4B - The Michigan.Daily - SportsMonday - March 7, 2005 LINE OF THE WEEK Eric Werner Defense Saturday vs. Bowling Green 3 Assists NOTABLE QUOTABLE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK "It's nice to put another banner up at Yost, but it's just the beginning for us." - Michigan junior Andrew Ebbett on Michigan's first-place CCHA finish. Jonathan Sigalet (Bowling Green) Sigalet was one of the fastest players on the ice during the weekend series. He had two assists in the losing cause on Saturday. Andrew Ebbett (Michigan) Ebbett had four points during the weekend. He scored a goal in each game and has now scored in four straight games for the Wolverines. Michigan Wolverines Ebbett, Nystrom, Tambellini, . Hensick FaBowling Green Falcons Falk SATURDAY'S GAME Bowling Green Falcons Meloche, Matsumo, Unger, Dobek Michigan Wolverines Kolarik (2), Ebbett, Gajic, Tambellini Michigan 5, Bowling Green 4 Bowling Green 121 - 4 Michigan 122 - 5 4 1 Blue defenders begin final push 5' ~1, -g --.' 4 Vp 4 5 First period - 1. MICH, Andrew Ebbett 6 (Jeff Tambellini, Eric Werner) 4:45. 2. BGSU, Rich Meloche 9 (James Unger) 15:09. Penalties - Jon Sitko, BGSU (roughing) 4:16; Matt Hunwick, MICH (cross-check) 10:20; Mike Brown, MICH (elbowing) 19:01; Alex Foster, BGSU (high stick- ing) 20:00; Eric Werner, MICH (roughing) 20:00; Alex Foster, BGSU (roughing) 20:00; Andrew Ebbett, MICH (roughing) 20:00; TEAM, MICH (unsportsman like conduct) 20:00. Second period -3. MICH, Chad Kolarik 14 (T.J. Hensick, Jeff Tambellini) 2:18. 4. MICH, Milan Gajic 16 (T.J. Hensick) 10:57. 5. BGSU, Jonathan Matsumoto 16 (Mike Nesdill, Jonathan Sigalet) 14:32. 6. BGSU, James Unger 14 (Brett Pilkington, Jonathan Sigalet) 17:13. Penalties - John Mazzei, BGSU (elbowing) 1:52; James Unger, BGSU (interference) 5:49; Jon Sitko, BGSU (tripping) 9:04. Jason Dest, MICH (check- ing from behind) 14:23; Brandon Kaleniecki, MICH (roughing) 16:03; Don Morrison, BGSU (slashing) 18:04. James Unger, BGSU (board- ing) 19:46. Third period - 7. MICH, JeffTambellini 18 (Eric Werner, Andrew Ebbett) 1:07. 8. MICH, Chad Kolarik 15 (Jason Rynar, Eric Werner) 6:46. 9. BGSU, Bryan Dobek 3 (unassisted) 12:03. Penal- ties - Jonathan Sigalet, BGSU (cross-checking) 5:07; David Moss, MICH (roughing) 3:13; Alex Rogosheske, BGSU (roughing) 3:13; Jason Dest, MICH (boarding) 3:29; Jon Sitko, BGSU (hitting from behind) 8:25; Jon Sitko. BGSU (roughing) 8:25; Mike Brown, MICH (face mask) 8:25; Eric Nystrom, MICH (charging) 8:50; Steve Brudze- wski, BGSU (clipping) 14:36; James Unger, BGSU (slashing) 20:00; Al Montoya, MICH (slashing) 20:00. Shots on goal: MICH 13-13-12-38; BGSU 9-9-8-26. Power plays: MICH 4 of 7; UNO 2 of 8. Saves - MICH, Al Montoya (8-7-7) - 22; BGSU, Jon Horrell (12-11-10) - 33. Referee: Stephen Mclnchak At: Yost Ice Arena Attendance: 6,938. By Ryan Sosin Daily Sports Writer Michigan celebrated the four-year careers of 10 play- ers during Saturday's senior night ceremonies. It marked the beginning of the end for the seniors, but perhaps, more importantly, the start of every underclassman moving up in terms of expectations. "There are no classes right now," Michigan senior captain Eric Nystrom said. "There are no seniors - there are no freshmen. It's just a gelling team, and everybody has to step up and play their best hockey. It doesn't matter if it's your first time in the playoffs or your last time. Everybody has got to play their best hockey." Standing third in line to receive the seniors during the ceremony, sophomore Matt Hunwick greeted the first eight seniors with a handshake and a hug. When his defensive part- ner, Brandon Rogers, came to the line, Hunwick stuck out his right hand to shake. Instead, Rogers threw his arms around his linemate as they celebrated their final regular season game together. While Rogers - the Wolverines' top senior defenseman - enjoyed what he called the "odd