Friday, October 13, 2000

Friday, October 13, 2000, Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, Alaska

Michigan has taken to the road this weekend to play in the Johnson Nissan Classic in Anchorage, Alaska. Michigan still makes their early season trip to Alaska; it’s just not a conference game. Before I go into the tournament I’ll take a quick look at the national scene.

There was only one poll that changed this week and it didn’t exactly do Michigan any kindness. The USCHO poll was not done this week so Michigan stays at number two. The USA Today poll was taken this week and in that one Michigan fell into a tie for fourth with Boston College. Wisconsin moved into the number two position while New Hampshire vaulted three positions into the number three spot on the strength of their Ice Breaker championship. While I don’t have a problem with the poll at this time of the year the thing I find absolutely baffling is the reaction in the poll to North Dakota and Michigan. Both of them played in the Ice Breaker last weekend; North Dakota ranked number one in the country and Michigan ranked number two. They both end up tying their Friday night games to teams they probably should have beat and they both end up in the consolation game because they lost shoot outs (a rarity in college hockey) to decide which teams advanced to the championship and consolation games. In the consolation game these two teams skate to a 5-5 tie and from where I was sitting it clearly looked to me that Michigan got the better of the game (such as it was). Now this poll comes out and North Dakota retains their number one rank, but Michigan drops two spots to number four. Like I said I’m not worried about the poll position, Michigan will play their way back up over the course of the season (or not). I just find it funny that one of these teams falls and the other doesn’t when the two teams start the weekend basically even and then finish the weekend still basically even. Kind of points out the fickle nature of the polls don’t you think? It also shows how meaningless these polls have started to become. Enough about that! There hasn’t really been any other action of note around the country.

Moving to the CCHA, conference play begins this weekend – at least for some of the teams. The CCHA has teams all over the place this week with Bowling Green travelling to Alabama (huh??) for a two game stint against Alabama-Huntsville, Western Michigan is also in Alaska to play two games against CCHA opponent Alaska-Fairbanks, Lake Superior hosts Wayne State, Miami is hosting Clarkson, Ohio State travels to Northern Michigan in another CCHA match-up, while Ferris State is travelling to St. Cloud State. In tournament action the Mavericks of Nebraska-Omaha host the first ever Maverick Stampede tournament which will include Notre Dame, Niagara, Boston College, and host Nebraska. Both Michigan and Michigan State are making the trip to Anchorage to play in the Johnson Nissan Classic tournament. Three teams in Alaska, one in Alabama, an extra one in Nebraska, and one at St. Cloud, which I think, is in Minnesota (don’t quote me on that though). I hope these guys get to keep their frequent flyer miles! Because not all CCHA teams played regular games last weekend there were no players of the week chosen, however, Mike Cammalleri was one of five players who were tabbed as "notable" performers.

All right that’s the national and conference business out of the way, let’s talk about this weekends tournament. The Classic (this year the Johnson Nissan Classic) was an annual tournament from the 1983-1984 season through the 1992-1993 season. Then it went away for several years and was resurrected last year to once again become an annual event hosted by the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves. The only time during the original span of years that this tournament was not played was in 1989-1990 because of a volcano eruption in the area (I don’t think we’ll see one of those in Ann Arbor). While I just called it a tournament it’s a somewhat strange tournament; to me it seems more like the College Hockey Showcase. Four teams are playing, but there is no championship game so to speak. However, there will be a tournament champion declared and they use a long list of criteria to determine who that champion will be. The criteria are as follows.

  • Win-Loss-tie record.
  • Win-Loss record inclusive of shootout results (same format as last weekend in the Ice Breaker, if still tied after 5 minute overtime period a shootout ensues).
  • Head-to-head results.
  • Goal differential
  • Fewest goals allowed
  • Shootout differential
If two teams are still tied after applying the above criteria co-champions will be declared. This year’s tournament will include host Alaska-Anchorage of the WCHA, Merrimack from Hockey East, along with Michigan and Michigan State from the CCHA. Michigan will play Merrimack on Friday night and Alaska-Anchorage on Saturday night. The Wolverines will not meet the Spartans on the ice in this tournament. Let’s take a quick look at the teams in the tournament.

Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves (WCHA, hosting the tournament)

The pre-season prognosticators placed the Seawolves in seventh place in the WCHA this year after they had their best year since the 1993-1994 season. They came close to hosting a playoff game in last years WCHA year end tournament, but they just collapsed at the end of the year. They return a solid core of players from last year’s team including their top five scorers. Over the course of last year the Seawolves outshot the majority of their opponents, increased the number of goals they scored, and doubled the production on the power play. They also only allowed 14 power play goals last year so their penalty kill was also quite good. Their penalty kill was undoubtedly helped by their lack of penalties. They averaged only 8.2 minutes of penalty time per game last year. The Seawolves have high hopes for this year’s campaign and you can bet they will be looking to get their year off to a good start in this tournament.

Merrimack Warriors (Hockey East)

The coach’s pre-season poll picked the Warriors to finish in ninth place this year – which would be last place. They lost a lot of key players from last year’s team, but they do have some reason for some optimism. They should have a faster team than they did last season on both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game. They really went after speedy defensemen during this past years recruiting process and they seemed to have picked up a few. The only problem with them right now is of course their inexperience. They are young, but they are looking to take some teams by surprise in this years campaign.

Michigan State Spartans (CCHA)

Well we all know quite a bit about the Spartans. They are expected to be a strong contender for the CCHA crown this year, as they are every year. They lost a big chunk of scoring punch to graduation last year so they will be looking for someone to step up and provide that scoring capability. However, it really isn’t the Spartans game to be an overwhelming scoring machine. They are more likely to play a slower, defensive style of game and given the fact that the strength of this year’s team is their defense and goal tending I don’t see any deviation from that formula this year. You can expect the Spartans to play a clutch and grab, trapping style of game. I don’t like it, but it wins games for the Spartans.

Michigan Wolverines (CCHA)

We of course know the most about the Wolverines, or at least we should. I’ve talked a lot about Michigan in recent pre-season looks so I’ll just hit the high lights. Michigan is deep and experienced this season and they too see the strength of their team in their defense. With one of the best defensive cores in the country and strong goal tending by Josh Blackburn they almost have to be considered one of the contenders for this years national championship. The big question will be which Wolverines step up and raise their game to a new level. I personally think Kosick, Langfeld, Matzka, and Koch need to have career seasons (heck their seniors after all). I am also looking for this year’s sophomore class to really step up and improve their games (the whole class). I was really impressed with that group of players last year, as freshmen and they seemed to be picking up where they left off last year during the Ice Breaker tournament last weekend.

Overall I would say that Michigan and Michigan State are clearly the best two teams in this tournament and one of them should bring the championship home to Michigan. The championship isn’t exactly decided through head to head games so it’s really impossible to pick the team I expect to win. I would certainly like to see Michigan bring the championship home, but I’m more interested in them winning two games. They don’t want to drop these games that they should win; they had a couple of those last year and it did hurt them a little bit at the end of year. Michigan probably has the best game experience at this point in the season given the competition they played against last weekend. I believe these are the first games for the Warriors and Seawolves. I look forward to some good hockey this weekend and let’s hope Michigan brings home two wins – a trophy would be a bonus.

Jeff Jillson and Geoff Koch will not play in tonight’s game. They are out with a groin and ankle injury. I really screwed things up tonight. I didn’t think Michigan played until 11:00 PM Michigan time, but they actually played the early game so when I tuned in to hear the game it was already in the third period. I have retrieved the highlights of the first two periods from other sources and include them here.

Michigan got off to a somewhat slow shot and had shots hit posts twice out of their first four shots. Merrimack drew first blood in this game about midway through the period when Alex Sikatchev got a shot past Blackburn. Michigan answered about four minutes later while on the power play when Langfeld got a shot past the Warrior net minder. Assists on this goal went to Mark Kosick and Andy Hilbert. Less than two minutes later the Warriors retook the lead when Joey Gray beat Blackburn. The period came to an end with the Warriors holding the 2 to 1 lead. Michigan did hold a slight edge in shots on goal with a 12 to 9 count.

