4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - October 22, 2001 q Slap shouts "Nothing." - Michigan junior forward and alternate captain John Shouneyia as sophomore defenseman Mike Komisarek was addressing what was going on with the Wolverines on the powerplay. FRIDAY'S GAME Michigan 1 Western Michigan 3 7ry. SATURDAY'S GAME Western Michigan 3 .Michigan 5 Key play Saturday, 3:30 left in second In his first home game after being sidelined with a broken hand, junior Mark Mink slid a pass to linemate John Shouneyia who scored, giving Michigan a 4-2 lead. THE DAILY'S STARS The Michigan Daily hockey writers' picks for Michigan's three stars of the weekend. Mike Komisarek Defenseman Komisarek set a career high in goals and points with two and three, respec- tively, in Michigan's 5-3 win over the Broncos Saturday night. Jay Vancik Defenseman Although Vancik's contributions didn't show up on the scorecard, he was a steadying influence in the Wolverines' defensive zone. John Shouneyia enter Shouneyia recorded three points on the weekend, including Michigan's fourth goal Saturday night, its eventual game- winner. M' SCHEDULE This week: Friday vs. Northern Michigan Saturday vs. Northern Michigan Friday: at Yost Ice Arena, 7:35 p.m. Saturday: at Yost Ice Arena, 7:35 p.m. Michigan fans will get their first full taste of hockey asMichigan hosts its first weekend homestand of the season. The Wolverines split their home series with the Wildcats last year, finishing 2-1-1 overall. HoW THEY FARED No.1 Michigan State (3-0-1) def. Ferris State 2-0. No. 2 North Dakota (3-2-0) def. Maine 3-2, lost to Maine 5-1. No. 3 Minnesota (3-0-0) def. Bemidji State 7-2, def. Bemidji State 7-1. No. 4 St. Cloud (4-0-0) def. Michigan Tech 7-2, def. Michigan Tech7-3. No. 5 Michigan (2-21) lost to Western Michigan 3-1, def. Western Michigan 5-3. No. 6 New Hampshire (2-1-0) def. Merri- mack 6-3, lost to Rensselaer 6-4. No. 7 Colorado College (2-2-0) def. Mass- achusetts 3-0, def. Massachusetts 7-1. No. 8 Denver (2-0-0) did not play. No. 9 Maine (2-2-0) lost to North Dako- ta 3-2, def. North Dakota 5-1. No. 10 Minnesota-Duluth (2-2-0) lost to Minnesota State-Mankato 6-5, lost to Minnesota State-Mankato 4-3. FRIDAY'S GAME Westemn Mich'lgan 3, Michigam 21 Second lifn( By Seth Klempner Daily Sports Writer Mark Mink and John Shouneyia usually come as a packaged deal. Whenever one's name is on the scoring sheet, the other's usually appears right next to it. But Mink had been sidelined with a broken hand for the first three games of the season, leaving sophomore Joe Kautz on Shouneyia's left side. This weekend was the first time that the two have played together this season. On the other side of Shouneyia, fresh- men Mike Woodford and Milan Gajic have split time. The line accounted for two goals and was on the ice for four of Michi- gan's six goals this weekend. It appeared that Shouneyia and Second coming This weekend the Michigan hockey team's second line came up big, provid- ing scoring in place of the first line. In the two games against Western Michi- gan the second line tallied two goals and accounted for seven points. Here is the breakdown: John Shouneyia - center Two games, one goal, two assists Mark Mink - left wing Two games, two assists, plus-four Michael Woodford - right wing One game, one assist Milan Gajic - right wing One game, one assist, minus-one e produces Mink were back in sync five minutes into the first period Friday night. On an up-ice rush, Shouneyia made a no- look drop pass to a trailing Mink who then took a hard wrist shot from inside the right circle that was saved. "It is going to take (Mink) a while," Berenson said. "You don't just come back and lead the team. But he has got to be the steady player that we expect him to be, and he has got to make his chances count. He gives us a little experience and a little more depth than we had two weeks ago." In Saturday's game, the line made its chances count when Shouneyia slammed home the game-winning goal. After winning the faceoff, Mink took a pass from the corner against three defenders and created an odd- man rush. The moment before West- ern Michigan could