feeling" of skating around for one of the last times in Ann Arbor, he still has his focus on completing something his class has yet to do - win a national championship. "It's a little strange," Rogers said. "It's the first time you step out onto the ice, and you're looking around saying to yourself 'it's coming to an end.' Almost. We're not done yet. We're not satisfied, and we still have a long way to go." Just as Rogers is playing out the final days of his career, Hunwick is gearing up to take over the title of top defense- man. A three-time CCHA Defensive Player of the Week win- ner this season, Hunwick has continued to pick up his game down the stretch for the Wolverines. "(Hunwick) is starting to play that offensive skating style," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "He's adding that confi- dence to his game. He can wheel with the puck as well as any defenseman in this league, and he can get you out of trouble in a minute." This weekend, Hunwick shined at the defensive end more than in the attacking zone. Playing with Nystrom and junior Brandon Kaleneicki, Hunwick helped keep Bowling Green from getting a single shot off on their 59-second 5-on-3 that opened the second period, Saturday. Hunwick had his chances at Bowling Green netminder John Horrell. After serving a penalty midway through the first period, Hunwick burst out of the box to find a Michael Woodford pass coming his way. Breaking in with no one but Horrell to beat, Hunwick tried to put a shot over the sprawl- ing Bowling Green keeper. Horrell managed to kick it in the corner, stifling Hunwick's biggest chance of the night. "I was hoping for him he was going to bury it," Rogers said. "But I guess you never want a defenseman taking breakaways." The senior's tutelage of what it takes to lead the program at Michigan has been more unspoken than explicit to his sopho- more defense partner. "A player like (Rogers), (he's) someone who can do it all, put everything on the line and be a good leader in the locker room," Hunwick said. "I kind of just pick up on those things and hope to carry them into next year." Despite not claiming to teach Hunwick about the role he will undoubtedly assume from Rogers next year, the Michi- gan alternate captain isn't worried about Hunwick's transition from No. 2 defenseman to the top spot. "Maybe after the season he'll say some stuff," Hunwick said, "but right now we're just worried about the games ahead." : r Senior Brandon Rogers, left, and his defensive partner sophomore Matt Hunwick celebrated their final regular season game together Friday. Don't close the storybook just yet. There are still a few pages left to write. The two have a little more business to attend to together before Rogers passes the baton to Hunwick. Y { :rj Player Hensick Tambellini Ga ic Kolarik Ebbett Moss Nystrom Werner Porter Hunwick Ryznar Rogers Kaleniecki Rohlfs Martens Brown Dest Woodford Henderson Montoya Olson Cook Ruden Player Montoya Ruden 'M' GP 33 36 36 36 34 34 32 33 33 34 30 36 36 28 33 29 36 20 10 34 13 34 6 GP 34. 6 STATS G A Pts 22 26 48 18 29 47 16 17 33 15 16 31 6 25 31 10 18 28 11 16 27 7 20 27 10 13 23 6 16 22 5 16 21 2 18 20 11 6 17 5 5 10 19 3 4 7 1 4 5 2 1 3 0 3 3 0 0 0 347 +/- PIM Sht +14 24 113 +25 24 174 +3 38 101 +8 49 96 +12 24 80 +9 26 71 +16 29 50 +18 42 40 +11 45 53 +10 50 49 +3 46 42 +18 66 69 +7 42 115 +8 14.39 +7 30 27 +11 93 50 +2150 35 0 24 25 0 4 10 -- 22 0 +4 6 5 +7 50 14 -- 0 0 GAA PCT 2.68 .891 3FF THEDRAW MICHIGAN.PLAYERS S13 - Mike Brown 19 - Andrew Ebbett 21 - Eric Nystrom BOWLING GREEN PLAYERS 27 - Alex Foster 56 - Jonathan Sigalet 57 - Jordan Sigalet - Skating w/ puck Skating w/o puck . . . Pass - - Shot How it happened: Ebbett had the puck along the boards and looked toward the Bowling Green net. As he often is, senior captain Eric Nystrom was stationed in front of the oppo- nents' net. Nystrom yelled to Ebbett to shoot. Ebbett listened and shot the puck along the ice toward the goal. Nystrom got a stick on it and redirected the puck into the top of the net., The goal ended up being the game-winning goal in the confer- ence-clinching game. Analysis: If Ebbett keeps up this scoring pace, the rest of the CCHA, and the nation for that matter, better watch out. He's scored a goal in four consecutive games, and, in each game this weekend, he had a goal and an assist. His 25 assists on the season are third best on the team. I.