Michigan Hockey February 14, 2011

Michigan Hockey michiganhockeyonline.com V.21:I.15 | February 14, 2011 FIRST CLASS

LCAHL Family and Friends Please join us on Sunday April 10, 2011 for

LCAHL Detroit Tiger Day Celebrating Division Champions 1pm - Comerica Park Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals All kids 14-and-under get to "Run The Bases" post-game (weather permitting), receive free rides on the Carousel and Ferris Wheel.

Tickets are nontransferable and must be used on game day.

30745-AA

LCAHL Detroit Tiger Day Order Form Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals A portion of the proceeds from each ticket will be donated back to LCAHL. Type of Seat*

Full Price Ticket

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Total Cost Per Ticket

Mezzanine

$15.00

$2.00 off

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$22.00

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$20.00

(sect. 210-219)

Upper Box Inf. (sect. 321-333) Team Name: Name: Address: City: Phone: E-Mail Address: CREDIT CARD#

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+ $3 S&H

$ (U.S. Funds) All LCAHL and Affiliates must purchase their tickets with this form in order to receive the special discount on this game. This offer is NOT available at the Comerica Park Box Office or through any Ticket outlets.

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* Seats are subject to availability. If you would like to sit together as group please order as one group.

Tickets are nontransferable and must be used on game day.

Must receive orders no later than April 6th. A sales representative will contact you when your order is received.

Fax this form to 313-471-2599 or mail form w/ payment to: LCAHL Detroit Tiger Day Detroit Tigers 2100 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48201 Make checks payable to “Detroit Tigers Inc.” (Checks or Credit Card Only) or email Michael.e.ilitch@detroittigers.com

Table of Contents February 14, 2011, Volume 21 : Issue 15 AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

Detroit Moose and Red Wings Alumni raise funds for Epilepsy Foundation

6

SPEAKING OF HOCKEY

What do you like most about college hockey?

STATE OF THE GAME By Lyle Phair

The Bag Skate

GET BETTER

It takes more than talent

YOUTH LEAGUE STANDINGS

Tier I Elite Hockey League

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Western Michigan Broncos’ coach Jeff Blashill

FROM THE CREASE By Steve McKichan

Playoff Pouters

HOMETOWN HERO

PAGE 32

10

12

14

16

20

Colorado Avalanche’s Matt Hunwick

21

REEBOK TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

22

HIGH SCHOOL REPORT

Trenton, S.S Marie, Escanaba and Salem prepare for Showcases

JUNIOR HOCKEY

NAHL Report: Michigan Warriors have two talented goaltenders U.S. National Teams on their way to Eastern Europe OHL: Whalers and Spirit Notebook

Balancing Act A weekend with Michigan State’s Trevor Nill

8

RED WINGS INSIDER

It’s time to improve defensively

24

26 30 30

34

COMING IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

SPRING HOCKEY GUIDE

PAGES 18-19

PAGE 30

PAGE 34

With less than a month left in the regular season we’ll take a look at the CCHA race and have another new You Should Know feature. We’ll also take a look back at the year 1998 in celebration of our 20th season of Michigan Hockey.

Look for it on arena stands, at michiganhockeyonline.com and in your e-mail on February 18, 2011.

20th Anniversary Season MH celebrates 20 years with a look back at 1998

4

Michigan Hockey

Junior Hockey U.S. National Teams in Eastern Europe

Red Wings Insider Focus is on defensive play

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

Contact Lucia Zuzga at (248) 479-1134 or lucia@ michiganhockeyonline.com or Philip Colvin at (248) 479-1136 or phil@michiganhockeyonline.com for more information.