steal the puck, Mink made a seemingly improbable backhand pass to a wide-open Shouneyia in the slot who put it away. "I came out of the corner with two or three guys on me. I saw him out of the corner of my eye and as soon as I swung around, I saw that he was still open so I threw it right to him," Mink said. Mink, typically the scorer of the duo, had two assists on the night. After the game he joked that he and Shouneyia were going to "switch around this year," referring to Shouneyia's tendency to set Mink up for goals. In addition, right-winger, Gajic needed lift picked up an assist on Mike Komis- arek's first goal of the game while Shouneyia and Mink both assisted on Komisarek's second goal. "You are going to see a lot of teams keying on Mike Cammalleri," said Brian Wiseman, former Michigan captain and currently its Administra- tive Assistant. "Teams that think if they stop Cammalleri or his line they have a chance to beat us, so our sec- ond third and fourth line have to be able to step up when the chance counts and bury it." Woodford completed the line as the third forward until he suffered a shoulder injury during Friday night's game against Western Michigan. In his place Berenson inserted Gajic who had been a healthy scratch in Fri- day's game. While Gajic played better Saturday than in previous starts, according to Wiseman, he has not secured his spot on the second line with Saturday's improved play. Adding to the production of the line has been the play of freshmen Eric Nystrom who has been paired up with Mink and Shouneyia on the powerplay. The move paid off when Nystrom scored Michigan's only goal on Friday on a feed down low from Shouneyia. "Shouneyia is the type of guy that is going to find open guys," Wiseman said. "You need guys that can create space for him and find those open holes for him and he can fill them." oi Blue defenseman goes on offensive KOM ISAREK Continued from Page 1B son, when he only netted four goals on 55 shots. "Komisarek got some powerplay time last year, and he played a lot with Jeff Jillson," Berenson said. "I think he's capable of being one of the top defensemen in this league. "He can add some offense, but he's got to be a smart and physical defensive presence."' Komisarek's first goal of the evening came on an assist by freshman forward Milan Gajic, who shot the puck at Western Michigan goalie Mike Mantua. The puck rebounded out at the point to Komisarek, who fired a wrist shot top shelf to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead. Komisarek struck again in the second period with the Wolverines leading 2-1. Just as the Michigan powerplay ended, he shot from the point, but the shot was blocked by the Western Michigan defenseman. Then Komisarek corralled the ricochet off of the defender, sidestepped him, and sent the puck top shelf for his second goal of the evening. "That's where we haven't been capitalizing - on our powerplay," Berenson said. "He's got a rocket of a wrist shot. It's just a matter of getting it through. What we're asking him to do is buy some space, because he can shoot it." More offensive outbursts from Komisarek, Michi- gan's big, bruising defender, will give the Wolverines' powerplay a much-needed boost. But Berenson doesn't expect Komisarek to dominate games offensively every night. "We're not counting on him to lead our team in scor- DEBBIEMIZEL/Daily Although he was a bit rusty, Mark Mink played a strong game on Saturday night, recording an assist on John Shouneyia's goal In the second period. Woodford injured; Gajic takes By Steve Jackson Daily Sports Writer I Friday night Milan Gajic was dressed in a suit watching the Wolverines' 3-1 loss from the stands as a healthy scratch. But a shoulder injury to fellow freshman forward Michael Wood- ford bumped Gajic up to the start- ing lineup for Saturday's game. Gajic took advantage of his opportunity, assisting on the game's first goal. But there is still plenty of room for improvement in Gajic's game. "This is tough hockey, it's physi- cal hockey, it's intense hockey, it's hard-working hockey, it's two - way HOCKEY Michigan Western Michigan 1 0 0 -1 0 3 0 -3 First period - 1. UM, Nystrom 2 (Shouneyia, Woodford), 9:08. Penalties- wMU, Davies(obstructionhooking), :15; wMU, Kline(high sticking),4:12; UM, Ryznar(holding the stick), 4:38; WMU, Rumble (interference), 7:05; WMU, Cousineau (siashing), 8:28: UM, Rors(roughing after whis- tie), 11:25; UM, Rogers (obstructionhoiding), 13:34; WMU, Rose (boarding), 16:48; WMU, Rumble (10rminute miscon- duct),16:48. Second period -2. WMU, Latteryl (Jarmuth, Bishai), 5:23 (pp); 3. WMU, crane 1 (Campbei, Bishai), 4:13:4. WMU, Cousineau 2 (Davies, Bishai),19:32. Penalties - UM,Swis- tak (interference), 3:41; WMU, Mantua (slashing), 5:51; WMU, Drake (roughing), 13:27; UM, Burnes (roughing), 13:27; UM, Shouneya (boarding), 17:33; WMU, campbeii (tripping), 18:44. Thirdperiod-Penalties - UM, Roemensky(roughing), 4:17; UM, Komisarek (checking from behind, roughing after whistle), 6:17; WMU, Battaglia (hoiding), 11:09; UM, Ortmey- er (obstruction-tripping), 11:09;wMU, Dwyer(holding), 12:39. Shots on goal- UM, 9-510-24; WMU, 876 -21. PowerPlays-UM, of8; M oUof8. Saves - UM, Blackburn846-18; WMU, Miller &510 - 23. Referee-Steve Mcinchak Uinesmn- Butch Friedman, Kevin Langseth. At Lawson Ice Arena, Kalamazoo. Attendance: 3,869. SATURDAY'S GAME Michigan 5, Westem Michigan 3 hockey, and Notebook Western Michigan Michigan 1 1 1 -3 1 3 1-5 first pediod - 1. UM, Komisarek 1 (Gaiic), 8:08 2. WMU, Dwyer3(Lattery), 12:08. Penhes-UM, Mink (high stick- ing), 8:12;WMU, Dwyer (hooking), 8:26; WMU, Drake (hook- ing),11:50; UM, Helminen (hooking), 12:00;WMU, Lattery (roughing), 14:54; UM, Komisarek (delaying the game), 15:46. Second period -3. UM, Cammalleri 4 (Komisarek), 5:58; 4. WMU, Battaglia 1(Crane), 9:47;5. UM, Komisarek 2 (Shouneyia, Mink), 14;50; 6. UM, Shouneyia 2 (Mink,Nys trom)16:30. Perlalties- UM, Blackburn(high sticking), 1:44; UM, Vancik (roughing), 5:49; WMU, Davies(roughing), 5:49; UM,Varmik (roughing), 10:28; WMU, Kline (roughing), 10:28; WMU, Cousineau (obstruction-tripping),11:36; WMU, Crane (crosschecking), 12:48; UM, Komisarek (trip- ping), 17:40. Third period -7. WMU, Davies 1(Kline, Battaglia), 13:47; 8. UM, Ortmeyer 2(empty net), 19:31. PenaltIes- UM, Burns (high sticking), 3:49; WMU, Dwyer (elbowing),5:18; WMU, Rumble (boarding), 8:22; UM, Mink (roughing), 11:01; WMU, Cousineau (crosschecking),16:22. Shotsongoal-UM, 8144-26; WMU, 588-21. PowerPlays-UM,0of8; WMU,0of 7. Saves- UM, Blackburn 2-2-1-18; WMU, Mantua 2-1-0 - 21. Referee-Kevin Hall. Ulnesen -Craig Lisko, Paul Tunison. At Yost Ice Arena, Ann ArborAttendace 6,597. AROUND THE CCHA Michigan State still undefeated Michigan State (3-0-1, 3-0-1 CCHA) defeated Ferris State 2-0 Sat- DEBBIE MIZEL/Daily After struggling Friday night, Mike Komisarek scored two goals and an assist Saturday to establish a new career high. ing, but I want our defense to be able to help out on the offense," Berenson said. Komisarek isn't planning on changing his role on the team either. "My job out there is pretty simple," Komisarek said. "I get the puck and my number one priority is not get- ting it blocked. I just have to get it through, and get it to the net." BRONCOS Continued from Page 1B Broncos. Komisarek scored on a slapshot from the point just as a powerplay opportunity for Michigan had expired, and Shouneyia scored from the slot after receiving a pass from junior Mark Mink - who was making his home- ice debut after returning from a hand injury. "Cammalleri's four-on-four goal and Komisarek's goal at the end of the powerplay were huge because we were really stumbling at that point," Berenson said. "Komis- arek's got a rocket of a shot, it's just a matter of him get- ting it through." "My job out there is pretty simple," Komisarek said. "When I shoot, I just have to get it through and put it on net. The guys out front are taking all the punishment. "I think we're looking to develop chemistry on the powerplay right now. We're working with different guys and different combinations, so it will take some time. But usually, the team that scores powerplay goals will win the game." Although his team didn't get the sweep, Western Michigan coach Jim Culhane was proud of the effort put forth by his Broncos (2-2-0, 2-2-0). "I thought both team were evenly matched and they both played hard all weekend long," Culhane said. "We came within one shot of tying this thing before the empty netter made it 5-3. I'm very proud of the way my team played and I think they can hold their heads high." Western Michigan was able to pull out the 3-1 victory Friday night thanks to outstanding goaltending from Mantua and three assists by Bishai. Michigan will return to action this coming weekend as they host the Northern Michigan Wildcats. that's a big adjustment for some of these fresh- men who are used to playing in a much slower pace, more casual environment," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "Some of them have jumped right in and played with the kind of intensity we need and some are a'little slower to do that. (Gajic) has been a slow one." COUNT ON IT: Some things in life are certain. Death, taxes, and three goals for Michigan's opponents. In each of this season's five games the Wolverines' opponents have lit the lamp exactly three times. "I'm just not feeling on top of my. game," Michigan goalie Josh Black- burn said earlier in the week. "We're working on things right now and it'll come around." But Michigan's special teams woes (only 5 of the 15 goals allowed have come during 5-on-5 situations) have taken the majority of the blame for advantage the goals, and the team is still very much behind Blackburn. LACKING UP TOP: Almost two-thirds of the new box seats at Yost Ice Arena were empty on Saturday, and nearly 100 of those empty seats are still looking for owners. But things are looking brighter for the athletic department - 10 addi- tional seats were sold during the first intermission Saturday night. Despite the empty balcony seats, 6,597 fans packed Yost - more than any home game last season. MAN DOWN: Michigan may be with- out Mike Roemensky for quite a while. The junior defenseman went down in the second period after a freak play where Western Michigan's Lucas Drake got tangled up and fell on Roemensky's leg. The early diagnosis was a cracked fibia, but the team will not know his status until later in the week. GETTING CHIPPY This was a busy weekend for the scorekeepers. Dur- ing the two-game series, 40 penal- ties were called. "They called a really tight game tonight," Western Michigan coach Jim Culhane said on Friday. "But it was consistent. When they call the game like that, you just need to play a little smarter." A few brief scuffles broke out in the second period Saturday, prompt- ing the crowd to call for former- Michigan enforcer Bob Gassoff. "We want Gassoff! We want Gas- soff'!" the crowd chanted. FOR THE GIPPER: The 5-3 win against the Broncos was the 450th of Berenson's career. Only 14 other coaches have reached that mark. One of those men, Michigan State coach Ron Mason, also hit a mile- stone on Saturday. He reached win No. 900 after a 2-0 shutout of Ferris State. 0 Kalamazoo home cookin' Friday night's 3-1 loss to Western Michigan was a combination of Michigan's sloppy defensive play and the wild and crazy atmosphere at the Broncos' Lawson Ice Arena. Here are some examples of the eccentric atmosphere that the Wolverines dealt with: "PUcKBoY" - An eight-year-old boy dressed in a puck suit, Puckboy skates onto the ice in the middle of the second intermission and riles up the Bronco faithful by flailing his hands in the air. He moves from one side of the ice to the other and throws pucks to the fans who are the loudest and most enthu- siastic. "Hi ! You SucK!" - After each of Michigan's 10 penalties on Friday night, the guilty player was forced into the penalty box in the midst of the Western Michigan students. To welcome the Michigan player to the box, the fans greet him in unison with a good old fashioned "HI (PLAYER'S FIRST NAME)! YOU SUCK!" CURLING FOR CASH - During the first intermission, fans were invited to the ice to participate in a curling competition. Winner took home 101 dollars. ' MIYON OH/Daily' Senior defenseman Jay Vancik delivered a check to Western Michigan's Mike Bishai that led to a Michigan breakaway. 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