With the final seconds ticking away in the overtime period of the Michigan hockey team’s win over Ferris State on Saturday night, the Wolverines were at a clear disadvantage.
Playing without its goalie, Ferris State grabbed the puck in the corner and cleared through the center of the ice. Beyond the six men on the ice there was one more — forward Travis Ouellette, waiting behind the pairing of senior defenseman Lee Moffie and junior defenseman Jon Merrill.
It wasn’t a mistake by the veteran duo. Ferris State got away with seven men on the ice at a vulnerable time for the Wolverines.
And even with seven men, the Bulldogs couldn’t beat Michigan.
(If you’re as incredulous as I was that a team could get away with having seven skaters, see for yourself around the 1:30 mark.)
Ouellette drove to the net alone, deked to the right then to the left before trying to finish the Wolverines off. But freshman goaltender Steve Racine denied him and Yost Ice Arena erupted — the loudest it’s been all season.
And Racine’s save with eight seconds left, the one that barely shows up in the box score, made one of the loudest statements of the season.
None of this bodes well for the rest of the CCHA.
Singing ‘The Victors” after a sweep for the third time this year, winning their sixth game in the past eight, averaging four goals a game in those eight games with a goaltender standing on his head, the Wolverines have all the momentum, a necessary part to any serious playoff run in hockey.
“I don’t think anyone wants to play us right now,” captain A.J. Treais said. “It’s like playing in front of (then-senior goalie) Shawn (Hunwick) last year — when you have confidence in your goalie you don’t have to worry about who’s in net or your responsibilities. You expect him to make the right saves and even steal a few.”
Yet if Treais isn’t careful with his words, then he’ll awake the entire conference. His coach knows this; he answers without calling for attention.
“We have to go one series at a time,” Berenson said. “We know we have to play well at home and then play well on the road. Our goal is to get to Joe Louis (Arena for the CCHA semifinals and finals) to give ourselves a chance to make the tournament.”
And they have the personnel to give them those chances they didn’t have prior to this recent hot streak. Michigan didn’t previously have a goalie that could kick away a 1-on-1 opportunity with eight seconds left in overtime to salvage home ice. It didn’t have a defense that would get down on its knees to absorb shot after shot.
Now, the team has home ice in the first round when it needs the support the most.
This wasn’t a coach that gave up on his team, even after it was swept by Alaska at home for the first time in program history. Nor did Berenson quit when the Wolverines were swept by Western Michigan in January.
Instead, they continued to improve, continued to experiment and continued to fight when they could’ve thrown in the towel with the fourth- and fifth-ranked teams in the CCHA left on the schedule. And they’ve been rewarded.
“We’re putting the pieces together,” said senior forward Kevin Lynch. “Teams have seen how we can play. We’re playing Michigan hockey, and I think we’re going to be a pretty scary team in the CCHA Tournament.”
It’s scary because the team entered the playoff picture with a bang that no one predicted. The Northern Michigan hockey team is reviewing the video from the final 15 seconds, baffled and confused at how many men it will take to defeat Michigan.
A team in just seventh place, one that had its coaches, fans and players shaking their heads just weeks ago after giving up 13 goals to Notre Dame, is storming the CCHA, seemingly destined for Joe Louis Arena. No other team in the conference enters with as much momentum as the Wolverines.
“I still think we’re a team that has something to prove,” Berenson said. “Let’s face it, you can’t forget about the 30 games that we’ve played before. But nevertheless, I like our team, I think we have a chance to be a team that moves forward, and we’ve got to go one series at a time.”
You might not be able to forget the 30 games they’ve played before, but maybe you should give them another chance. Ignore the 54th place they sit at in goals allowed per game. Wipe the slate clean and rewrite the record: 3-0-1.
Because right now, “The Victors” has never sounded sweeter.
And now they have a reason to smile in a season that hasn’t provided many.
As sophomore forward Zach Hyman walked away from his press conference on Friday night, he stopped to greet five children sitting together, all between the ages of six and 10. He smiled with the sweat dripping off his head.
He turned to the children and asked:
“Did you have fun?”
How could they not?
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SOUTH BEND — The notion that the next four games matter for the Michigan hockey team is wrong.
The regular season is effectively over after being swept by No. 12 Notre Dame.
Forget about playing playoff hockey in the regular season and save it for when it was intended: the playoffs.