From the Editor

FROM THE EDITOR

Editor-in-Chief Philip D. Colvin

phil@michiganhockeyonline.com

Advertising Lucia Zuzga

lucia@michiganhockeyonline.com

Showcase Time

Database Manager Josh Curmi

jcurmi@michiganhockeyonline.com

Design Chuck Stevens Contributing Editor Kevin Allen Josh Curmi Distribution Lucia Zuzga Administrative Director Amy Jones EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob DeSpirt, Christine Szarek, Derek Blair, James Jenkins, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers, Linda Holland Lisa Zarzycki, Mark Vansaw, Nyron Fauconier, Randy Paquette Rob Mattina, Susan Bottrell, Tim Wilson, Todd Krygier LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MICHIGAN HOCKEY® welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and include the writer's full home address and day and evening telephone numbers.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY is published by SUBURBAN SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829.

Girls Michigan Metro High School Report

Every season high school hockey fans look forward to a big weekend in February where they can watch some of the state’s top players and teams come together to compete under one roof. This year, prep hockey supporters will have twice the fun.

The 11th annual Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Prep Showcase at Trenton’s Kennedy Recreational Center on Feb. 10-12 will have three rinks going at the same time, 40 teams playing 41 games over two and half days and players, coaches, scouts and fans packing the building.

Over the same weekend, and starting a day earlier, the inaugural 44-team Michigan Public High School Hockey Showcase rolls into Chelsea’s Arctic Coliseum on Feb. 9-12.

The MPHSH Showcase includes the red-hot Novi Wildcats, who are riding a sevengame winning streak entering the weekend, and super talented players like East Kentwood defenseman Jimmy Davis and forward Brett White, Howell defensemen Dakota Olvin and Kenny Miloser and Walled Lake Northern goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

The MIHL Showcase features powerhouse squads like Warren De La Salle, who are unbeaten in 18 games, and Calumet’s high-powered attack that includes 50-point scorer Ben Johnson. Wyandotte’s dynamic duo of Nick Kovalchik and Gerald Mayhew and Grosse Pointe North defenseman Scott Dornbrock will also be in Trenton.

Both events will be a great lead in to the MHSAA state tournament that starts Feb. 28 with pre-regional games all across the state.

Michigan Hockey wants to recognize outstanding achievement in the classroom and on the ice and focus on some of the people that make going to the rink an enjoyable experience.

But we need your help. Please check out page 14 of this issue and take a minute to nominate someone deserving of our annual Michigan Hockey Awards – the Female and Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year and Hockey Person of the Year.

Thanks and see you at the rink,

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MICHIGAN HOCKEY®, 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 483352829. ©2010 by Suburban Sports Communications. All Rights Reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of MICHIGAN HOCKEY or its advertisers. All editorial copy, photographs and advertising materials remain the property of MICHIGAN HOCKEY.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY 23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200 Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829 (248) 478-2500 • FAX: (248) 478-1601 EMAIL: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com WEBSITE: michiganhockeyonline.com

Cover: Michigan State’s Trevor Nill by Dave Reginek/DRW. Photos at left: (from top, L to R): Trevor Nill getting on the team bus after the Spartans win over Michigan on Jan. 29 by Philip Colvin/Michigan Hockey; Under-17 Team defenseman Connor Carrick by Reginek and Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard by Andy Grossman/Michigan Hockey.

Miami’s Andy Miele leads CCHA scorers

Cover reprints available email: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com

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Michigan Hockey

5

Amateur Hockey Report

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Moose Moose and and Red RedWings Wings Alumni Alumni score score for for Epilepsy Epilepsy Foundation Foundation of of Michigan Michigan The Detroit Moose adult team is all about goals and assists - and not the on-the-ice kind.

The Moose have a long history of helping people and organizations and closed out 2010 by hosting a charity game against the Red Wings Alumni team to raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan.

With over 1,200 people on hand at Canton’s Arctic Edge, Moose captain Derek Fowler faced off against the Alumni team’s Darren McCarty for the ceremonial puck drop. The families of Generose Wilson and Allison Thompson, both of whom had lost their daughters to epilepsy, helped with the puck drop to start the evening.

