I heard on Tuesday that Detroit had wasted no time in getting Joe
Frederick's signature on a contract following the completion of the
Wildcat season last weekend.  Wednesday's Marquette Mining Journal
contained the following story by sports editor Craig Remsburg and the
Associated Press.
 
 
MARQUETTE - Pretty soon, they'll be called the Detroit Red *Wildcats*.
 
The Detroit Red Wings announced Tuesday night that Northern Michigan
University senior forward Joe Frederick had signed a multi-year contract
withe the NHL club.
 
The 23-year-old Frederick--Detroit's 12th pick (242nd overall) in the
1989 NHL entry draft--joins current Wings Dallas Drake and Jim Hiller.
 
Frederick scored 28 goals and 20 assists this season for NMU.  He led
the NCAA with eight shorthanded goals.
 
"Joe is abig, strong forward who is a solid prospect in the Red Wings
organization," Detroit Coach Bryan Murray said in a statement.
 
Frederick could not be reached for comment.
 
Former Wildcat star defenseman Tom Laidlaw--Frederick's agent--told The
Mining Journal Tuesday the newest Wings' contract is for the remainder
of this season, three additional years, plus an option season.
 
Laidlaw declined to reveal financial terms of the pact.
 
"'Freddy's' going to practice with Detroit (today)," Laidlaw said.
"Then they plan to send him to Adirondack (the club's American Hockey
League farm team) for a while and see how he does there.
 
"It'll be a chance for him to get some games in there.  It's a great
opportunity for Freddy."
 
Adirondack is coached by former Michigan Tech University mentor Newell
Brown.
 
"The Wings feel they need more physical players up front, and that's
Freddy's role," Laidlaw said.  "But he can also skate and has a great
pair of hands.  He's at the top of his game right now."
 
The agent said the Wings "weren't sure how good Freddy was," but "it
helped him that the team did well, and (Detroit) scouts saw him do well.
They realized he could play in the NHL.
 
"Dallas making it big has helped Freddy, too.  It's really a credit to
Coach (Rick) Comley and everyone involved (with NMU's hockey program) up
there."
 
The 6-foot-1-inch, 190-pound Frederick is a 1987 gradute of Madison
(Wis.) LaFollette High School.
 
He played two seasons with the Madison Capitols of the U.S. Hockey
League before coming to NMU.
 
End story
 
In an associated story in the same issue of the Mining Journal, Wildcat
sophomore goalie Corwin Saurdiff was quoted as being interested in
exploring turning pro next season.  Saurdiff is known to have been
affected by the appearance this year of freshman (but actually older)
Paul Taylor who won a spot in a rotation with last year's freshman
sensation.  Both Rick Comley and Tom Laidlaw implied in their comments
on the story that Saurdiff, whose draft rights belong to the San Jose
Sharks, would be better off staying at NMU.  The Sharks have recently
acquired the rights to two other goalies, including Denver University
star Bryan Schoen.
 
 **********************************************************************
 *  Steve Christopher, NMU  [log in to unmask]             * * * *    *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey National Champions  1990-91   *   GO   *   *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey Final Eight 1991-92           *        *   *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey Final Eight 1992-93           *        *   *
 *  WCHA League Champions 1990-91                        * 'CATS! *   *
 *  WCHA Playoff Champions 1988-89/1990-91/1991-92         * * * *    *
 **********************************************************************