I’m not suggesting the Wolverines lose, or not play at all or play without 100-percent effort, though. After the Wolverines clinched their first losing season since 1986-87 with a 7-4 loss to Notre Dame on Friday, there is nothing left to play for but the CCHA Championship.
There are no statistics to be salvaged in these four games. In many categories, Michigan ranks near the bottom of the NCAA and CCHA standings, most notably in team defense as it’s giving up 3.67 goals per game.
The chances that the Wolverines clinch home ice in the first round are slim, too. Michigan has only swept one opponent this year and now sits at ninth place in the CCHA standings.
So it already makes sense to say this team can’t redeem itself in the regular season. But when the conference playoffs roll around, the Wolverines can make an improbable run where they get an extra chance to win a series with the best-of-three format.
I understand the counter argument that the Wolverines could control their own fate in the CCHA playoffs by playing for a better seed, but the way this season has gone provides no indication to believe that.
When it comes to facing teams with fewer wins, Michigan plays well, but the next two opponents — Ohio State and Ferris State — have much better records. The Bulldogs sit in fourth place and the Buckeyes in fifth, with both teams needing two victories at the least to secure their spots.
Consider that when the Wolverines challenge Ohio State in Columbus the odds will be against them. Michigan has won just one game on the road in 2013, and if they continue to allow almost four goals a game, it surely won’t get better.
Even a home game against Ferris State won’t increase the chances of winning. Michigan has only won a single home game this calender year in what is supposed to be one of the most formidable arenas in the country to play in.
So why treat the next games like they mean more?
You argue they should play for pride? I certainly agree. But that pride won’t come from winning a couple of their next games — it’s already gone. Pride will come from earning wins in the CCHA playoffs as underdogs.
I wouldn’t suggest this team quit, as that would ruin the integrity of the game above many other things. But there’s no explainable reason for the Wolverines to take a risk that could negatively impact them before the playoffs.
“We’ve got to get our game,” Berenson said. “We’ll work on all the things we’ve been working on. There’s too much parity in the CCHA … we can’t make mistakes.”
But this idea becomes more appropriate because Berenson and the Wolverines wouldn’t have to worry about making mistakes. There are four games for Michigan to make mistakes, to experiment and see what works without hurting it.
Michigan coach Red Berenson can take this time to re-arrange the lines, like he has all season.
He can leave in a goaltender that has struggled, like freshman Jared Rutledge, for the hope that he gains consistency and confidence when it maters most, because right now alternating them is having them same effect as throwing a body in front of the net in the hope that it will block shots.
When Notre Dame scored Friday with an empty net with 30 seconds to go, and Rutledge slowly skated onto the ice, the irony was that he was going out to be just as effective as an empty net.
But it also means that the Wolverines can work on their glaring issue of defense. While injuries have been a large part of their struggles all season, Friday and Saturday were highlighted by players struggling to account for opponents over the weekend, or prevent the Fighting Irish from skating near the net.
With junior defensemen Mac Bennett and Jon Merrill back and healthy at the same time, there will be chances for Michigan to regroup and also work on developing consistency.
So now the Wolverines are faced with the question of how to use the bye week. Should it be in preparation for two series that were predicted to challenge them at the beginning of the year, or for a long-term plan to put themselves in position for the playoffs?
Whatever they decide, they will have to use this week to lay a different foundation for the postseason.
“I don’t know if it’s a relief,” said senior forward Kevin Lynch in regards to the bye week. “But it will definitely give us a chance to work on some things we need to clean up.”
So if Michigan wins along the way, then it only helps, but it shouldn’t let a loss have an effect. These are the times to learn what works, because everything else that’s been tried previously hasn’t.
There are three weeks to figure out how to close out games, to deliberate about who can work well together and determine how to stop teams from scoring so frequently.
It’s a simple idea, really. The tough part will be whether it’s accepted or not.
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Greg Garno: Left wondering where hockey falls short (January 8, 2013)
I wonder.
I wonder why the Michigan hockey team can’t win.
I wonder why, with a healthier squad and in front of a home crowd, the Wolverines still couldn’t find their rhythm.
I wonder if a 5-1 loss to the ninth-place team in the CCHA, Bowling Green, is enough to wake up an unenthusiastic squad.
