4B - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, October 9, 1995
isteam to beat
' .for CIIpA1ioins ip
The Wolverines want to add a second CCHA playoff championship to their trophy collection.
Freshmens
By Danielle Rumors
Daily Sports Writer
They say everything that goes up
must come down.
Well, this isn't true, when talking
about the Michigan hockey team.
During the past few years, the Wol-
verines have ascended the ladder of
national dominance and it doesn't ap-
pear that they will come down any time
soon.
This season the same team that ad-
vanced to the NCAA semifinals last
year showcases six new players who
together assemble one of the top fresh-
men classes in the country.
With these new additions, there's no
tellinghow high the Wolverines can go.
"We expect our freshmen to come in
and learn how to play a solid game for
us," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.
"They can add hustle, physical pres-
ence, toughness, speed and maybe some
offense. I expect them to improve and
learn something every week.
"Whenever they can add something,
that's good and typically at Christ-
mas time, you will see a big jump
ahead from them. Our team is kind of
like a family and they'll be treated
like team members instead of out-
casts or rookies."
Last season, Michigan had the sec-
ond-best offense in the nation with an
average of5.59 goals per game led by
junior center Brendan Morrison and
departed right wing Mike Knuble. This
season, the Wolverines bring in three
top right wingers who add depth to an
already solid offense.
Sean Ritchlin of Rochester, N.Y.,
played with teammate Matt Herr at the
Hotchkiss School in Connecticut which
won the New England Championship
last year. Ritchlinplayedfor Team South
at the 1995 Olympic Festival where he
scored two goals and added three as-
sists through four games.
Ritchlin scored a goal in Friday
night's Blue-White game.
"Ritchlin should be a power right
winger, like a young Warren Luhning,"
Berenson said. "He's a physical kid, he
loves to hit and work hard and he can
score. Those things are the things that
we're looking for him to do."
Farmington Hills native Dale
Rominski, who netted a goal Friday
night, and Justin Clark of Grand Rap-
ids round out the right wing recruits.
Rominski played three varsity sea-
sons at Brother Rice High School and
was named Michigan's Mr. Hockey
his senior year. Clark played his last
two years for the Taft School in Con-
necticut.
"Clark and Rominski are both right
wingers who can play center or left wing
if they're needed to," Berenson said.
Greg Crozier of Williamsville,
N.Y., is the only left wing in the
bunch. The third round selection of
the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1994
NHL Entry Draft played for Lawrence
Academy in Massachusetts. He broke
the school record for goals (45) and
points (77) in his senior season.
"Crozier is the only pure left wing
in this class and that's probably where
he'll play," Berenson said. "He's a
player who has done very well in his
high school career and I think he's
goingtobeagood
Spl ayer at this
level. He's got
some speed, can
handle the puck
well and he's a
smart player."
Crozier, who
electrified the
crowd at Yost Ice
Arena Friday
Crozier night with a goal
and two assists,
said he thinks he
can contribute a lot to the team as a
freshman.
"I hope to give it my best and make
the team a lot better," Crozier said. "I
feel that I am getting a lot better
everytime I go out there."
Bobby Hayes, a 5-foot-10 finesse
player out of Westland, who also
scored in the Blue-White game, rounds
out the offense at center.
Last year,,he split time between the
Waterloo Black Hawks of the U.S.
Hockey League and Compuware (De-
troit) in the North American Hockey
League. With junior center Brendan
Morrison injured and the unexpected
departure of Rob Gordon, Hayes has
a chance to see quality time at the
center role.
"Bobby Hayes is a hardworking,
never-give-up type of player,"
Berenson said. "He generates some
offense and he has good defensive
instincts. I think he'll fit in. He should
be able to play and help this team."
Andrew Berenzweig of Arlington
Heights, Ill., is the lone defensive
recruit. He played for Loomis Chaffee
Prep School in Connecticut for the
last three years where he was named
to the All-New England Team and
played for Team West in the Olympic
Festival this summer.
So far, Berenzweig has been taken
under the wing of senior defenseman
and team captain Steven Halko.
"He's improving everyday. He had
great skills coming here," Halko said.
Berenzweig credits some of his re-
cent improvement to his mentor.
"I'm looking to help out the team
and achieve all of the goals we set out
for ourselves," Berenzweig said. "I
still have quite a bit to learn, but I've
got (Steven) who's helping me. He's
a great teacher."
With last season's success and the
addition of six quality freshmen, it
does not appear that gravity will have
any effect on the Wolverines in 1996.
By Alan Goldsnbch
Daily Sports Writer
Last year, theCCHA coaches could not
pick the correct finish of any league team
- except for first-place Michigan
Most coaches picked the Wolverines
for first place. This year, they were a
unanimous decision.
