The Great Lakes Invitational got off to a great start with UM dominating Notre Dame 8-3. I rooted for Notre Dame but it was clear that UM was the better team. One note: all you CCHA fans got a look at one of the WCHA's referees, Bob Ames, who I feel is one of the worst (but not the worst) in our league. You noticed that he called at least four phantom fouls, his trademark. When a UM player stepped on the puck and the ND player attempted to move it, the ND player was called by Ames for hooking. Now, Ames was at least 100 feet from the incident while the CCHA ref was looking at the play from about 20 feet and made no call. I am not suggesting that Ames is unfair by showing favortism: I think he hurt the play of both teams equally. But ref's should not be a game factor. These are the kind of ref's hockey does not need. During the second game featuring MSU and MTU, the ref's were much better. Probably the best ref of the WCHA, Greg Shepperd was matched with CCHA's Piotowski (sp?). MSU 0-1-1-1 (OT) MTU 1-1-0-0 Unfortunately from my vantage point, MTU lost. I didn't maintain a box score but as I recall, MTU scored first during the first period with a long power play shot from Jeff Mikesch. Then, MTU went into a defensive shell. From this point until the middle of the third period, at least eighty percent of the play was in the MTU zone. MSU finally scored in the second period to tie the game at 1-1. MTU on a rare play in the MSU zone got a pass to Hanchuk (?) about 15 feet in front of the net who shot it through a crowd and past MSU's goalie Buzak. The game was 2-1 until mid way into the third period when MSU scored on a power play. THis tied the game at 2-2 and ultimately forced the game into a sudden death overtime period. About 15 minutes in the overtime, MTU's Lebel was called for hooking when MSU's Suk took a dive in the MTU zone. Film indicated that Suk is a very good actor. On the ensuing face off, a very fine pass to Suk resulted in the game winning shot from the right point. All in all: MTU was very effective in breaking up any real threats that MSU put on. In the first period before scoring, MTU did this between the blue lines. However, after taking the lead, they retired to the MTU zone where they continued to dominate MSU but taking no overt action to move the puck into the MSU zone. I don't know if anyone has told the MTU team this but you can't win at hockey playing only in your zone. MTU had a total of 16 shots through the first three periods (6-4-6 by period). When MTU decided to play hockey in the MSU zone, they showed that they could be effective. Buzak made several fine saves in the overtime, anyone of which could resulted in a different outcome. MTU's Jamie Ram was in fine form stopping over thirty shots. Jeff Mikesch had a very good game as did his brother Pat. MTU is showing improvement but the they still need to learn how to pass, how control the puck and how to successfully stay in the opponent's zone. The power play is pathetic. MTU's young team is showing signs that they may become a very good team in future years, if not during the remainder of this season. The stars awarded: 3 star: Jamie Ram 2 star: Buzak (MSU) 1 star: Jeff Mikesch Superior Play of the Game: Jamie Ram Tonight, UM faces MSU for the John MacInnes trophy. The way UM is playing, I don't think it will be much of a game. The consolation game between Notre Dame and MTU should be better. Sorry ND, tonight I root for MTU. :-) MTU played ND earlier at Fairbanks where ND eked out a win. Tonight, we plan to return the favor. Walt Olson Michigan Tech