“We’re all looking for that one spark to get this team going,” said senior defenseman Lee Moffie. “Right now that’s hard to come by for whatever reason.”
Could it be the defensive struggles contributing to the multiple recent blowouts, struggles that reocurred Tuesday, highlighted by the third goal that slipped behind goaltender Adam Janecyk?
Trailing by one with momentum in its favor, Michigan failed to leave a defender by the net. As the puck slid behind Janecyk, he looked for someone to knock it away. He looked for a defender to save the game from spiraling out of control.
Instead, there was Bowling Green’s Ryan Carpenter, skating uncovered to the net to flip the puck in.
Missing sophomore defenseman Brennan Serville because of an injury early in the game, the Wolverines played from behind with one less teammate, but that doesn’t feel like the explanation. Michigan was playing with two strong pairings in front of him, led by the return of freshman defenseman Jacob Trouba and junior defenseman Jon Merrill.
But the duo failed to lock down a Falcon offense that has scored just 39 goals while giving up 54. Instead, there was Trouba skating down the ice with the puck in the second period, opting not to clear it into the opposing zone.
Many times during the night, Michigan found itself stuck in its own zone, unable to escape the pressure that ceased to stop.
“Our defense looked tired,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson.
Added Moffie: “As far as playing tired, we have no excuses.”
But I wonder why the defensive struggles are complimented by the offensive shortcomings that seem to doom the Wolverines when they need a boost of momentum.
Down 4-1 in the third period, Michigan saw a golden opportunity to grab a goal back and show a sign of life. Sophomore forward Travis Lynch streaked down the ice on a breakaway, left with only the goalie to beat. His attempt failed, though, as Bowling Green’s Andrew Hammond easily shoved the puck aside.
Lynch isn’t the only culprit. Sophomore forward Zach Hyman had opportunities and junior forward Luke Moffatt also had his chance.
Although the Wolverines were without their captain and offensive catalyst, senior center A.J. Treais, they still failed to record more than three shots in the third period.
“Sometimes the puck doesn’t go in.” Berenson said. “It’s harder to score when you need to score when you’re playing from behind, but we’ve done that before.”
I wonder if improved play on special teams or Janecyk’s inability to put together consistent play could have been the difference.
An extended power-play chance, a five-minute major, looked like an easy way for Michigan to end its slump. Yet the Falcons made easy work of the attempt, sending pucks back to the other end of the rink.
Yet, when the Wolverines needed stops, Janecyk was unable to make the necessary plays, letting the easy rebounds, the surefire stops, go in. Many of Bowling Green’s goals weren’t the result of a pretty shot or a well-timed wrister, they were the product of sloppy play in front of the net.
Janecyk isn’t the only one of Berenson’s four goaltenders left to blame. It’s no secret that the Wolverines are letting in a number of goals, but Tuesday proved that something is needed to spark the struggling group of netminders.
Still, I’m left wondering if there is something beyond the physical play.
The enthusiasm Michigan lacked in its past games, like Friday’s exhibition loss to the United States National Team Under-18 Development Program, carried over into Tuesday’s contest. When the puck needed to be cleared or a pass needed to slide in, the Wolverines were sluggish.
I wonder what Michigan will do to remedy its slump and play consistent hockey, reminiscent of previous years.
I wonder if this is rock bottom.
ADRIAN, Mich. — With two undefeated teams vying for a championship, Friday’s Madison-Britton Deerfield girl’s basketball contest had the feel of a late season game.
But it was far from it when all was said and done.
Both teams’ glooming issue of turnovers, forced shots and inconvenient foul trouble overshadowed the Trojans’ 43-30 victory for their third consecutive title of the Siena Heights High School Holiday Tournament.
But both teams’ leaders at the helm also saw opposing views on what ultimately led to the outcome.
“I thought we didn’t play our best, but we still found a way to win,” Madison coach Rick McNeil said. “Our defense really took them out of some of the things they wanted to do. It was a huge factor for us.”
“We just can’t beat ourselves,” Britton Deerfield coach Craig Tanis said. “It was just a lot of unforced errors. When we’re turning the ball over, we can’t score.”
It was Britton Deerfield’s 35 turnovers that attributed to its downfall, giving the Trojans opportunities in transition. The Patriots committed 35 turnovers, many of which came on unforced plays such as overthrown deep passes or traveling calls before taking dribbles. Several of Britton Deerfield’s transition opportunities were squandered by its inability to find the open teammate.
