6B - Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
'M' drops national title game in OT thriller
By CASANDRA PAGNI
Daily Sports Writer
April 9, 2011 - ST. PAUL,
Minn. - It was one shot mem-
bers of the Minnesota-Duluth
hockey team will remember for
the rest of their lives.
And one the Wolverines would
give anything to have back.
Just over three minutes into
overtime of the NCAA Cham-
pionship game, the Michigan
hockey team was on the losing
end of the battle. The Bulldogs
defeated the Wolverines, 3-2,
securing their program's first
NCAA title and sending Michi-
gan's seven seniors and the rest
of the team back to Ann Arbor
empty handed, all in a matter of
seconds.
"It's the opportunity of a
lifetime gone in the blink of an
eye," sophomore forward Jeff
Rohrkemper said.
While the outcome of game
came down to one shot by the
Bulldogs, the Wolverines had
more than 60 minutes in which
they could have controlled the
outcome. Minnesota-Duluth
out-shot Michigan all night,
but the resilient and defensive-
minded Wolverines continually
found ways to battle back.
Even when Michigan took
its ninth penalty of the game -
a boarding call to sophomore
forward Kevin Lynch with just
under 10 minutes remaining in
regulation - the Wolverine pen-
alty killers preserved the tie.
The Bu
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Minne
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The
one jus
tlldogs boast the 10th best the second period and then took
play in the nation, but the 2-1 lead eight minutes later
an was able to hold the on the power play. But led by a
sota-Duluth man advan- strong class of seniors, Michi-
11 shots on nine opportu- gan kept confidence high on the
and allowed them to score bench. It had been down in plen-
nce. ty of games this season, even in
u never want to kill nine the NCAA regional semifinal
enalties in a game," senior against Nebraska-Omaha.
d Carl Hagelin said. "But Near the end of the second
we had to do it. And obvi- period, junior defenseman Greg
ome guys get more tired Pateryn slapped a shot from the
thers. It's tough ... I think blue line in front of Minnesota-
a good job, only allowed Duluth netminder Kenny Reiter.
In front of the net, sophomore
forward Jeff Rohrkemper got a
hold of the puck and back-hand-
ie (chance) of ed it to beat Reiter on the right
side to tie the game at two.
ifetime, gone "I think the top players just
ahout neutralize each other
the blink of throughout the game, and it's
an unexpected or unsung hero
an eye. that ends up scoring a goal ...
Rohorkemper's goal was a fluky
goal, but it was a huge goal."
Hunwick, who made 40 saves
al and they had a really against North Dakota on Thurs-
power play. So obviously day to lead the Wolverines to the
f us got a bitrtiredhby play- NCAA Championship, kept the
much PK." Wolverines in the game again
Wolverines got out to an on Saturday. Dubbed "Tiny
ead when senior forward Jesus" by Michigan fans for his,
finnett scored his fifth at times, indescribable saves in
the season - and second St. Paul, Hunwick lived up to
f the Frozen Four - five the nickname and got the Wol-
s into the first period, but verines to overtime against the
sota-Duluth sustained Bulldogs.
re on Michigan defend- While Hunwick kept the
I senior netminder Shawn Minnesota-Duluth offense and
ck all night. power play at bay long enough
Bulldogs tied the game at for the Wolverines to have a
t under two minutes into chance on Saturday, sudden-
JAKE FROMM/Daily
The Michigan hockey team failed to win its 10th national title, losing a 3-2 overtime decision to Minnesota-Duluth.
death overtime was a different the right side of Hunwick, he slid to be."
story. it to Schmidt who one-timed it to Pateryn added: "We knew
At 3:22 into the extra frame, earn a National Title for Minne- it was going to be a really ugly
Minnesota-Duluth senior Kyle sota-Duluth. goal. We knew it was going to
Schmidt's shot in front of the "It's a tough loss," Michi- be quick. "This is what overtime
net was the game-winner. When gan coach Red Berenson said. is sometimes. We knew it was
Bulldog forward Travis Oleksuk "Shawn Hunwick was terrific. going to take one shot and it did,
got the puck behind the net on He gave us a chance and it wasn't but it wasn't for us."