Things took a turn for the better in the second period. After going scoreless through the first ten minutes of the second period Michigan tied the game up when Mark Kosick scored a power play goal with 10:09 gone in the period. Assists went to Langfeld and Mike Cammalleri. This goal started when Cammalleri got a shot off that hit Langfeld in the arm. The puck dropped down in front of the net and Kosick was right there to put it in the Warrior net. Then with just over a minute to go in the period Michigan broke out of their zone and Langfeld got a pass over to a flying Scott Matzka. Matzka brought the puck down the left side boards and got off a shot. The shot was blocked, but the rebound came out to Andy Hilbert who got off a wrist shot that beat the Warrior net minder. The second period ended with Michigan in the lead by a 3 to 2 score. Michigan really extended their lead in shots on goal as they outshot Merrimack 11 to 2 in this period to end the second period with a 23 to 11 edge.

I picked up third period action with 16:43 remaining in the period and Michigan still holding a 3 to 2 lead. Merrimack charges the Michigan net, but they can’t hit their man going down the middle with the up ice pass. Michigan trying to get the puck down into the Warrior zone and they are having some trouble, but they are playing a very aggressive game of hockey right now. There was a big hit on the ice by Mink; he just leveled the guy. Blackburn comes up with another pad save to turn away a scoring chance for the Warriors. Michigan just moved the puck down into the Warrior zone where they get a shot off that is blocked by the Merrimack goalie. We are down to 12:40 to go in the period and Michigan retains their one goal lead. Merrimack working for a shot, they get one off from right in front of Blackburn, and Blackburn comes up with a terrific save to turn away a great scoring chance for the Warriors. Michigan trying to get the puck out of their zone and they just get it out. Michigan had worked the puck deep into Merrimaks zone when they tried a centering pass. The pass was intercepted and sent down the ice by the Warriors. After the icing call the face off returned to the Warrior zone. Off the face off Michigan works it out front and John Shouneyia hammers the puck into the Warrior goal. Assists went to Dave Wyzgowski and Jed Ortmeyer. With 9:33 left in the game and a two goal lead Michigan gets called for icing putting the face off back in the Michigan zone. With 12:10 gone in the period Merrimack gets called for a slashing penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Michigan working the puck around the Warrior zone looking to add another score to the board. Wow, Michigan is really working the puck around the zone quite well, getting off the occasional wrist shot when the opening presents itself. Now puck trapped by Warrior goalie we’ll have the face off to the left of the Warrior goal. Merrimack having trouble clearing the puck out of their zone as Michigan continues to pressure the Warrior goal. Michigan almost picked up their next goal right there as the Warrior goalie just came up with a big save to hold the Wolverines at bay. The face off comes to the right of the Warrior goalie. Both teams at full strength with 5:44 left in the game and Michigan continues to play with a two goal lead. Cammalleri leads a big rush towards the Warrior goal and the Warrior goalie stops the puck, but he looses it. The puck was sitting on the ice right at his feet and he sees it in time to keep Michigan from drawing more blood. Blackburn comes up with a stop to keep a dribbling puck from slipping into the Michigan goal. Oh man Shouneyia draws the Warrior goalie out and gets a shot at an open net and he hits the post. What a missed opportunity that was. Hilbert gets off a long blast as Blackburn sends a pass up the ice, getting it to Hilbert before the defense can catch up. The Warrior goalie gets the puck up high to once again keep Michigan from padding their lead. The Wolverines are just all over the puck and completely controlling this game. We get to a stop in the action with exactly 2 minutes to go with the Warrior goalie stopping another Michigan shot. We are down to the final minute of play and Michigan still holds the two goal lead. The Warriors get loose and get a shot off, but Blackburn gets enough of it to deflect the puck out of play. The Warriors pull their goalie with 47 seconds left in the game looking to make something happen at the close of this game. The game comes to an end and Michigan notches their first win of the season by a score of 4-2. Michigan ends the game with a 34 to 20 edge in shots on goal.

It took them little bit of time to get rolling, but Michigan really took control of this game in the second period. They did better on special teams as the power play went 2 for 6 (33%) and the penalty kill units turned away all three of the Warrior power play chances. Michigan State beat the host Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves in the first game of the night so going to Saturday nights games both Michigan and Michigan State have wins. Michigan State scored five goals in their contest so I believe they have the inside track for the tournament championship. It will all depend on tomorrow nights action. Michigan does play the second game on Saturday night with their game scheduled to get under way around 11:00 PM Michigan time. Until tomorrow, C-ya.