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4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 17, 2003

Chatting into the boards
"We're not feeling like we're the
conquering heroes exactly."
- Michigan coach Red Berenson on
escaping with a 4-3 win Saturday. The
Wolverines led 4-1 with 1:20 remaining but
gave up two goals late before holding on.

FRIDAY'S GAME
Bowling Green 1
Michigan 3

SATURDAY'S GAME
Bowling Green 3
Michigan 4

Key play
18:40 of the third period
- No one would have thought it at the
time. But sophomore Dwight Helminen's
empty net goal from the red line with
1:20 remaining wound up being the
game-winner for the Wolverines.


FRIDAY'S GAME
Michigan 3, Bowling Green :1

Week off does not hamper
Gajc against the Falcons

Bowling Green
M- n

1 0 0
0 2 1

- 1
- 3

First period - 1, BGSU, Mike Falk 11 (Chris Pedota,
D'Arcy McConvey) 12:01. Penalties - Eric Nystrom,
MICH (interference) 1:03; Ben Assenmacher, BGSU
(goaltender interference) 8:58; Nick Martens, MICH
(elbowing) 9:43; Taylor Christie, BGSU (obstruction-
hooking) 12:59. Second period - 2, MICH, John
Shouneyia 7 (Jeff Tambellini, Brandon Rogers) 0:56
(pp), 3, MICH, Jed Ortmeyer 13 (Jeff Tambellini,
John Shouneyia) 8:13. Penalties - Mike Falk,
BGSU (obstruction-hooking) 0:13; Brandon Rogers,
MICH (cross-checking) 1:38; Kevin Bieksa, BGSU
(tripping) 2:25; Kevin Bieksa, BGSU (obstruction-
holding) 11:00; Alex Rogosheske, BGSUJ (contact
with goalie) 12:11; Jeff Tambellini, MICH (cross-
checking) 12:11; Alex Rogosheske, BGSU (rough-
ing) 12:11; Andy Burnes, MICH (cross-checking)
14:45. Third period -4, MICH, Dwight Helminen 12
(Andy Burnes, Jeff Tambellini) 3:07. Penalties -
Nick Martens, MICH (cross-checking) 4:25; Brett
Pilkington, BGSU (cross-checking) 8:55; Brandson
Rogers, MICH (hit after whistle) 13:32; Mark Wires,
BGSU (slashing) 13:32; Ryan Barnett, BGSU (rough-
ing) 16:16; Eric Nystrom, MICH (roughing) 16:16;
Erik Eaton, BGSU (slashing) 16:16; Andy Burnes,
MICH (cross-checking) 16:16; Brett Pilkington,
BGSU (slashing) 19:40; Nick Martens, MICH (hit
after whistle) 19:40. Shots on Goal: BGSUJ 7-8&10 25;
MICH 9-19-12 40. Power plays: BGSU 0 of 5, MICH 1 of
7. Penalties: BGSU 12 (24 min); MICH 10(20 min).
Saves - BGSU, Jordan Sigalet 6-12-2 -37, MICH,
Al Montoya (25-9-3) - 24. Referee: Mark Wilkins.
At: Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor. Attendance: 6,749.
SATURDAY'S GAME
Michigan 4, Bowling Green 3

By Bob Hunt
Daily Sports Writer
Whether he has wanted it or not, Milan Gaijc
has always been visible around the Michigan
hockey camp this season. Saturday night was no
different, but this time it was for the right reasons.
For the most part, anyway.
After Michigan coach Red Berenson scratched
the sophomore forward for both
games against Ohio State last
weekend, Gaijc showcased his'
talents as he scored a goal and
added an assist in the first period
of the Wolverines' sweep over
Bowling Green. While on the
powerplay, he took a pass from Andrew Ebbett in
front of the net and beat Falcons goaltender Tyler
Masters down low. Then, two minutes later, he
helped set up Moss' goal to give Michigan a 3-1
lead going into the first intermission. Gaijc also
had a few other solid shifts playing on a line with
Moss and Jason Ryznar, creating some chances
while crashing the net.
A two-point game for most players would draw
praise from Berenson, but Gaijc - who has been
in Berenson's doghouse ever since he was sus-
pended for academic reasons in November -
didn't have much to offer.
"Well, he had a couple of good shifts," Beren-
son said. "I can't tell you I liked his game, but he
did what he can do. That's the dilemma with
Milan Gaijc. It's, 'What are you going to get night
after night?' He doesn't give enough of an honest
game, and once in awhile he'll make that real nice
play."
The sophomore's season has had a number of
highs and lows. The British Columbia native
scored twice in Michigan's comeback over Ferris
State on Jan. 31 but Berenson has had little praise
for him in interviews after practice ever since.
But Gaijc has maintained the same attitude
throughout, reiterating that he is here for the team.
"I'm just go out and work," Gaijc said. "If I
play, I play. If I don't, I don't. I care that I'm not