But after that, it's considered a
crapshoot for the next few spots in the
division. Bowling Green coach Buddy
Powers echoes the general sentiment of
both CCHA
coaches and
the media by
; w saying, "After
(Michigan)
you can put
five or six
Preview teamstogether
in a mix, and
then based on injuries and who comes to
the front in goaltending, that will decide
second through fifth or sixth place."
Somuch forrebuilding. Lastyear,Lake
Superior State, following its second
NCAA championship in three years, was
not supposedto contend afterlosing seven
lettermen and starting a freshman
goaltender, John Grahame. But the Lak-
ers won the CCHA tournament and made
it to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Now, the core of the Lakers' rebuild-
ing unit is ready to go further this season.
At the center of that unit are a pair of
Hobey Baker candidates, defenseman
Keith Aldridge and right wing Sean
Tallaire. Aldridge was asecond-team All-
American and fifth among the nation's
defensemen in scoring. Tallaire, the MVP
of the 1993 NCAA Tournament, is look-
ing for his fourth straight 20-goal season.
Grahame postedthesecond-bestgoals-
against average in the CCHA last year,
and will be counted on to do more of the
same ifthe Lakers expect to challenge for
the league title.
After finishing second in the CCHA,
BowlingGreen will sufferasevereshock
to its system this season. The Falcons will
not only have to do without Hobey Baker
Award- winner Brian Holzinger, but also
without their second-leading goal scorer,
Tom Glantz and top goaltender, Will
Clarke.
Losing three players who tallied 55
goals andagoaltenderwho won 14games
doesn't seem to affect Powers.
"Wereturneight ofourtop 10scorers,"
Powers said. "I'm expecting a lot ofguys
to pick up their game a notch."
The strength of the Falcons is their
defense. They return five of their six
regulars, including junior Kelly Perrault,
the top scoring blueliner in the CCHA last
year with 48 points.
"There are some guys who are going
to log a little bit more ice time," Powers
said. "So they're going to have more
opportunities to score and it's a case that
they're going to have to capitalize on."
Talk about losing talent. Noteam in the
conference, perhaps the nation, will suf-
fer from graduation quite like Michigan
State. The Spartans lost four of their top
five scorers - Rem Murray (20-36-56),
Steve Guolla (16-35-51), Steve Suk (10-
27-37), Dean Sylvester (15-15-30) and
the second-winningestgoaltenderin team
history, Mike Buzak.
Yet despite losing one-third of their
goal output, the Spartans return their top
gun in Anson Carter, who set off the red
light 34 times last year. Carter, a Hobey
Baker candidate, is the lone returning
member of the All-CCHA first team.
Along with Carter, coach Ron Mason
is bringing along 10 freshmen, whom
he's counting on to make up for some the
ground lost to graduation.
"We've got 10 new freshmen," Mason
said. "And we've got to hope that four or
five of them can play on a regular basis."
Sophomore Chad Alban will replace
Buzak in goal. The Kalamazoo native
went an impressive 8-2 with a2.73 goals-
against average while serving as Buzak's
understudy.
Although Michigan State lost some
high-profile talent up front, at least it
didn't lose most of it, like Ferris State
did. The Bulldogs lost seven forwards
from ateam thatplaced sixth intheCCHA.
"We're awfully thin up front," coach
Bob Daniels said. "We've got 10 fresh-
men forwards andon any given night, you
could see up to nine of them in there."
The strength of the Bulldogs lies in
their defense as they return all six of their
regulars. Among them are captain Dwight
Parrish and assistant captain Andy Roach.
"In the beginning, we're gonna take
our lumps just due to our inexperience up
front," Daniels said. "But by the time the
second half rolls around, we're gonna be
a solid team in the CCHA."
Changes will continue for more more
conference teams.This time Miami
(Ohio) will have to replace All-CCHA
goaltender, Chuck Thuss along with five
forwards who played every night for the
Redskins.
Luckily for Miami, one of those five
forwardsis not Kevyn Adams. The senior
center is an All-American candidate and
ledtheteam in scoring each ofthe last two
years. He will need to improve on his 49-
point output of last year. Coach Mark
Mazzoleni is counting on it.
"(Kevyn) was one of only two kids in
our program last year to score 20 goals,"
Mazzoleni said. "But I think this year we
have six or seven guys capable of pop-
ping between 10 to 15 (goals)."
Western Michigan will also have to
deal with the loss of its top goaltender,
Brian Renfrew. His replacement will be
decided by a battle between a pair of
freshmen and a junior college transfer.
19954$ preseaso
First-pTace votes in
parentheses. Cohescud
not votefor their own teams.
1L Michiga (10)
2. Lake Super0r State (t)
3, Bowhing Green
4' Michig an State
5. Western M ichigan
6. Miami (hio)
7, Ferris $tate
e 9R r t. J, -C q go
1. OhI& Stte
11. Alaska-Fairbanks
"We're pretty inexperienced in goal,"
coach Bill Wilkinson said. "But although
I think we're talented there, we haven't
proven it to anyone yet."
