Keith Instone provided us with a good summary of the two Friday games at
Joe Louis Arena, so I will just add some other comments...
 
IMO, both Northern Michigan and Clarkson played reasonably well in the first
game.  Both offenses were strong, but neither defense impressed me or a pal
who joined me at the Joe.  I was impressed with the scoring of Beattie (with
a hat trick) and NMU's comeback from a 4-2 deficit.  However, I arrived at
the Joe just as NMU scored the 4-4 tying goal and didn't see any of the first
half of the game.
 
Additionally, I really think that NMU's defense will have a very tough time
stopping the explosive Michigan offense--that is, if Michigan doesn't show
up flat, as they seem to do often.  My pick--Michigan 6, NMU 4.
 
 
As for the second game, I don't know why Alaska-Anchorage bothered to make
the trip.  From halfway throught the first period, it was obvious that the
Lake Superior Lakers was a much better hockey team.  The Lakers were rolling,
and Madeley will carry this team far in these playoffs.  However, I don't
think the LSSU goaltender can do all the work all the way...  LSSU will
beat Minnesota, but will be stopped by Maine.  Pick--LSSU 7, Minn 6 in a
great, close game.
 
 
As for the Joe:  Attendence, combined for both games, was 3,827.  The crowd
was tremendously sparse (JLA seats 19,900), but I enjoyed watching the game
from the front row.  It seemed that the larger set of fans was for the early
game, NMU/Clarkson.  NMU had a larger contingent than LSSU.  Also, the NMU
fans were constantly showing their spirit.  I'm sorry Laker fans, but I got
really sick of the constant whining I heard from the fans with anchors behind
me.  Nothing ref Gallager did was right.  He called a consistant game.  He
let some things (not much) go by, but he did it both ways.  Throughout the
entire game, the Laker fans behind me wanted Gallager to call a hold on a
UAA player when on the other end of the rink, just one minute before, a
precious LSSU player had used the exact same hold...  I apologize to those
Laker fans who are a little more conscious of the game as a whole--and I am
sure that there are lots of ya'll--but Some of your fans really need to grow
up a little bit...
 
And yes, the UAA/LSSU game was shown on the "Alaska Television Network."
 
 
Roger Spurgeon
Michigan '94
 
"Go Blue,
   Let's Go Blue,
      We are here to cheer for you..."