SPORTS michigandaily.com sportsdesk@umich.edu MONDAY JULY 8, 2002 11 Blackburn trying to earn spot n Phoenix By J. Brady McColloughl Daily Sports Editor After an inconsistent senior season that finished with a dramatic upswing in the NCAA Tournament, former Michi- gan goaltender Josh Blackburn is prepar- ing himself for the jump to the NHL. Blackburn, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes, is currently in Phoenix working with the Coyotes' staff' at a rookie training camp. Michigan goalie coach Stan Matwijiw said that the purpose of the camp is for the Coyotes to give the players an introduction to the training the NHL requires and to learn more about the players personally. "They're running him through some aerobics, weight training, and they're on the ice every day," Matwijiw said. "He's working hard, losing a lot of weight." Michigan assistant coach Billy Powers said that Blackburn is currently in con- tract negotiations with the Coyotes and that he will most likely sign with them. Matwijiw believes that "it's pretty much carved in" that his student will play for the Springfield Falcons of Massachu- setts, the Coyotes' AHL affiliate, next season. Blackburn and the Coyotes' could not be reached for comment. "Do I think Josh is ready to 'trup in this year? No," Matwijiw sai.. "Do I think he has the potential to make it to the NHL? Absolutely, without a doubt. "I've known him for three years now, and we've grown to have a relationship, and I've never seen him as determined as he is now about the challenge that's ahead of him." Former Michigan netminders Steve Shields (1991-94) and Marty Turco (1995-98) were able to meet the chal- lenge - but not without enduring some struggles. Shields spent two years in the minor leagues and two years as a back- up with the Buffalo Sabres organization before establishing himself with the San Jose Sharks. Turco spent two full years in the minors before backing up Ed Belfour with the Dallas Stars for the past two seasons. Turco, who won national championships at Michigan in 1996 and 1998, has been named the starter in goal for Dallas next season. "Not a lot of rookie goalies step right in," Powers said. "Shields and Turco have found a way to create a name for themselves, and Blackie's story, he has to write it, and where it goes, that's up to Josh. Potential-wise, there's not a big difference in those kids:' "I think the kid's a big-time fig htr, competitor, and that is something that Safety nets return to Yost Arena next season By Charles Paradis Daity SporsFditor Yost Ice Arena will feature a new addition next season .- safety nets. After the tragic death of Brittanie Cecil, a 13-year-old fan at a Columbus Blue Jackets' game, the NHL mandated that teams put up safety nets. Michigan has decided on its own to install netting at Yost to protect spectators. Michigan had nets in the past but removed them when the 10-foot glass was installed. "From a preventative standpoint, after we saw what happened to that lit- tle girl, we just said we're not going to take any chances," Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin said. "Although the incidence is very rare, it is not worth the risk." The nets will be placed in the end- zone sections of Yost. "We have a lot of pucks that enter the stands in the endzones," Martin said. "They go in the stands before a game during the practice." While some fans may worry that the nets will obscure their view, the fine micro-mesh material installed at Yost should not interfere too much with fans' vision of the game. Michigan joins many other CCHA schools who already have netting. Of the 12 teams in the CCHA, just three - Ohio State, Nebraska-Omaha and Michigan State ---do not have nets. BABY, I GOT YOUR MONEY: The NCAA recently awarded honorariums to the schools that hosted the NCAA Region- als. Michigan did not receive as much of the profits generated from the event as it hoped. The University was supposed to receive 15 percent of the earnings, but Michigan's share was reduced by 33 per- cent, due to crowd control issues. While the athletic department does not know exactly what went wrong with the crowd Martin believes it was probably some- thing he had warned fans about before. "I don't know specifically (what went wrong)," Martin said. "We are looking into that right now, and we want to get the specifics on it. I believe it was proba- bly inappropriate language by our fans." Last season, Martin set out to clean up the language used at Yost by writing a, letter to students. Despite Michigan losing almost $10,000 due to the crowd, Martin is not sure fans will cease with the vulgar cheers. "Well I don't know (if they will stop), but you can bet that we are going to have further discussions with our fans," Martin said. "We love our students, we just want them to act in an appropriate manner and in a Michigan manner and be respectful to our guests." Michigan also lost 25 percent of its honorarium because it turned in the financial report late. The University's report was turned in late because those who serviced the event turned in their financial reports to Michigan late. For these two reasons, Michigan was only awarded $20,615.25 instead of receiv- ing the full $30,923.30. DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daiy Former Michigan goaltender Josh Blackburn has been working on his foot-speed and agility with Michigan goalie coach Stan MatwijIw. attracted us to him. I think te has that intangible of desire." Blackburn struggled throughout much of his senior season, and the turn- ing point could have been his lackluster performance against Michigan State in a 3-1 loss at Joe Louis Arena on Feb. 16. The four-year starter allowed two soft goals to the Spartans' Joe Goode- now -- one of which was intended to be a dump into the Michigan zone. But Blackburn bounced back, giving up 1.75 goals per game in the Wolverines' final four games - weekend sweeps of Ohio State and Western Michigan - to lead Michigan to the CC HA regular season title. "He was not sharp in (the Michigan State game), but if you look at his sea- son, you'll probably find two or three individual games that every goalie would want back," Powers said. "The good thing about Blackie was that he bounced back solid." Blackburn was always at his best in the postseason, and last season was no different. With his collegiate career coming to a close he was spectacular in the net at the NCAA West Regional. He stymied two of the nation's top teams in St. Cloud and Denver and kept the Wolverines in the game against Min- nesota in the national semifinal, "I think the bottom line is if you look at his collegiate career, he's proven he's a money goalie," Matwijiw said. "You look at the NCAA Tournaments, and he was our best player over the course of any of those tournaments. That's some- thing that NHIIL teams are looking for." Powers was quick to point out that Blackburn's game still needs some fine tuning before he'll be ready to lead the Coyotes into battle. "He improved quite a bit playing the puck as his four-year career progressed here," Powers said. "He still needs to get stronger and smarter with the puck. When he came here, he didn't have any confidence playing the puck. "It seems like when Blackie is really composed in the net, ie makes things look easy. Hie won't get away with (ath- leticism) at the next level There are too many good shooters. He's not leaving here a finished product" i i i i 1K -The 2002 SalarY Supplement 5 a uliato of fa f r lto rmal ul 4l5 s ti a b le , N O W f r $ 8 f IA your wo7rtl Lo0n do0n .. . ... . .. . $491 Amsterdam ..... $666 Paris......"......" $567 7 Ma dr i d.. . .. . ... $666$ SyJd ne . . .. .. .2.1.31157 Fare is roundtrip rom Detroit. ttubjetnto change and availability. Tax not included. OTR AVEL Michigan Union Ground Floor PMB#151 734-769.2555 1103 South University Suite 1 734668-8550 1218 South University Ave 734.8980200 - . "