Friday (2/14) night:  Northern Michigan 4, Michigan Tech 3
 
I had an amusing entree to the final part of this game, which was played
on the Tech rink in Houghton.  A gala President's Ball was being held
on the NMU campus last evening.  My wife and I, along with another
couple, ended up at table with a third couple who are big Wildcat
hockey fans.  The male half of the couple went out to his coat and
retrieved his miniature radio and earphones to listen to the last
25 minutes or so of the game while at the dance.  His wife was (at
least relatively) understanding, but the other woman, who is extremely
opposed to the emphasis on "male team sports" in our society couldn't
believe it!  :)
 
In any event, thanks to this fan's efforts, several formally-dressed
ballroom dancers (yeah, he wore his 'phones while twirling around the
floor, too) were in on his relayed account of the end of the game.
After trailing Tech 2-1 most of the game, the Wildcats gave up a third
goal to the Huskies early in the 3rd period; then came back with three
straight goals to take the lead at 4-3.  The final minutes were tense
for NMU fans--*two* Wildcats were in the penalty box for the final half
minute, and with the Tech goalie pulled there was a 6 on 3 situation
for the rest of the game.  Corwin Saurdiff evidently came up strong,
along with what remained of the defense, however.
 
The "Ramada Cup" series between MTU & NMU concludes at Lakeview Arena
in Marquette tonight.  The winner will own the Cup, but the implications
of the game for standing in the WCHA is of much greater interest to all
of us, I'm sure.  (If the game ends in a tie the series will stand at
1 win 1 loss and 2 ties for each team, so I guess no Cup winner.)  My
apologies to my HOCKEY-L friend at Tech who has been requesting help
with tickets for the game.  I forwarded his request to my best contact,
but have received only discouraging information.  What is very frustra-
ting is that I know tonight I'll see a fair number of good, empty seats
(not a LOT in the overall context of 4,300 seats, but still some).  No
matter how big the game, some of the season ticket holders don't show
(perhaps they're "snowbirds" off to Florida, etc.), but NMU doesn't
try to make any arrangement to get those seats in the hands of others
who'd like to have them for a particular game.
 
We in Marquette are hoping last night's result is a sign of a turnaound
in the unbelievable 1992 slide exhibited by the Wildcats.  Even with
last night's win, they're 3-7-1 this calendar year, after being some-
thing like 12-5-1 before the New Year.  The long layoff after the Nissan
tournament in Anchorage, injuries to Jim Hiller, Dallas Drake, etc.
may be part of the answer.  It looks to some of us like in 1991 (this
season) the 'Cats were getting by with great offense and mediocre
defense.  Then early in '92 the fire went out of the offense, and
the result has been trouble.  It also seems like if NMU didn't have bad
luck it wouldn't have any luck at all now.  They *have* held opponents
to a small number of goals on occasion, but then scored one or two
fewer themselves; when they score 3 or 4, they've given up 5 or 6.
 
Hoping for recovery--soon!!
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                     *      Steve Christopher, NMU       *
                    *  "Go 'Cats!''Going for two in '92!" *
                     *        [log in to unmask]         *
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