On the offensive end of the ice, the
Broncos will look to center Jeremy Brown,
left wing Chris Brooks, and right wing
Jamal Mayers, who will serve as captain
and assistant captains, respectively.
As he enters his first full seasort at the
helm, coach John Markell is looking for a
rebirth in the Ohio State program.
Markell needs strong senior leadership
from the nine elder statesmen that the
Buckeyes carry. Tom Askey gives Ohio
State a solid experienced goaltender,
which is a rare commodity in the confer-
ence this year. Craig Patterson anchors a
defense that returns all but one starter.
"I think a lot of teams don't know what
to expect from us and I'm happy about
that," Markell said. "We'll be much more
competitive in the CCHA and otherteams
will be aware of that very quickly."
Former NHL-star Dave Poulin takes
over at the helm of the Notre Dame ship
this year. He inherits a team that returns
its top four scorers -centers Jamie Ling
(12-31-43)and Tim Harberts(21-13-34),
and left wings Terry Lorenz (12-17-29)
and Jamie Morshead (9-18-27).
"We definitely have more talent than
lastyear,"Poulin said."Before we stepped
onto the ice, I made it aware from the start
that I hadn't seen anyone play, and many
people can use that to their benefit."
Alaska-Fairbanks is making its en-
tranceas an official memberoftheCCHA.
After his team posted a 5-10 record as an
affiliate member ofthe conference, coach,
Dave Laurion knows that it's not going to
get any easier, especially after the media
and the coaches picked the Nanooks to
finish 10th and 11th, respectively.
"(The coaches and the media) are not
going to give us the respect," Laurion
said. "We're going to have to earn it."
Although Illinois-Chicago lost four
of its top five scorers from last year, its
two most talented players remain.
Senior left wing Rob Hutson scored a
career-best 42 points a year ago, but
would love to regain the scoring touch
that propelled him to net 26 goals his
freshman year. Junior center Mike
Peron, who led the Flames in goals last
year, will need to knock home more
than the 16 of a year ago if UIC plans to
improve upon its eighth-place finish.
n CCHA polls:
Media poll
first place votes in
parentheses. Voted
COCHA media.
['n
i MchIgan (25)
2. Lake Stuperior State
3. Mic higan State (1)
4. Bowling Green (1)
5. M t mi (Ohio)
.V W estern Michigan
7. Ferris State
8. Mlinois-Chicago
9. Notre Dame
10. Alaska-Fairbanks
11 Ohio State
by I 7',
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BLUE-WHITE
Continued from page 18
an offensive game, not as much checking,
not as much contact. I thought there was
more intensity (tonight)."
The teams looked disorganized in the
first period, failing to make crisp passes,
but made a turnaround in the second and
third periods after a few adjustments.
"I think that everyone was a little ner-
vous, a little uptight and excited to play
and we haven't played at game speed
(until tonight)," Berenson said. "That's
why you have this game, to get some of
the wrinkles out and to get a little more
comfortable doing things quicker."
Sophomores Marty Turco and Gregg
Malicke started between the pipes for the
White and Blue teams, respectively.
Turco, the returning starter for the Wol-
verines, saved 15 shots on goal and
Malicke stopped 13.
"I thought the goalies played better
tonight than they did last year at this
time," Berenson said. "I thought that the
defense played better. It was more of a
league-type game tonight."
Walk-on hopeful Andy Watts put the
Blue team up 1-0 when he netted a goal
assisted by junior Harold Schock at 5:40
into the first period. Junior defenseman
Peter Bourke tied the game with an unas-
sisted goal at 10:13.
But it was the freshmen who stole the
show. Left wing Greg Crozier scored an
unassisted goal at the 17:00 mark of the
first and assisted on two others, one in the
second stanza, and the other on the win-
ning goal scored by junior Warren
Luhning in the third.
"I thought the freshmen looked pretty
good out there tonight," Luhning said. "I
think they are going to step right into the
lineup."
Besides Bourke and Luhning, junior
John Madden was the only other returnee
to score.
"I thought Madden looked sharp, re-
ally sharp and Warren is going to be a
force for us this year," Berenson said.
"Most of our returning players I thought
played hard and played well."
Michigan suffered from penalty prob-
lems all night. Thirteen different Wolver-
ines visited the box on 18 occasions.
Madden, who led Michigan with five
short-handed goals last season, converted
the only power-play goal at the 18:56
mark of the second. His goal brought the
Blue team within a goal of the White, 4-
3. Both the Blue and White teams proved
successful at killing penalties.
Junior center Brendan Morrison, who
is suffering from a knee sprain, did not
play. He will be on crutches for the next
two weeks before his condition is re-
evaluated.
"He's very important (because) he's
such a huge part of the team," Luhning
said. "(The whole team) misses seeing
him out there."
ILA&
JOE WEsTRATE/Daniy
Blue defenseman Chris Frescoln trips up John Arnold in the Blue-White game.
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