playing, but as long as we keep on winning, the
team comes first."
FULL BLAST: After Merrimack goaltender Joe
Exter was sent to the hospital due to a horrific col-
lision with Boston College's Patrick Eaves, the
awareness for protecting goaltenders hasn't been
higher. So when Al Montoya laid on the ice after
receiving a full-blown body check from Bowling
Green forward Alex Rogosheske on Friday, every-
one was driven into a frenzy.
The play resulted in Rogosheske receiving
penalties for charging the goaltender and roughing
while Tambellini was handed a cross-checking
minor. Tambellini admitted that he actually pushed
Rogosheske into Montoya, but Berenson felt that
the collision was avoidable and that the penalty
given out "could have been more severe."
As Rogosheske raced down the left side, Jeff
Tambellini tried to push him away from the net.
But Tambellini pushed Rogosheske right at the
goaltender,'leaving him on the ground for a few
minutes.
"That's got to be something that the coaches,
referees and players all understand is that's what
we're trying to get out of the game," Berenson
said. "If contact is avoidable, you have to get out
of there. The referees have a lot of flexibility in the
rulebook to call that. We're telling our players,
'Stay away from the goalies.' I don't know if all
other players are understanding that."
Montoya, however, did not have to leave the
game and finished the remainder of the weekend
strong stopping 52 of 55 shots. The 18-year-old
remained a target as he has all season, but he has
been able to shake off the reputation he came to
Michigan with as someone who would retaliate
after such punishment.
"At the beginning of the season, to tell you the
truth, I would have," Montoya said. "But I've
learned it's really not going to get you anywhere
and it just going to make the teams keep coming
after me and hit me more."
GOIN' DANCIN': The Wolverines are a virtual
lock for the NCAA Tournament after winning this
weekend's series. While Michigan would have

9I

Bowling Green
Mkchlgan

1 0 2
3 0 1

- 3
-4

First period -1, MICH, Jed Ortmeyer 14 (John
Shouneya, Brandon Rogers) 5:01 (pp); 2, BGU,
Brett Pilkington6 (Tyler Knight, Mark Wires) 7:08;
3, MICH, Milan Gajic 10 (Andrew Ebbett, Brandson
Rogers) 16:45 (pp); 4, MICH, David Moss 14 (Milan
Gajic, Jason Ryznar 18:57. Penalties -ed Ortmey-
er, MICH (charging the goalie) 0:32; Ben Assen-
macher, BGSU (checking from behind) 3:25; Ryan
Barnett, BGSU (obstruction-hooking) 8:15; Jason
Ryznar, MICH (roughing) 12:24; Alex Rogosheske,
BGSU (holding the stick) 12:24; Chris Pedota, BGSU
(cross-checking) 15:09; Michael Woodford, MICH
(hit after whistle) 20:00; Kevin Bieksa, BGSU (hit
after whistle) 20:00; D'Arcy McConvey, BGSU
(boarding) 20:00. Second period - Penalties -
Andy Burnes, MICH (interference) 9:33; Brandon
Piersol, BGSU (diving) 12:29; Andy Burnes, MICH
(cross-checking) 15:33. Third period- 5, MICH,
Dwight Helminen 13 (Mark Mink) 18:40 (empty
net); 6, BGSU, Ryan Barnett 4 (Kevin Bieksa)
18:51; 7, BGSU, Tyler Knight 12 (Don Morrison,
Kevin Bieksa) 19:47. Penalties - Tyler Knight,
BGSU, Tyler Knight, BGSU (interference) 3:33;
Michael Woodford, MICH (interference) 6:47; John
Shouneyia, MICH (roughing) 13:11; Kevin Bieksa,
BGSU (high-sticking) 13:11. Shots on Goal: BGSU 6-&
17 31; MICH 16713 36. Poer plays: BGUJ 0 of 4;
MICH 2 of 6. Saves- BGSU, Tyler Masters (2-13-1)
-32; MICH, Al Montoya (26-9-3) -28. Referee:
Mark Wilkins. At: Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor.
Attendance: 6,811.
HOW THEY FARED
No.1IColorado College (28-5-5) def.
Alaska-Ancorage 5-3, def. Alaska-Anchor-
age 4-1.
No. 2 Cornell (26-4-1) def. Rensselaer 3-
2, def. Rensselaer 4-0.
No.a3 New Hampshire (25B7) def.
Massachusetts 54, def. No. 8 Boston
University 1-0.
No. 4 Ferris State (29-8-1) def. Lake
Superior 6-1, def. Lake Superior 6-1.
No. 5 Boston College (23-10-4) lost to
No. 8 Boston University 6-5.
No. 6 Minnesota (22-8-9) def. Michigan
Tech 31, def. Michigan Tech 5-2.
No. 7 Michgan (26-9-3) def. Bowling
Green 3-1, def. Bowling Green 4-3.
No. 8 Boston University (24-13-3) def.
No. 5 Boston College 6-5, lost to No. 3
New Hampshire 1-0.
No. 9 Maine (18410) did not play.
No. 10 Minnesota State-Mankato (23-
12-3) def. Wisconsin 2-1, lost to Wiscon-
sin 6-5.
No. 11 North Dakota (25-10-5) lost to
No. 14 Denver 4-1, def. Denver 3-2.
No. 12 Harvard (2142) def. Vermont 4-2,
def. Vermont 51.
No. 13 Oho State (24-10-5) def. Nebras-
ka-Omaha 4-1, def. Nebraska-Omaha 3-1.
No. 14 Denver (21-13-6) def. No. 11
North Dakota 4-1, lost to North Dakota
3-2.
No. 15 Michigan State (23-13-2) def.
Alaska-Fairbanks 11-1, def. Alaska-Fair-
banks 3-1.
CCHA ROUNDUP
Friday's famnes:
FERRIS STATE 6, Lake Superior 1
MlcbuoAN 3, Bowling Green 1
MICHIGAN STATE 11, Alaska-Fairbanks 
OHIO STATE 4, Nebraska-Omaha 1
NORTHERN MICHIGAN 8, Western Michigan 3
MIAMI 4, Notre Dame 2
Saturdf's games:
FERRIS STATE 6, Lake Superior 1
MlcIt N 4, Bowling Green 3
MICHIGAN STATE 3, Alaska-Fairbanks 1
OHIO STATE 3, NebraskaOmaha 1
NORTHERN MICHIGAN 6, Western Michigan 4
Notre Dame 1, MIAMI 0
Yesterday's anm s
Notre Dame 5, MIAMI 0
TOURNmANT ROUNDUP
Hodcey East
SEM NALS:
Boston University 6, Boston College, 2 OT
New Hampshire 5, Massachusetts 4
Fnws:
New Hampshire 1, Boston University 0
CHA
FIRST ROUND:
Wayne State 4, Air Force 2

DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
After spending a week as a healthy scratch, sophomore Milan Gajic returned to form on Saturday night with
a goal and an assist in Michigan's 4-3 win over Bowling Green.

likely made the 16-team field even if it had not
advanced to the Super Six, it now stands to receive
a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the Midwest Regional at
Yost Ice Arena in two weeks. As of Saturday's
games, the Wolverines are tied for ninth in the
Pairwise Rankings, which mimics the NCAA
selection process by comparing all teams with a,

Ratings Percentage Index above .500. If Michigan
won the CCHA Tournament, it would likely be
ranked in the Pairwise top eight and would receive
a two seed. Otherwise, Michigan stands to be
seeded third, meaning that it would have to upset
two teams on consecutive days to advance to the
Frozen Four.

'Sea-son's o-ver

'C

KYLE O'NEILL
The Daily Janitor
( (Sea-son's o-ver! Sea-son's o-
ver! Sea-son's o-ver!" That
chant reigned from Yost Ice
Arena with exactly two minutes to
play and with Michigan up 3-1 over
the soon-to-be eliminated-from-the-
postseason Bowling Green. In fact,
with Bowling Green's "season over"
and all, many fans left Yost feeling
pretty good about their Wolverines.
A friend of mine was so confident
that he even left before Michigan
had added an empty-netter to solidi-
fy its lead.
It's funny, that the fans believed
the Falcons' season was over but
the game would be far from it.
Bowling Green coach Scott
Paluch, in his first postseason as a
head coach, calmly gathered his
team after Michigan's fourth tally
and reminded them of one thing.
"There's still time on the clock,"
Paluch said. "We wanted to set up
an opportunity. We wanted (Ryan
Barnett, Ryan Minnabarriet and
Alex Rogosheske) to go out there
and get a scoring chance, so we
could get our 6-on-5 plays ready."
Eleven seconds later - before
the remaining Michigan fans could
finish their traditional "goal count"
chant and before Bowling Green
could pull goalie Tyler Masters for
a second time - the Falcons' Bar-
nett had already received a rebound
off a Kevin Bieksa shot and put it
by Michigan goaltender Al Mon-
toya with 1:09 to play.
"They did better than a scoring
chance, they put it in the net,"
Paluch said of scoring at even-
strength.
Season's over?
Fifty-six seconds later, after
pulling Masters for the second time,
senior alternate captain Tyler
Knight hit a floater through traffic
and above the left arm of Montoya.
Ummm ... Michigan fans? You

