Monday, August 15, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Michigan, Ohio State rivalry heads outdoors
By STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Daily Sports Editor
An outdoor game between the
Ohio State and Michigan hockey
programs was imminent in May,
nearly a done deal in June, and dead
in July.
But now it's official.
The Cleveland Indians held
a press conference Thursday to
announce the finalized plans to
host their first outdoor hockey
game, dubbed The Frozen Diamond
Faceoff, at Progressive Field on Jan.
15, 2012.
"You have avid fans from Michi-
gan and Ohio State," Indians
president Mark Shapiro said in an
Indians' press release. "You have a
rivalry that's meaningful. You also
have a unique event that will draw
some event-goers just to come in to
the ballpark. It'll be the first time in
the state of Ohio and be a very spe-
cial atmosphere. So I think when
you combine all those things, it's
our hope that there aren't any seats
open."
It will be the Buckeyes' second
appearance in an outdoor game, but
the Wolverines' fourth - and their
third outdoor match in the past
three seasons. Ohio State is 0-1 out-
doors,while Michigan is 1-1-1.
"We're looking forward to it,"
Michigan coach Red Berenson said
in a Michigan press release. "It
will be the first time I've ever been
involved or a Michigan hockey team
will be involved in an outdoor game
in a baseball stadium. We've played
in football stadiums before and
every one of these games takes on
kind of a life of its own.
"Even though Michigan has
played in three in a row, a lot of our
players haven't had that experience.
We have a big freshman class and
we've got some players on our team
that didn't get to dress last year. This
will be right in the middle of the
hockey season and something that
may not get a lot of attention early
in the year, but as it gets closer, this
will be a big deal."
Michigan was a part of the first-
ever NCAA outdoor game, the Cold
War against Michigan State, in Oct.
2001.
But most fans will recall The
Big Chill at the Big House between
the Spartans and Wolverines last
December at Michigan Stadium.
The event drew a world-record
crowd of 104,173.
By measurement, The Frozen
Diamond Faceoff aims to be the
Big Chill's infant brother. Progres-
sive Fiedd has a seating capacity of
roughly 45,200 during the base-
ball season. Although additional
seating may well be installed for a
hockey game, it won't be setting any
records.
"An event at a venue like Progres-
sive Field is great for both the insti-
tutions and the league as a whole,"
CCHA Commissioner Fred Pletsch
said in a press release. "We're look-
ing forward to coming to Cleveland
this Januaryto see a terrific rivalry
showcased in a distinctive and
memorable setting."
The game will be a part of Cleve-
land's Snow Days, which will also
feature a week-long youth tourna-
ment.
In 2010, the first Snow Days was
highlighted by ice skating, sled-
ding hills and snow tubing chutes.
According to Crain's Cleveland
Business, the event drew 50,000
visitors downtown from Nov. 26 to
Jan. 2 last year.
The location of Cleveland -s rela-
tively ideal, since it lies equidistant
- about 150 miles - from both
Columbus and Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines hold an all-time
65-30-11 edge in head-to-head
matches against the Buckeyes.
Michigan completed the 2010-11
season first in the CCHA, while
Ohio State crawled in at No. 9.
0
0
FILE PHOTO/Da
(FROM TOP) The Big Chill at the Big House drew 100,000-plus fans last Decem-
ber. The Cold War in 2001 was the first outdoor game ofits kind.
Anderson, Robertson represent 'M' at University Games
By STEVEN BRAID
Daily Sports Writer
For former Michigan water
polo standout Leah Robertson,
it's a huge honor to compete for
4 Team USA at the World University
Games taking place in Shenzhen,
China.
Having been in the United
States National Water Polo system
for a long time - playing for the
Junior National team in 2005, the
Senior National "B" Team in 2008,
and practicing with the Senior
national team in 2010 - the New-
port Beach, Calif. native is excited
to get her first chance to travel
overseas to represent her country.
She is also thrilled to be a part of
the first United States women's
water polo team to compete at the
World University Games.
But what really makes these
games so special for Robertson is
the opportunity to play for Matt
a Anderson, her former coach at
Michigan.
"Its such a gift," Robertson
said. "Matt and I were very close
during my time at Michigan.
"My four years of playing at
Michigan were probably the
greatest water polo experiences
of my life. The chance to play for
him again is really special and that
made this opportunity more excit-
ing for me."
Robertson, a senior captain in
2010, was a prominent part of the
team during her time at Michi-
gan, helping the Wolverines reach
three straight NCAA Champion-
ships to finish off her collegiate
career. Recruited to Michigan for
her formidable defense, Robert-
son starred.
She anchored Michigan's
defense throughout her years,
helping the Wolverines establish
an imposing presence on that side
of the ball.
She holds the program record
for most steals in a game, season
and in a career. She also ranks
second all-time for career drawn
rejection
But w
highly t(
develop.
one of th
in the
she put
"It
SI
at
work, s
her imr
helpingl
player.
"In h
defensiv
the two
was wh
ns. ful. In college, I was primarily a
hile she was recruited as a defender as well, but throughout
outed defender, Robertson my years - mostly towards junior
ed her offense and became and senior year - (Anderson) real-
he great all-around players ly pushed me to be more aggres-
program's history. While sive on offense and to start being
in long hours of hard more creative that way. That was
really new for me because I wasn't
offensive at all in high school, and
I've really grown as an offensive
's just really player which has really helped me
round my game out very well."
)ecial to be Robertson's offense grew each
season. After scoring 30 goals as
)le to coach a freshman, Robertson increased
her scoring as a sophomore, net-
L eah. ting 43 goals.
Her season total for goals
dropped slightly to 41 as a junior,
but she did post a higher goal per
he credits Anderson for game average.
mense improvement and But the most improvement can
her become an even better be seen during her senior season.
In only 25 games, she became an
igh school, I was mostly offensive force, totaling 45 goals.
'e," Robertson said. "I was But as much as Robertson
-meter defender, and that improved as a player, she enjoyed
ere I was the most use- playing for Anderson because he
impacted her in other parts of her
life.
"He really brought me out of my a
shell as a player and as a person," a
Robertson said. To me, he was
really good at instilling confidence c
and allowing me to be the player h
that I wanted to be. He allowed me
to be creative and make mistakes
and learn as I played.
"As for growing as a person,
he's the type of coach who doesn't
bend the rules for anyone. He
holds everyone accountable and
holds everyone to the highest 4
standard and it really makes you
push yourself in every aspect of
your life, whether it be water polo
or school."
For Anderson, he's just happy .t
to be able to coach such a special
player one more time.
"It's really an honor to have the q
opportunity to coach this team,"
Anderson said. "It's just really
special to be able to coach Leah
because she's just an amazing
player."