4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 13, 2006
HITTING AFTER THE WHISTLE
ICE HOCKEY
4
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Andrew Ebbett
Michigan
The senior captain did what a captain is sup-
posed to do, leading the Wolverines with two
goals and one assist in Friday night's 6-4 win.
The two goals were his first ever in a CCHA
playoff game. He added another assist in Satur-
day's 3-2 victory.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
"The only way you're going to get me
out of here is by gunpoint"
- Michigan freshman Jack Johnson talk-
ing about the "three more years" chant filled Yost
Ice Arena whenever he hit the ice. There have been
rumors all year long that Johnson was leaving for
the NH's Carolina Hurricanes at the conclusion of
Michigan's season.
BY THE NUMBERS
7 Consecutive seasons in which
Michigan has qualified for the
CCHA semifinals
SATURDAY'S SCORING SUMMARY
Ferris State 2, Michigan 3
Ferris State....................0 2 0 -2
M ichigan ........................................ 0 2 1 - 3
FIRST PERIOD
No goals. Penalties - Jeremy Scherlinck, FSU (obstruction-hooking)
9:49; Andrew Ebbett, MICH (hooking) 13:55; Joe Van Culin, FSU
(obstruction-tripping) 16:53; T. J. Hensick, MICH (slashing) 16:53;
M att Frank, FSU (obstruction-tripping) 20: 00.
SECOND PERIOD
1. MICH Brandon Kaleniecki 17 (Chad Kolarik, Andrew Ebbett) 00:31.
2. FSU Eric Vesely 10 (Adam Welch, Corey Couturier) 8:31. 3. FSU
Greg Rallo 17 (Mark Bomersback, Dan Riedel) 9:17. 4. MICH T. J.
Hensick 16 (Chad Kolarik, Jack Johnson) 13:26. Penalties - T. J.
Hensick, MICH (cross-checking) 5:01; Adam Welch, FSU (holding)
5:01; Tim Cook, MICH (hooking) 8:23; Team, FSU (too many men on
ice) 12:35; Matt Frank, FSU (boarding) 14:58; Mark Bomersback, FSU
(interference) 19:34.
THIRD PERIOD
5. MICH Jack Johnson 10 (T. J. Hensick) 4:11. Penalties-Joe Van
Culin, FSU (hooking) 6:30.
Shots on goal: FSU 9-6-7-22; MICH 8-11-13-32. Power plays: FSU 1-of-2; MICH
2-of-6. Saves - FSU Mitch O'Keefe (8-9-12) - 29; MICH Noah Ruden
(9-4-7) - 20. Referee: Steve Piotrowski. Attendance: 6,590.
Friday's Game
FERRIS STATE 4 - MICHIGAN 6
Saturday's Game
FERRIS STATE 2 - MICHIGAN 3
I
pressive
aCk attaCk:Johnson shines in first playoff series
By Daniel Levy 2 -,
Daily Sports Writer
This weekend, Michigan freshman defenseman Jack
Johnson showed why he was the third pick overall in last
year's NHL Draft. Besides his physical gifts, Johnson's
ability to step up his game when it matters most has the
Wolverines riding high heading into Joe Louis Arena for
the CCHA Semifinals next weekend.
Early in the third period of Saturday night's game,
Michigan found itself locked in a 2-2 tie, one great play
away from sweeping Ferris State out of the playoffs and
one bad bounce from facing a do-or-die game three against
a scrappy Bulldog team that had beaten the Wolverines in
Yost Ice Arena earlier this season.
Then Johnson rose to the occasion. The defenseman,
who is as famous for his tendency to jump up and join
the offense as he is for his board-shak-
ing hits, found a seam and a scoring
chance.
Johnson wisely followed Michigan
alternate captain T.J. Hensick into the
offensive zone. Once Hensick drew the
attention of the Ferris State defenders, 3
he softly dropped the puck back to an
open Johnson, who skated in alone on net and snapped a
shot over the glove of Bulldog goalie Mitch O'Keefe to
give Michigan a 3-2 lead. The goal turned out to be the
series clincher, and Michigan swept Ferris State out of the
CQHA playoffs.
"I saw Jack cut through the middle, and I figured I might
as well give it to the guy who has one of the best shots in col-
lege hockey," Hensick said. "My eyes lit up when I saw him
going in on the breakaway. I knew he was going to score."
The Hensick to Johnson connection was a reversal of the
Wolverines' second goal. With Michigan trailing 2-1 mid-
way through the second period, Johnson found space on
the power play and carried the puck into the Bulldog zone.
Johnson passed to forward Chad Kolarik, who immedi-
ately sent the puck to a waiting Hensick. The junior buried
a shot past O'Keefe to tie the game.
Johnson's presence on the ice was overwhelming all series
long. Despite only getting on the stat sheet for one goal and
one assist, the freshman was on the ice for a remarkable
seven of Michigan's ten goals this weekend. He was skating
during just one of Ferris State's five tallies.
Johnson's great play, along with his high draft pick, was not Freshman Jack Johnson celebrates by tugging on the 'M' of
lost on the fans at Yost Ice Arena. While seniors Andrew Ebbett,
'M' STATS
Player
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
Sht
Hensick 38 16 34 50 +4 42 119
Ebbett 38 13 27 40 +14 25 93
Porter 36 17 20 37 +2 30 87
Kolarik 38 11 25 36 +10 30 104
Johnson 35 10 22 32 +11 143 93
Cogliano 36 12 16 28 -8 32 103
Hunwick 38 9 18 27 +17 64 82
Kaleniecki 33 17 10 27 +8 45 88
Turnbull 38 9 9 18 +3 63 63
Miller 38 4 11 15 +8 54 43
Rohlfs 37 2 10 12 +8 41 62
Naurato 31 7 3 10 -3 8 54
Mitera 36 0 9 9 +6 53 37
Bailey 24 5 2 7 -1 49 25
Dest 38 2 7 9 0 37 31
Fardig 35 4 3 7 +1 30 44
Swystun 33 2 2 4 -10 12 33
Cook 37 1 2 3 0 35 22
Dunlap 3 0 0 0 0 2 2
Fragner 2 0 0 0 0 15 0
Montville 17 0 0 0 +2 0 1
Brandon Kaleniecki and Noah Ruden took the home ice for the
final time in their careers, the crowd was very aware that there
was a chance they were seeing Johnson skate for the final time.
They were determined to let him know how they felt.
In hopes of keeping one of the team's best players in Ann
Arbor, fans greeted Johnson with cheers of "three more
years" in the pre-game introductions. The chants contin-
ued whenever the Ann Arbor native skated on the ice.
What did Johnson think about the crowd's plea?
"I was aware (they were chanting)," Johnson said. "The only
way you're going to get me out of (Michigan) is at gunpoint."
6. Lake Superior State
1. Miami
11. Western Michigan
BACK IN ACTION: Freshman Jason Bailey saw his first
action this weekend since getting knocked out against
Western Michigan on Jan. 31. After looking a little winded
in Friday night's 6-4 win, Bailey played a stronger game
on Saturday. The forward was more physical - hitting
whenever he got the chance - and made a nice move on
net to draw a penalty early in the third period.
"It just feels great to be back in the lineup," Bailey said.
"As time went on (Friday night), I got better and better, my
legs felt better, and I felt a lot better out there (Saturday
night). I'm just happy to be back in the lineup and happy
RODRIGO GAYA/Daily
his jersey after scoring the game winner on Saturday night.
that we got the win:'
LoUD AND PROUD: The Wolverines were finally able to
belt out a joyous rendition of 'The Victors' this weekend
after three months of silence. That's because the Michigan
hockey team only sings after completing a weekend sweep
of its opponent. The Wolverines' sweep of Ferris State
in the CCHA quarterfinals was their first since:sweeping
Nebraska-Omaha at home on Dec. 9 and 10.
"The best thing about it is we got to sing that song,"
Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We haven't sung
'The Victors' since before Christmas."
2006 CCHA Tournament
8. Alaska-Fairbanks
0
Road to the Final Four
Joe Louis Arena
Detroit, Mich.
8. Alaska-Fairbanks
1 9. Notre Dame
Miami
Michigan State
41
Western Michigan
5. Nebraska-Omaha
2. Michigan State
5. Nebraska-Omaha
12. Bowling Green
7. Ferris State
7. Ferris State
10. Ohio State
ward
3
0
0
0
-1
0
0
Northern Michigan
Michigan
THE 'RED' LINE
In a system named for legendary coach Red Beren-
son, the Daily hockey writers grade the Wolverines on
their performance in each of four areas.
(Graded out of 4 pucks)
4. Northern Michigan
3. Michigan
DAILY POWER RANKINGS
DOWD
Continued from page 11B
Mark Giannotto
OFFENSE
Six goals in a playoff
game is a tough feat, but -
the Wolverines did just
that on Friday night. They
followed that up with
another solid showing on
Saturday night, notching
three goals in the win.
0..
DEFENSE.
The defensemen bounced
back from a rough showing
on Friday night by playing
solidly on Saturday. Jack
Johnson contributed up front
while forwards covered his
back. The Wolverines also
minimized odd-man rushes.
GOALTENDING
Noah Ruden gave up six
goals over two games. But
he made the saves when it
counted most, and in his last
game ever at Yost, he allowed
just two goals. The extra half
puck is for getting the crowd
to chant "No-ah Ru-den".
S P IAl TFAMA
1. Minnesota (27-6-5)
A projected No. 1 overall seed
in the NCAA tournament by
USCHO.com, backed up by a
20-1-1 record in its last 22
games, has Minnesota the
favorite to win the NCAA title.
2. Miami (25-7-4)
A sweep over Western Michigan
in the CCHA quarterfinals has
the RedHawks in the semifinals
looking to prove their regular-
season title was not a fluke.
3. Wisconsin (25-9-3)
The Badgers split four
regular-season games
with the Gophers, with the
home team losing each
game. If the two teams
meet again, it would come
in what would certainly be
an epic NCAA title game.
4. Michigan State (22-11-8)
After dropping game one in
their quarterfinal matchup
against Alaska-Fairbanks,
the Spartans responded with
two convincing wins and
will now face rival Michigan
in the CCHA semifinals.
5. BemidjiState (20-13-3)
Although Bemidji will be huge
underdogs in its game in a
couple of weeks, props are
due to the Beavers, who beat
Niagra to win the CHA. With the
win, Bemidji State became the
first team to clinch an NCAA
tournament bid this season.
defensemen when they pinch into the offensive
zone. Going against Ferris State, the Wolverines
had to make sure this wouldn't happen, as the Bull-
dogs are known for capitalizing on quick transition
breakaways.
Even though there was a brief letdown in the
transition defense when Ferris State's Adam Miller
skated in on Michigan goaltender Noah Ruden all
alone, the Wolverines were bailed out by Ruden's
greatest - or perhaps luckiest - save. After that
opportunity, the Wolverines stuck together to pre-
vent the Bulldogs from tying the game and safely
allowed Johnson to pinch in and score the game-
winning goal.
As Michigan moves into CCHA Championship
weekend at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, this type of
team game will become even more crucial. On Fri-
day, the Wolverines will face Michigan State. This
season, Michigan failed to beat the Spartans, going
0-1-3 in their four contests. One of the Wolverine's
toughest struggles against their top rival has been
getting clean shots through to Michigan State net-
minder Jeff Lerg. In order to do this, Michigan
needs heads-up play and on-target passing.
And if Michigan knocks off Michigan State for
the first time this year on Friday, it will likely face
Miami, another team which it has failed to beat, in
the CCHA Championship game.
The Wolverines won't have their typical home
crowd to egg them on next weekend, but it was
refreshing to see now excited the players were
about playing such a great team game. For the first
time in months, they looked truly re-energized and
raring to go for the next game - a good sign con-
sidering their 2-3-3 record against the other three
CCHA semifinalists.
- Dowd can be reached atjvdowd@umich.edu
'a
0
James V. Dowd
AROUND THE CCHA
Game 1
Friday's results:
MICHIGAN 6, Ferris State 4
Alaska-Fairbanks 2, MICHIGAN STATE 1
MIAMI 4, Western Michigan 1
NORTHERN MICHIGAN 4, Nebraska-Omaha 1
Game 2
BULLDOGS
Continued from page 1B
about time those 10 or 12 guys ... did that. It's going to be a huge
factor in determining how far we go in the tournament."
The Wolverines came into the weekend looking to avenge
their Senior Night loss at the hands of Ferris State (10-11-7, 17-
15-8) just two weeks ago. In that Feb. 25 loss, freshman goalie
Billy Sauer got the nod in net and allowed four goals in the
H. Jose Bosch
Ruden's save sent the Yost crowd of 6,590 into a frenzy and gave
the Wolverines the momentum they needed to take the lead.
Two minutes later, Michigan did just that.
Freshman Jack Johnson took a centering pass from Hensick and
unleashed a slap shot that beat Ferris State goalie Mitch O'Keefe
glove side. Johnson's goal gave the Wolverines a 3-2 lead they never
I ' Bomb,
I