Hiring of Brady Hoke ushers in new era of Michigan football
By TIM ROHAN to talk about classes and weight
Daily Sports Editor training.
But Michigan Athletic Director
Jan. 11, 2011 - Will Heininger Dave Brandon surprised everyone
swung open the doors of Schem- when he told the players that the
bechler Hall with a smile plas- former Michigan assistant and
tered on his face as he gave twobig San Diego State coach would be
thumbs up. He was the first player the Wolverines' coach next sea-
to leave the players' meeting - son.
albeitbecauseheforgotsomething The room immediately erupt-
in his cor - but the defensive end ed in a big cheer and a round of
couldn't mask his excitement over applause. Brandon told the play-
Michigan's hiring of Brady Hoke. ers how he had talked to Hoke's
"Well, we know who our next former players and coaches who
coach is going to be - man, I'm knew him, and those who knew
so happy," Heininger said, still Hoke painted the picture of a good,
grinning. "This is this Michigan guy, a players' coach.
we grew up watching. It's com- "Dave Brandon was sold, and
ing back here, and it was a happy we are too," junior wide receiver
room. It was a real happy room." Darryl Stonum said.
As their 4 p.m. team meeting Former Michigan All-American
approached today, the players Steve Hutchinson spoke to Bran-
didn't know what was in store. don during the coaching search
Junior tight end Kevin Koger said and vouched for Hoke as well.
he thoughtthe meeting was called Hutchinson came to Michigan as
a defensive lineman initially and
Hoke was his position coach for
that short time before he switched
to offensive guard - Hoke was the
defensive line coach at Michigan
from1995-2002 under Lloyd Carr.
And Hutchinson still stays in con-
tact with Hoke to this day.
"From everything I've heard
about (Hoke), you know, I grew
sip watching Charles Woodson
and Steve Hutchinson and Brian
Griese play and all of those guys
called Dave Brandon on their own
behalf and said this is the best
coach," Heininger said. "Steve
Hutchinson said this is the best
coach he's ever had - how could I
argue with that?"
Even with the high praise,
many of the players didn't know
much about the former San Diego
State and Ball State coach who has
a career record of 47-50.
Koger didn't know much more
about Hoke than where he had
previously coached. And Stonum
admitted he didn't know much,
either, but was eager to meet Hoke
on Tuesday.
"So far we know he's hard-
working, (and) he's all about
Michigan - he's a 'Michigan
Man,' " freshman defensive end
Jibreel Black said. "We want
somebody to come in, where the
atmosphere won't be so new to
him. He's been in the Big House so
we won't have to introduce that to
him. He knows pretty much what
Michigan stands for."
Brandon made it clear dur-
ing last week's press conference
announcing Rich Rodriguez's
termination that the coach's suc-
cessor would have to have an
understanding of Michigan and
the unique challenges the school
presents. Hoke also fit the bill
as the defensive-oriented coach
whom Brandon wanted to bring
in - an attribute that drew smiles
from the defensive players who
emerged after the meeting.
They were also happy that this
time around, unlike when they
heard about Rodriguez's fate, the
players were among the first to
hear about Hoke - instead of the
news breaking long before they
were told.
"It's weird watching stuff on
TV and not really knowing what's
going on," said redshirt sopho-
more running back Mike Cox.
"And then all of a sudden being
told about your coach not being
here. It's definitely better (know-
ing first)."
According to a source with
knowledge of the situation, the
players will meet Hoke sometime
before his scheduled introductory
press conference at 1 p.m. tomor-
row.
The Wolverines already have
a feeling that the atmosphere
around Schembechler Hall might
could revert back to the pre-
Rodriguez era - when the coach-
es were products of the building's
namesake.
Many in the Michigan commu-
nity thought the former West Vir-
ginia coach just didn't understand
the school's tradition. A common,
theme throughout the Michigan
players' reaction was that Hoke
just got it.
"We're really glad this is all
over," Heininger said. "(It's) like
this is a new start of what Michi-
gan always has been. And this is
the kind of coach you want. Dave
Brandon really did have a process
as he explained in there and he
stuck by it no matter what every-
body said. He wanted the best
person for us, and that's who we
got."
A