there? Season's what?
All of a sudden, this bunch of
Falcons, who managed just eight
wins all season, began to embody
the winning tradition that Paluch
had played with when he was a Fal-
con from 1984-88. Heck, they
looked like Michael Vick of the
Atlanta Falcons with the way they
were avoiding hits and scoring in
the final 69 seconds.
But, like Vick in the playoffs this
year, a more talented squad ulti-
mately denied their dream run.
And Michigan fans breathed a
sigh of relief that Bowling Green's
season was actually over, even
though there was debate over how
much time was left on the clock
after Bowling Green made it 4-3.
That sigh of relief is going to have
to be a wake-up call for the most
inconsistent third-period team in the
CCHA. One night Michigan is blow-
ing a three-goal lead in the final min-
utes to Western Michigan, the next it's
using the last frame to nearly stage an
improbable comeback against league-
juggernaut Ferris State.
Will the real Wolverines please
stand up?
"When the (regular) season ended
last Saturday, we knew the chal-
lenge we had coming in (to Yost),"
Paluch said. "We were looking at
(the series) as an opportunity to do
something special, beat a good team
and move on to the Joe."
It's obvious that Michigan was
unaware of the challenge that was
going to be before it. This was a
Bowling Green team that would
give anything to reach Joe Louis.
Michigan, in those final minutes,
looked as if it had already booked
hotel rooms at Detroit's Marriott
Renaissance Center.
This is the same group of
Wolverines that saw numerous
third-period goals, both for and
against them, the week before in
Columbus. Yet they just let Bowling
Green dictate play as if the final
minute was meaningless.
"As long as there is time left,
we're going to keep going," Paluch
said. "We were a few loose pucks
away from tying that game."
Michigan needs to realize, and
fast, that teams that are more talent-
ed than Bowling Green - North

Hardly
Dakota, Boston University, Notre
Dame, Western Michigan and Ohio
State, to name a few - have been
using the third period to their
advantage over the Wolverines for
most of the season.
The Wolverines have yet to win a
game when down at the beginning
of the final frame, and opponents
have outscored Michigan in the
third 42-40.
Season's over?
For the Falcons, yes.
And if the Wolverines can't find
a way to dominate the third period
the way they do the other two,
their "Sea-son's o-ver!" will be
coming much sooner than desired
as well.
- Hearing "Season's over!" already
has Kyle excitedfor the Detroit
Tigers' Opening Day. If you're excit-
ed too, please contact him at
kylero@umich.edu.

FALCONS
Continued from Page 1B
Gaj ic in front of the net for another
powerplay goal. Gajic's 10th tally of
the season put the Wolverines up 2-1.
Sophomore David Moss capped
off the first with a pretty shot
through traffic and behind screened
Bowling Green goalie Tyler Masters.
"Tonight, first period, we looked
like a hockey team," Gajic said. "We
were working together, getting it
deep, working hard."
In total, the Wolverines outshot the
Falcons 16-6 in the first period. They
were also 2-for-3 on the powerplay.
But that's where the dominance
stopped. Bowling Green outshot the
Wolverines 8-7 in the second period.
Even though neither team managed
a goal, it was clear that the Falcons
had started to seize momentum.
"In the second period, we did
back them off a little bit, and we
were able to get on some loose
pucks and create a little bit of
offense," Paluch said.
But it looked like all the effort
would go to waste when Michigan

speedster Dwight Helminen wristed
the puck from the redline into an
empty Bowling Green net with 1:20
remaining in the game. Michigan
was up 4-1 and could seemingly
cruise into Joe Louis Arena for next
weekend's CCHA Super Six.
Seconds off the faceoff, though,
Bowling Green freshman Ryan Bar-
nett found a seam and a rebound
goal to make it 4-2.
Then with Masters pulled in favor
of an extra attacker, senior forward
Tyler Knight wristed the puck softly
over the extended arm of Montoya
for a one-goal deficit.
With 12 seconds remaining, the
Yost crowd held its collective
breath. The Falcons were able to
push the puck back into the Wolver-
ines end, but there wasn't enough
time left for them to make anything
happen.
"In the third period, we were try-
ing to play good defense, but they
really put some pressure on us,"
Michigan coach Red Berenson said.
"They had some confidence. They
had nothing to lose. This is their last
game and they played like it."

Showtime a
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1NOVN 4:O P.M.
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0


Jiiree stars ofthie weekend

11

Jed Ortmeyer
Senior/forward

2

John Shouneyia
Senior/center

,

Milan Gajic
Sophomore/forward


I