MICHIGAN-LAKE SUPERIOR
======================
> Madden sprung Warren Luhning up the middle for the opening goal midway
> through the first.
Call this an appetizer if you will. Nice to see Luhning finally get it
back together after what happened at the Soo with Trzcinski.
> Matt Alvey
Matt probably is the most overlooked player on the Lakers. When Lake
State comes to mind you usually mention Aldridge, Grahame, the Tallaire
brothers, Trzcinski, Felsner, Grahame, Battaglia. You cannot forget Matt
Alvey. He has looked good in every game I have seen him play with a big
goal. He can really shoot the puck. BUT I think the better Laker goal
was yet to come. I would tend to think Turco let a soft one in here.
The only soft one of the game make that the weekend.
> John Madden's 10th shorthanded goal
Not as exciting as #9 but still exciting. A Michigan player can actually
put a move on Keith Aldridge. Long overdue and very timely. Laker fans
probably are saying he is Michigan's version of Wayne Strachan. Michigan
feared Wayne when he played and now Lake State fears Madden as they must
play against him twice at Yost and once at Joe Louis in a regular season
home game for the Lakers.
> The Botterill goal
Timely also because Michigan's #1 line of Botterill-Morrison-Muckalt were
held scoreless at the Soo. They finally put one in behind Grahame.
Brendan Morrison made the goal because the pass he laid on Botterill was
perfect; and Jason just tapped it in.
> The Botterill penalty
Thank goodness Michigan had a two goal lead but an unnecessary penalty as
Botterill (Mr. Retaliation) takes a costly penalty for messing with Keith
Aldridge. Pi's rule is that if you mess with Keith Aldridge, you get
thrown in the box and that is exactly what happened. Great move by
Aldridge to save the game at this point. Sean Tallaire would make it 3-2
with help from his brother and Aldridge, a given goal.
> Brian Felsner's shorthanded goal
Felsner looked with like Wayne Strachan out there with a near-fatal but
outstanding shorthanded goal that knotted the game. Did someone miss an
assignment for Michigan? No, you know if you were at the game that the
Lakers would pull something out of their scheme when at this point and
they did. Felsner was the fastest player on the ice and no one could
catch him. Do not fault Turco here but if he made a save here, it would
have been the save of the game and the season perhaps. Surprise at first
but reflecting on the game no surprise at all. Also, haven't you seen
Lake State score shorthanded goals on Michigan at Joe Louis Arena in
mid-March before?
> The game winner
Could not have happened to a better guy. He probably has more heart and
spirit than anyone on the whole Michigan team (Might be going too far
here.) but to see Bobby Hayes score a game-winning goal in the most
important game of his life was tremendous for him, me, and any Bobby
Hayes fan out there. Luhning (who also deserves credit with the pass)
made it possible for Hayes to slide it right past Grahame. And believe
me no one was more excited on the ice than him. This probably pumped the
team up more than the fans at the Joe if would find that hard to
believe. I had that feeling; however, I was overjoyed to see Bobby score
the biggest goal in his life. The general Michigan Hockey fan would not
know about a Bobby Hayes but anyone that watches Michigan regularly
especially at Yost knows how much a fan-favorite he is!
> The Rest
Michigan had to play defense and not get too over enthusiastic but
Michigan would win this game if they totally relied on defense now; and
Turco would have to really step out now. Early on here, Lake State kept
the puck for a long time in the Michigan zone but never really got a good
shot off and Turco stopped all shots. Michigan would make it very tough
for the Lakers the rest of the way. The Lakers would have to fight to
get it past the Michigan blue line. Eventually everyone out there for
Michigan contributed in some way. When Grahame was pulled for the six on
five no serious threat by Lake State occurred and Michigan won a
fantastic College Hockey Classic 4-3, Michigan's second victory over Lake
State at the Joe in three years.
CCHA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
========================
> Goalie: John Grahame, Lake Superior
The best goalie this weekend. Made the toughest saves of any goalie.
DID deserve it more than Turco. Turco nearly let one in because he was
out of the net and at his own blue line once Saturday.
> Defenseman: Harold Schock, Michigan
The CCHA media does not seem to give Steven Halko any respect. He is the
captain supposedly making him the leader. Halko leads that defense NOT
Harold but I will say Schock is overlooked and contributed. Personally,
he is just solid like Tim Hogan was.
> Defenseman: Keith Aldridge, Lake Superior
Nice offensive weekend for the Best Offensive Defenseman.
> Forward: John Madden, Michigan
See Below.
> Forward: Gerald Tallaire, Lake Superior
Sean usually gets the most attention but Gerald Tallaire had a nice
weekend with two goals and an assist. Really stepped up for the Lakers.
> Forward: Bobby Hayes, Michigan
Honored for scoring the big goal in the big game.
> MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: John Madden, Michigan
Two outstanding shorthanded goals in each game. Three goals and one
assist on the weekend. Madden is back after a mini-slump. Definitely
the best player on the ice this weekend in all three games. Has had
great games before at Joe Louis so the venue sparked up his performance.
LSSU CONCLUSION
===============
The Lakers looked great Friday and just as good Saturday. Should benefit
by going to Albany with Vermont and Cornell in their bracket but they had
the #4 PWR rating so they are justly in the right bracket. If you
remember two years ago when Michigan beat LSSU, remember this season
because the Lakers could win the National Championship again. They have
the easiest road between Colorado College, Michigan, Boston University
(who will get tested by Western Michigan if they beat Clarkson), and
themselves. Good luck to the Lakers in Albany and Cincinnati and
hopefully Michigan gets to play you in the NCAA Championship Game.
MICHIGAN CONCLUSION
===================
Not only did John Madden come back at Joe Louis but also the Michigan
team came back. Much better perfoermance than at home against Miami.
Michigan needs to play the type if games this weekend in the NCAA
Tournament if they want to grab #8. This will take a team effort where
everyone will have to contribute. I would remind this team constantly of
the Maine game as momentum to spark this team. They have to want the
title to win it; and they have a great chance. However, whether it is
Providence or Minnesota, the matchup will be tough. Minnesota is an
offensive power led by Brian Bonin; and Providence is a good defensive
team coached by ex-Lake State assistant Paul Pooley. Minnesota will play
its first game in 14 days and could be rusty enough for the Friars to
pull a shocker. However, Minnesota plays its best hockey against the
best teams and the near perfect game by Providence will be needed; and
Michigan will also need one to beat the Gophers. Congratulations to the
Michigan Hockey team on a job well done so far but if they want that
gold, the focus needs to be there immediately.
CONCLUSION
==========
A pleasure to meet with some of the usual Michigan fans (John Haeussler)
and nice to meet for the first time Scott Monaghan and Glen Keeney. I
forgive GM Finniss for not being there and this Michigan fan will sorely
miss GM because HOCKEY-L will not be the same without him. I will pull
for ALL four CCHA teams this weekend to make the Femnominal Four ('my
response to Phinal Phour'). Michigan would probably love to play Western
again due to what happened this season but it will be tough with CC,
Minnesota, and BU hanging around.
Missing Joe Louis Arena to be there again!
==============================
Kenneth M. Baker
University of Michigan '96
1996 CCHA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
==============================
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