The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 11A
Helminen hurries
back to help Icers
Miami (Ohio) coaches
suspended after outbursts
By Dan Rosen
Daily Sports Writer
Fast-skating Dwight Helminen
returned to the ice yesterday for the
first time this week. And that may be
just in time for the
Wolverines. HOCKEY
A physical
Lake Superior Notebook
team arrives at
Yost Ice Arena for a two-game series
this weekend, and speed may be at a
premium for Michigan. The Wolver-
ines aren't as big as the Lakers, and
they may have to out-skate them to
create scoring chances.
Lake Superior has five players
that weigh 210 pounds or more,
while Michigan has just one (Jason
Ryznar) over 200. With Helminen
back and healthy, Michigan is much
more capable of evading some of the
Lakers' hits.
The sophomore center sat out the
first two days of practice this week
with a hyper-extended knee. He took
a low hip-check Saturday night
against Bowling Green and his knee
swelled up after the game.
The check was just one example of
the type of physical battle the two
CCHA rivals played. But facing that
style comes as no surprise to Michigan.
"Bowling Green has a small rink,
and that's what they try to do to any
team that comes in there that has a lot
of speed, is just get in front of guys
and take the body on them," Helmi-
nen said. "That's pretty much what
any team is going to do against us."
The Falcons were also not the first
team to play a rough game against the
Wolverines.
"We're a good team and a fast team
and that's the way people are going to
have to play against us," said forward
Jeff Tambellini. "It's something that
goes on and you've got to just get
used to it and play through it."
In Michigan's only loss of the sea-
son, a 5-4 overtime defeat at the
hands of North Dakota on Oct. 12,
the Fighting Sioux pounded away at
the Wolverines late in the game.
"I think that's the only way you
can beat Michigan," North Dakota
coach Dean Blais said of his team's
forceful approach to the game. "I
don't think you can try to go out and
skate with them. You have to hit them
and check them as well as they're
going to hit you."
Michigan coach Red Berenson
thinks that many of these teams don't
change their style just to play the
Wolverines.
"That's the way the league is and
that's the way these teams play,"
Berenson said. "They play each other
that way, it's not just against us. We
know that every week is going to be
physical hockey."
But Berenson knows that his
speedy players, Helminen included,
will be important in any game.
"If you have the speed, and you can
get from point A to B a little quicker
than someone, and you get position
on them, then that'll pay off," Beren-
son said. "If you don't, then it doesn't
matter how big or fast or small or
slow you are, you're not going to be
able to get there and take that posi-
tion. But in races for the puck, it's
always an advantage. Speed kills if
you use it right."
LOOKING BACK: Fans entering Yost
for this weekend's games will be
greeted by a little history. The hock-
ey program has covered the poles in
the entryway with five-foot tall pic-
tures of the great players from
Michigan's past.
"It's something we talked about
this fall and we finally got it done,"
Berenson said. "I think that it's real-
ly a nice addition. We wanted to
have it before the season started but
(now) we got it."
Former Hobey Baker Award win-
ner Brendan Morrison (Vancouver
Canucks), and NHL goalies Steve
Shields (Boston Bruins) and Marty
Turco (Dallas Stars) are among those
displayed.
"It was fun looking back and
selecting players," Berenson said.
"And we could select more. I mean,
we'll do more. We don't have imme-
diate plans, but what we've got, we're
happy with."
OXFORD, Ohio (AP) - Two
Miami University assistant football
coaches were suspended yesterday
after one was charged with assaulting
a fan and another acknowledged dam-
aging a coaches' box at Marshall.
Coach Terry Hoeppner apologized
yesterday, saying things got out of
control when fans rushed the field fol-
lowing Marshall's last-second 36-34
win over its conference rival.
"It's scary," said Hoeppner, who
hadn't slept following the bus ride
back from West Virginia. "I had more
police protection around me last night,
and that shouldn't be necessary. We've
lost a little bit of our perspective."
Defensive coordinator Jon Wauford
and linebackers coach Taver Johnson
were suspended with pay while the
southwest Ohio school investigates.
Wauford was led off the field in
handcuffs and charged with battery, a
misdemeanor, for allegedly shoving a
fan who ran on the field after the
game. Johnson acknowledged dam-
aging the visiting coaches' box,
Hoeppner said.
The post-game problems were
uncharacteristic for a school that prides
itself as the "Cradle of Coaches."
"I don't want to prejudge our inves-
tigation of the facts. But I have to tell
you, as president, to see one of my
coaches led away in handcuffs was
one of the most difficult things I've
seen since I've been here," school
president James Garland said in a
phone interview.
Interim athletic director Steve Sny-
der said Miami will pay to repair the
coaches' box. A shelf and chairs were
damaged, and holes were knocked in
the wall, Snyder said.
Wauford was released on $5,000
bond early yesterday morning and has
a court hearing Dec. 13. The fan,
Robert Flaugher, 36, was treated at a
hospital and released.
Flaugher was among thousands of
fans who stormed the field moments
after Marshall scored the winning
touchdown in the closing seconds.
West Virginia State Police said
Wauford shoved Flaugher, who fell
and struck his head on the field's
artificial turf.
"He was waving goodbye to
Miami's players - the coach basically
hit him with a forearm. That knocked
him flat. His head definitely hit first
on the turf. It was basically a sucker
punch," Todd Flaugher, the brother of
the attacked Robert, said.
TOM FELDKAMP/Daly
Michigan forward Dwight Helminen is healthy again, and the Wolverines are hoping
to take advantage of his speed against a physical Lake Superior team this week.
New Laser Research for
the Treatment of Acne
¢ If you have moderate to severe acne you may qualify for a
research study involving new laser technology at the University of
Michigan Department of Dermatology.
9 You may also receive up to $200 for your participation.
¢ If you are interested in participating, call the University of
Michigan Department of Dermatology to find out more.
¢ The number is : (734) 764-DERM =
WIDE WOu SPORTS CENTER
WINTiER I
INDIOOR
SOCCER R
L EAG UE
Registration Deadline: Dec 10th
Season: Jan 2nd - Feb 28th
Open to Women/Men/Coed - All Levels
Team Fee: $810/8 games
for more details call (734) 913-4625 or
visit our website www.wwsports.com
S ll '1 .4I
I
Chan
Lanco
I/1NN-
.....,....,j
/1)
gel
me
a Karan
DKNY Intimates
Christian Dior
Elizabeth Arden
..and many more!
Over 1000 Designer Fragrances for Men & Women
ii iiI i