* w 25 1 L 6 1 T 3 0 1.46 .951 CCHA STANDINGS Team Michigan Ohio State Northern Mich. Nebraska-Omaha Bowling Green Michigan State Miami (OH) Alaska-Fairbanks Lake Superior Western Michigan Ferris State Notre Dame CCHA Overall 23-3-2 21-5-2 17-7-4 13-11-4 13-12-3 12-13-3 11-13-4 11-14-3 8-14-6 8-18-2 7-17-4 3-20-5 26-7-3 24-8-4 20-9-7 17-15-4 16-14-4 17-15-4 15-16-5 13-15-4 9-20-7 13-19-2 12-20-4 5-25-6 ZCHA Continued from page 1B the ice, one by one, in a spotlight. They skated down the line and hugged all their younger teammates and met their parents on the ice near the bench as has become Michigan tradition. After posing for photographs, they skated around with Michigan flags and, at the end, put their lips to the ice while the fans stayed and cheered. "It goes by fast," Nystrom said. "It's been a heck of a ride, but it's not over yet. It was tough swallowing the tears a little bit when we were kiss- ing the ice." FRIDAY'S RESULTS: Michigan 4, BOWLING GREEN 1 MICHIGAN STATE 3, Notre Dame 2 NORTHERN MICHIGAN 4, Lake Superior 2 Ohio State 3, MIAMI 1 Western Michigan 5, FERRIS STATE 1 SATURDAY'S RESULTS: MICHIGAN 5, Bowling Green 4 Ferris State 5, WESTERN MICHIGAN 2 Michigan State 2, NOTRE DAME 1 Northern Michigan 3, LAKE SUPERIOR 2 OHIO STATE 2, Miami (Ohio) 2 Gophers sign golden Kessel By Ryan Sosin Daily Sports Writer Just five days after playing against the Wolverines at Yost Ice Arena, the nation's top recruit and United States National Team Development Program star Phil Kessel announced his verbal commitment to play for Minnesota next season. The announcement, which came Friday during a phone press conference, marked the end of Michigan's bid for the 17-year-old phenom. Earlier reports had Michigan out of the running as late as last Tuesday. While the team couldn't comment, it is believed that it made a strong push for Kessel, who is projected as the top pick in the 2006 NHL draft. "I woke up one morning, and, in my heart, I felt Min- nesota was the best place for me," Kessel said. Mixing speed, talent and a sixth-sense for the game, Kessel has been mentioned in concert with NHL Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. Playing in his second season with the Ann Arbor-based NTDP, Kessel leads the team in almost every category. With 36 goals and 30 assists in 33 games, he set the pro- gram record for career goals and is close to the mark for assists. In two seasons, he has 88 goals in 95 contests. Minnesota trumped one of the Wolverines biggest advantages, a close proximity to the program, and four of Kessel's teammates had already signed with the Gophers next year. Kessel told the Associated Press that the sign- ing of two of his NTDP teammates - Ryan Stoa and Jeff Frazee - helped seal the deal for Minnesota. .t 5-' y 34 S" I.o e S< 4; TONY DING/Daily Future Gopher Phil Kessel skates against Michigan last week. "(Stoa) and (Frazee) have been two of my good bud- dies," Kessel said. "I've always wanted to go to school where by buddies are." Wisconsin is also feeling the burn from Kessel who grew up in Madison. The Gophers and Badgers are bitter rivals in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. RYAN WEINER/Daily Michigan sophomore Mike Brown fights with Alex Foster at the end of the first period. RYAN WEINER/Daily Dave Brown will likely be in goal when the Irish come to Ann Arbor next weekend. UP NEXT: