Ever wonder what a goalie thought of the Wisconsin sieve chant?
     I asked Mike Buzak, the Michigan State goaltender, about it Saturday
morning after the Spartans had lost to Wisconsin 5-3. Getting sieved five
times in a game makes him something of an expert. Here's what he had to say:
     "It was a little uncreative after the first few times. If you want to
really irritate someone, you have say a few more things, like the Michigan
fans do. It was kind of humorous after a while. But it was impressive the way
the whole building come together that way."
     I think those wing-breaking passes by Brian Rafalski were of greater
concern to Buzak.
     Having been involved in Wisconsin hockey in the late '60s, and having
seen only a handful of games at Dane County Coliseum since 1974, my own
impression is this: The Badger fans have certainly simplified their cheers.
What really impressed me was how knowledgable the fans are. The really gave
the Badgers a lift by cheering their forecheck, cheering forced icings,
icings during penalty kills, etc. They know the game, they know what UW has
to do to be successful, and they really give their team momentum.
     It's almost a shame that so much of the focus is on the sieve chant. But
it had to get a little lonely for Buzak and Michigan's Marty Turco in the
seocnd period, when they were at the far end of the ice away from their own
bands and at the mercy of the Badger band and fans. I give these young men a
lot of credit; playing goal is tough enough!
     As for the West Regional, the two best teams that weekend will be in
Providence. But the Badgers came mighty close.
 
Steve Klein
Lansing State Journal
See you in Providence...