Is there a uniform way of reporting a player's "class standing?" This
came up a while ago when the Denver coach was remarking on what "fast
progress" Tony Szabo, who played for the NMU Wildcats in 1990-91 and
1991-92, made--he was a "freshman" in 90-91, and a "senior" in 91-92.
This year he's in the Italian pro leagues.  I asked Rick Comley aobut
this, and he explained that due to his time in the juniors (plus, I
presume, his age) Tony only had two years of eligibility at Northern
Michigan.
 
My question is--is it common for schools to list "class standing" in
terms of hockey eligibility and/or years' service with the team, rather
than in terms of actual academic class standing?  (I know about redshirt
freshmen in other sports, but that's always clear anyway.)
 
BTW--since the Great Lakes Invitational was carried so widely around the
hockey-conscious areas of the country I won't try to add to the TV
coverage, which I thought was excellent.  (At least in terms of camera
work--guess I gotta disagree a bit with my good buddy Bob Gilreath, up
at Michigan Tech.  But man, are those announcers pro-CCHA, pro-Michigan/
pro-Michigan State--eh, Bob?  At the least, they could keep the two U.P.
teams' names straight!)
 
I do feel the weekend can be a very positive experience for NMU, in a co
couple of very different ways.  They played very well against MSU in
the first round, and scored a 4-1 win which I know was considered a
major upset "downstate."  The 8-3 loss to Michigan in the title game
was--I hope--a major learning experience.  The 'Cats were unbelievably
careless and lackadaisical in the early minutes, and the Wolverines
with excellent opportunism (and, I suspect, a fair amount of disbelief
at how easy it was being mde) took advantage of them to get four goals
in the first seven minutes.  Corwin Saurdiff's goal tending was REALLY
disappointing, after being so strong the night before against MSU.  But
so was the defensive play of NMU in the early minutes.  Boy, that play
where Jason Hehr gave up the puck right in front of his own goal when
he was seemingly unaware of the UM player right next to him, and as a
result the puck was easily flicked behind Saurdiff, would have had a
Midget League coach screaming, I imagine.   Although the 'Cats really
improved their play for the rest of the game,  the goal tending was
an exception.  Saurdiff gave up two very stoppable-looking goals in
the third period--hard, low sliders he had a good view of, but just
didn't get his stick all the way down, so the puck went under it.  Rob
Kruhlak wasn't much stronger.  Hockey's a funny game--Saturday UM beat
Michigan Tech by just one goal (basically), yet outshot them on goal
by something amazing like 41-11.  In the championship game, the shots
on goal were almost even, something like 29-26, yet the score was 8-3.
Ah, what price good goal tending and close-in defense?
 
 **********************************************************************
 *  Steve Christopher, NMU  [log in to unmask]             * * * *    *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey National Champions  1990-91   *   GO   *   *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey Final Eight 1991-92           *        *
 *  WCHA League Champions 1990-91                        * 'CATS! *   *
 *  WCHA Playoff Champions 1989-90/1990-91/1991-92 . . .   * * * *    *
 **********************************************************************