Wolverine Preview
 
Red Berenson's University of Michigan hockey team enters the
1991-92 season, the 11th for the Wolverines in the CCHA, with another step
forward as the team's goal.
 
The Wolverines, 34-10-3 overall/24-5-3 in the CCHA last season, finished
second to the nation's top-rated team during '91, placed second in the
post-season tournament and entered the NCAA Hockey Championships as the
nation's fourth-ranked team.
 
Michigan, the all-time leader in NCAA hockey titles (7), had a successful
1990-91 campaign which included team records for: wins in a season with 34
(breaking the previous mark of 28 set during the 1976-77 season), road wins
with 17 (the old record was set in '88-89 with 15), unbeaten streak of 16 (12
was the prior mark in '48-49, '63-64 and '76-77), win streak of 15 (previously
12 in '63-64 and '76-77) and 12-game road winning and unbeaten streaks
(breaking the record of eight set in '55-56 and '88-89).
 
Team defense has been a concern each season for Berenson, with Michigan's
goals-against dropping in each of the past six years.  The Wolverines'
improvement is evidenced by their 248 goals scored while allowing 162 (for a
margin of +86) in 1990-91, besting the previous record of +49 notched by the
'76-77 squad.
 
The 1991-92 Wolverines return sophomore goaltenders Steve Shields and Chris
Gordon.  Both had exceptional first seasons, with Shields setting a school
record with 26 wins.  He also received votes for Rookie-of-the-Year as well as
the goaltending position on the CANSTAR/CCHA All-Rookie team.
 
The 'M' defense features six returning lettermen, including senior Doug
Evans; juniors Patrick Neaton (a second-team All-CCHA selection), David
Harlock and Chris Tamer; and sophomore Aaron Ward.  Ward was selected fifth
overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
 
Harlock returns this season as the Wolverines' captain.  Neaton and Tamer,
both 1990 draft selections of the Pittsburgh Penguins, each offer their own
dimensions to the game.  Neaton was the CCHA's second highest scoring
blueliner a year ago, while Tamer led Michigan in penalties and penalty
minutes last season.
 
Ward returns to Ann Arbor after a banner 1990-91 season that included
All-GLI Tournament honors, a spot on the CANSTAR/CCHA All-Rookie team and
All-CCHA Tournament team accolades.
 
Depth will be added to the defense with a trio of freshmen.  Tim Hogan and
Al Sinclair played last season with the Wexford Raiders, while Mark Sakala
performed for the St. Michael's Buzzers.
 
Up front, the Wolverines possess possibly the most potent line in school
history.  The F-O-R line of senior right wing Denny Felsner, and juniors Mark
Ouimet (center) and David Roberts (left wing) will be heavily counted upon for
the 1991-92 season.  Felsner was a second-team All-America, Hobey Baker Award
finalist, CCHA regular season scoring champion and a first-team All-CCHA
selection for the 1990-91 campaign.  Roberts was both a second-team
All-America and second-team All-CCHA selection following last year.
 
Other key returnees on offense include 1990-91 CCHA Rookie-of-the-Year Brian
Wiseman; 1990-91 CANSTAR/CCHA All-Rookie team member David Oliver; seniors
Mike Helber and Ted Kramer; and junior Dan Stiver; along with sophomores Cam
Stewart, Mike Stone and David Wright.
 
The Wolverines have added two talented newcomers up front in right wing Mike
Knuble (Kalamazoo K-Wings) and left wing Rick Willis (Northwood Prep/Lake
Placid). Knuble had 18 goals and 24 assists in 36 games for Kalamazoo as they
posted a 26-8-6 regular season mark.
 
 
The top five power play goal-scorers all return in Felsner (18), Wiseman
(11), Kramer (9), Oliver (8) and Roberts (7).  Roberts also accounted for two
of Michigan's five shorthanded goals during the 1990-91 season.
 
After advancing to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs before losing to
eventual runner-up Boston University, the Wolverines are looking to go further
in the upcoming season.
 
Michigan will play its always rugged 32-game CCHA schedule along "The Road
to the Joe" (CCHA Championships in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, March 21-22).
The Wolverines will host three non-conference games at Yost Arena with two
games against national power Minnesota and a home-and-home series against
Notre Dame.  Michigan will also travel to Detroit in an effort to win their
fourth straight Great Lakes Invitational title (December 27-28).  For the
second straight year, Michigan and Michigan State will play a two-game
home-and-home series at Joe Louis Arena late in the season (February
21-22).
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Keith instone @ (euclid bullwinkle andy) .bgsu.edu