaska Fairbanks 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 12 Alaska Fairbanks 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 19 Michigan State 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 25 Bowling Green 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 26 Bowling Green 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 31 Lake Superior State 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 2 Lake Superior State 7:35 p.m. (Detroit)
Feb. 8 Nebraska Omaha 7:35 p.m.
Feb. 9 Nebraska Omaha 7:35 p.m.
Feb. 16 Michigan State 7:35 p.m. (Detroit)
Feb. 22 Ohio State 7:35 p.m.
Feb. 23 Ohio State 7:35 p.m.
Mar. 1 Western Michigan 7:35 p.m.
Mar. 2 Western Michigan 7:35 p.m.
POSTSEASON
Mar. 8-10 CCHA First Round Series
Mar. 15-17 CCHA Championship (Detroit)
Mar. 22-23 NCAA West Regional (Ann Arbor)
Mar. 23-24 NCAA East Regional (Worcester, Mass.)
Apr. 6-8 NCAA Frozen Four (St. Paul, Minn.)
Home games in bold
2001-2002
Michigan Hockey Ticket
Information
STUDENT SEASON TICKETS:
Hockey season tickets go on sale today for $159 at the
Michigan Ticket office.
Tickets must be bought in person at the ticket office which
is open from 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m.
Ticket sales are closed this Wednesday at 5 p.m.
In order to enter the lottery for the "Cold War" game
against Michigan State in Spartan Stadium, you must apply
for season tickets.
DENVER (AP) - Barry Bonds
hit three home runs yesterday to
give him 63 for the season, passing
Roger Maris' once-magical mark
and moving him closer to Mark
McGwire's record.
Playing at Coors Field, Bonds
broke Maris' record of 61 for most
homers in a season by a left-handed
hitter.
Bonds has 18 games left to break
McGwire's record of 70 set in 1998.
After an off-day today, Bonds and
the San Francisco Giants begin a
series at Houston's homer-friendly
Enron Field.
Bonds hit No. 61 in the first
inning to match Maris' then-major
league record 61 homers for the
New York Yankees in 1961. Bonds
broke the mark with No. 62 in the
fifth.
Bonds added a three-run homer in
the 11th off Colorado reliever Todd
Belitz.
Bonds also became the fastest to
reach 62 homers, doing it in his
144th game.
Mark McGwire needed 145
games to reach 62 when he broke
Maris' record by hitting 70 homers
in 1998.
In the first, on a 1-I count, Bonds
launched a 488-foot solo shot off
Colorado's Scott Elarton. Bonds'
soaring drive struck a beer sign
beyond the center-field wall.
It was the third-longest homer in
Coors Field history, exceeded only
by a 496-foot shot by Mike Piazza
and a 493-footer by Larry Walker.
In the fifth, Bonds lined a 2-2
pitch from Elarton that just cleared
the right-field wall. .
Maris, whose record stood for 37
years, had been surpassed only by
McGwire and Sammy Sosa - both
right-handed hitters.
Bonds struck out looking in the
third. He had gone homerless on
Friday and Saturday.
Also in. yesterday's game, Rock-
ies manager Buddy Bell, hitting
coach Clint Hurdle and slugger
Larry Walker all were ejected by
home-plate umpire Rob Drake in a
four-pitch sequence.
Hurdle, who was ejected in the
third inning of Saturday's game for
arguing pitch calls made by Ted
Barrett, was tossed by Drake after
arguing a strike call with Walker at
the plate, a pitch that made the
count 2-1.
Hurdle and Bell both went to the
plate to argue.
When Walker, on a full count,
took a called third strike on a pitch
from San Francisco's Jason Schmidt
that appeared to be low, Walker
flipped his bat in frustration and was
ejected by Drake.
Bell again argued that call and he,
too, was tossed.
Bell returned to the dugout and
angrily threw his clipboard onto the
field, the papers scattering.
The next batter, Todd Helton, also
took a called third strike and argued
briefly with Drake but was not
ejected.
~1
REC
SPORTS
INTRAMURALS
COLLEGE HOCKEY SHOWCASE
Nov. 23 Minnesota 7:35 p.m.
Nov. 24 Wisconsin 8:05 p.m.
The University of Michigan
Department of Recreational Sports
INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM
WHAT'S
HAPPENING
Nov.:
Dec.
Dec.'
Dec.
Dec.
30 Ferris State 7:35 p.m.
1 Ferris State 7:35 p.m.
7 Miami (Ohio) 7:35 p.m.
8 Miami (Ohio) 7:35 p.m.
15 Harvard 7:35 p.m.
1 IM
37TH ANNUAL GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL
Dec..
Dec.
28 North Dakota 4:05 p.m.+
29 Michigan Tech or MSU
(Detroit)
(Detroit)
Jan. 4 Notre Dame 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 5 Notre Dame 7:05 p.m.
0'
BROOMBALL
(Frat, GFS, RH, IND Men)
ENTRIES TAKEN:
Today - Monday 9/10 ONLY
11:00 AM to 5:30PM, IMSB
ENTRY FEE:
$78 per team
MANAGER'S MEETING:
MANDATORY
Weds 9/12, 8:00 PM, IMSB
PLAY BEGINS:
Thurs 9/13, Yost Ice Arena
3-on-3
BASKETBALL
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ENTRIES TAKEN:
Today - Monday 9/10 ONLY
11:00 AM to 5:30 PM, IMSB
'ENTRY FEE:
$50 per team
MANAGER'S MEETING:
MANDATORY
Weds 9/12, 7:15 PM, IMSB
PLAY BEGINS:
Thurs 9/13, IMSB
__________________________________________'
SOCCER
TEAM TENNIS
('II
ENTRIES TAKEN:
Today - Monday 9/10 ONLY
11:00 AM to 5:30 PM, IMSB
ENTRY FEE:
$78 per team
MANAGER'S MEETING:
MANDATORY
Weds 9/12, 6:00 PM, IMSB
PLAY BEGINS:
Thurs 9/13
Mitchell Fields
ENTRIES DU
Thurs 9/13, 4:3
ENTRY FEE:
$25 per team
MANAGER'S
MANDATOR
Thurs 9/13, 6:3
TOURNAME
E:
30 PM, IMSB
MEETING:
Y
0 PM, IMSB
NT DATES:
Fri, Sat & Sun 9/14, 15 & 16
UM Varsity Tennis Center
Located on South State Street
_______________________________________________________________________________ II
The entry deadline for the TENNIS SINGLES & DOUBLES TOURNAMENT
and the SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT is 4:30pm Wednesday September 26.
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