Madison also gave away the ball numerous times as well, ending the night with 25 turnovers. The Patriots’ defense still managed to hold the Trojans to 35 percent shooting from the field on the night, but failed to shoot better itself.
Madison’s defense did come through in key moments, though, accumulating 17 steals on transition passes or inbounding passes beneath the hoop. Despite Tournament MVP Ashley Bussing’s 12 rebounds, the Trojans failed to come away stronger on the glass, losing the battle on the boards 27-23.
“Our game plan is to put pressure on the ball,” McNeil said. “We attack the passing lanes as much as we can and just take a team out of what they want to do offensively.”
Neither team was able to find many open looks in their half-court offense, often times forcing a shot instead of making the extra pass. While fatigue played a role late in the game, many shots from running up the court were overpowered, forcing both teams to chase their opponents the other way.
“It’s just one of those nights,” McNeil said. “We’ve been shooting better than that. I think we just kind of ground it out.”
Fouls were also an issue for both teams, often unnecessary and detrimental. Madison found itself in foul trouble early in the contest, as senior Hanna Johnston picked up a pair and forcing McNeil to look to his bench. The Trojans committed 16 fouls, eight in each half.
The Patriots picked up the bulk of their fouls near the end of the game, which included Cambria Handy fouling out. BD had 17 fouls in the game, 10 of which came in the second half.
“This is the first time she’s been in foul trouble,” Tanis said of Handy. “She’s got to learn what she can get away with and what she can’t when she gets in foul trouble.”
Madison and Britton Deerfield both stood at 7-0 entering Friday’s matchup and entered the game looking like early favorites to compete for the Tri-County Conference championship this season. The Patriots will have a chance to redeem themselves Jan. 11 in what could be a important factor as the waning days of February approach.
“We were expecting a war, and it’s kind of what we got,” McNeil said. “We knew it was going to be a battle. We play them at home on the 11th,and I’ve already got that memorized on the schedule.
“It’s going to be another dog fight. I think these two teams could definitely come down to the end. We can’t take anybody for granted and need to play every single night.”
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The seed was planted with a smile.
Michigan women’s basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico stood at the podium during Michigan Media Day in October.
With a smile, she answered questions about her team’s outlook and composition.
With a smile, she answered questions about the slew of injuries to begin the season that hampered her capability to install her a high-tempo offense.
This season has the potential to become one of the Wolverines’ strongest in recent years, and Barnes Arico is at the heart of that opportunity.
The smile — the one you get when you eat a Zingerman’s Reuben or watch videos of kittens on YouTube — was plastered across her face.
And now that the seed is planted, she’ll have to help it grow.
Barnes Arico has plenty of soil, water and sunlight to help her first Michigan team grow. She has a group of five returning seniors — three of which return as starters — to hold her team together. She also has a core of bench players to provide the energy to a team that will grow fast.
Led by guard Jenny Ryan and center Rachel Sheffer, her squad has the experience to win close games, like a two-point loss to Michigan State or a one-point loss to Iowa last season.
She has her leading point scorer in Sheffer, and her leader in assists with Ryan. The two are also her top two rebounders.
Barnes Arico is also optimistic because two of Michigan’s leading scorers through two games — sophomore guard Brenae Harris and senior guard Kate Thompson — have unexpectedly stepped up in the season, even though neither started a game last season.
With a smile, Barnes Arico watches her freshman point guard adjust to a new style and new level at the collegiate game. Madison Ristovski, named Michigan’s Miss Basketball last season for Grosse Pointe Woods University Ligget, adds to a loaded group of guards and may receive a chance to start.
Barnes Arico has a system designed to take advantage of her guards, a system that moves faster and allows for more shooting opportunities.
Most importantly, she has a smile that brings a presence of never-ending enthusiasm to a team that watched its former coach leave for home.
“I always have energy,” Barnes Arcio said. “I told the girls after the first day, ‘You might think this is the energy that I’m only going to have on the first day and it’s not going to be here everyday, but this is who I am and this is how I’ll be every single day.’ I think it’s really important that I act the same way all the time.”
But a seed must also endure flooding rains, the wind and of course the dreaded squirrels.
The Big Ten flood of talented teams has rarely been a warm or hospitable welcome to a new coach, and will challenge Barnes Arico early. The wind of a fast, new system could wear down a team that will be running up and down the court more often than before. Centers like Iowa’s Morgan Johnson will dominate in the post over a lineup that lacks height.
But the seed, with that smile, is also a reason to be excited for Michigan. Barnes Arico, in her 16th season, comes from St. Johns after leading the Red Storm to a Sweet 16 berth and a 24-10 record, knowing how to build a program.
And the players are aware of her record.
“It takes about a half second to understand that it’s a program that works,” Ryan said. “It’s a philosophy that works. You can’t go against tradition and history and stats and that’s what she has.”
But Barnes Arico still has that smile now. And as her enthusiasm grows, your enthusiasm may, too.
It’s growing on me at least.
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On Softball: Deciphering the 2012
Time for a pop quiz.
When was the last time the Michigan softball team lost 17 games or more in a season?
(Go ahead and try asking Siri – she won’t have the answer.)
If you guessed 2001, then you’re correct. Give yourself a point at home.
Next question: how many years in a row have the Wolverines been eliminated in the postseason by an SEC team?
(Google won’t be much help either.)
Congratulations to those individuals who said that 2012 was Michigan’s fourth consecutive year.
Final question: What were the two offensive categories Michigan led the Big Ten in during 2012?
(Don’t waste your time looking on Wikipedia either.)
The answers are: at-bats and runners left on base.
So what does this all mean? Well for this year’s softball squad, it was the first time in over 10 years that they had lost 17 times in a season and were once again outmatched by an SEC opponent. Despite good pitching and solid hitting numbers, Michigan ultimately lost because it left 421 total runners on base this season.
I was prepared for an early exit after last year, yet I too set high expectations for this team. I was not expecting the Wolverines to enter the tournament as underdogs, though.
It was by no means a failed season for Michigan, which won its fifth consecutive Big Ten title and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals, but it was an up-and-down year to say the least.
The Wolverines, facing scrutiny for playing an easy schedule last year, competed against more ranked opponents ahead of Big Ten play to be ready for postseason play. They took on teams from the SEC and Pac-10, risking early losses for late season victories. Michigan faced 16 qualifiers in the NCAA tournament in their first 26 games before arriving home to play.
I overlooked the losses to unranked teams early on.
And I was rewarded with middle of the season losses to mediocre Big Ten teams like Minnesota and Illinois, and poorly played games against Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan.
The Wolverines would keep games close with their pitching, but when Michigan had opportunities to hit in winning runs, it fell short. Leaving a total of 421 runners on base was a theme this season – and the players knew it.
Against Illinois, Michigan stranded 29 runners on base during a three-game series in which they lost two games.
Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said they needed confidence to help build momentum and said they needed to relax at the plate, wait for their pitch and put the ball in play. But in the end, she was left scratching her head.
“If I knew how, I would have fixed it by now,” Hutchins said after a May 11 victory over Purdue, during which the Wolverines left 10 runners on base.
But the only thing Hutchins and Michigan didn’t know how to do, was lose.
Having lost just 14 games in the last two seasons, the Wolverines were in an unfamiliar place. Seniors Amanda Chidester and Bree Evans had never lost more than 12 games in a single season. This season they lost 12 before the end of April.
Michigan was unaccustomed to the feeling and didn’t post its longest winning streak until the end of the season.
But this team still succeeded.
“Our goal this season is to be the Big Ten champion and contend for a College World Series,” Hutchins said at the beginning of the season.
The Wolverines won the Big Ten title and advanced to the Super Regional after one of the toughest Regionals this year. They lost to the No. 2 team in the nation on its home field.
Let’s be honest – this team knows it’s talented and knows how to win. Its coach has a proven system of getting her athletes to compete as a team.
No matter what expectations we as media or fans set, it won’t matter this season, or the next one. Michigan had its weekend to reminisce and will move on to the next without any pressure.
I have faith the Wolverines will come back even stronger next year, like they did in 2002, when they came back to make a run to the Women’s College World Series after losing 17 games the year before.
Bonus question: Which team has the reigning Big Ten coach of the year, pitcher of the year, freshman of the year, hasn’t had a losing season in over 25 years and is primed to win its sixth consecutive conference championship?
(You won’t need any help to answer this question).
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