Jeff Wilson lost his nineteen-year old daughter as a result of a seizure in June 2007.

“I just pray I can reach out and help other families so they do not go through the devastation my family lives through every day,” he said.

The Thompson family lost their daughter Ally less than two month before the game.

“Ally never let epilepsy define her. She spent time educating her peers about epilepsy and how she dealt with it on a daily basis,”said the Thompson family.“She was an amazing example of how to live life to the fullest with courage, strong faith and love for her family.”

On the ice, the Red Wing alumni offered very little charity to the Moose by scoring four goals in the first six minutes of the game. Their tape-to-tape passing negated what little speed the Moose could muster against the former NHL professionals.

After building up a comfortable cushion, the Red Wing Alumni took advantage of the Moose in other ways. Fowler was hijacked by the Alumni team’s Joe Kocur at center ice at the drop of the puck. Fowler was the only one not aware of what was going on and not until the crowd cheered did he realize it was him in the fight.

“I had my head down for the face off and I could hear the roar of the crowd getting louder,” said Fowler. “The next thing I know my jersey is being pulled over my head and I am down

on the ice and I could hear Kocur laughing.”

Fowler was awarded a penalty shot and put the Moose on the board with a 5-Hole backhand through the legs of Red Wings Alumni goalie Eddie Mio. Shawn Burr made sure that players on the ice held tightly onto their sticks. Brent Fedyk, Darren Banks and Pat Peake, just to mention a few, showed off their amazing puck skills.

Between periods the Canton Mini-Mites took the ice and some of the Red Wings Alumni set up passes and goals for the young players.

“Seeing the mites reminds you of why you love the game, while seeing the families affected by epilepsy reminds you of the importance of what we do off the ice,” said the Moose’s Steve Cloutier. “The giving back is what stays with you long after our games are over.”

Goals by the Moose’s Jones (2), King and Cloutier helped make it a game. With a 14-5 finish, there were not losers on the ice, only winners off the ice.

The dinner following the game included appetizers, a carving station, multiple side dishes, endless desserts and refreshments. VIP tickets were available for fans to join the players of both teams that gathered to support those affected by epilepsy and recognize the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan for their contribution to ending the terrible disease.

Fowler presented commemorative awards dedicating the game to the Thompson family. The teams also celebrated the success of Sarah Letang, who has overcome the grip of epilepsy on her life by having surgery that relieved her seizures. She went on to college and a career in the medical field to help others and was an inspiration to the team to do the event.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan appreciated the support of the Detroit Moose and the Red Wing Alumni team, who together raised $16,250 for the Foundation. Moose sponsors include Double H, Brooks & Kushman Law, JGM Valve, Kocur Enterprises and Coldwell Banker.

For more information about the Moose check out detroitmoose.org.

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Speaking of Hockey

February 14, 2011, Volume 21 : Issue 15

Favorite part of college hockey?

“The mascots” - Sparty, 22, East Lansing

“I like the crowd going crazy.”

- Carter Farr, 11, Commerce

“The atmosphere because the fans are rowdy.” - Nick Ullery, 21,Grand Rapids

“This was my first game – it was pretty fun.”

– Michael Moore, 14, Dallas, Texas

“How much fun everyone has at the games.”

- Payton Hill,13,Wyandotte

“I like the speed and all the checking.”

- Patrick Liess, 12, White Lake

“I love the camaraderie of all the players.

- Bethany Sieloff, 27, Northville “How hard the kids play.”

- Justin Demo, Durand

8

Michigan Hockey

“All the tradition.” - Ryan James, 13, Dallas, Texas

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State of the Game

State Game of the

by Lyle Phair

THE BAG SKATE In mid-winter of 1980, as he prepared his team for the Olympics ahead, Herb Brooks had his players muttering his name in vain under their breath as he skated them endlessly and mercilessly up and down the ice at the end of a practice session.

Every winter since then, probably more frequently since the release of the movie Miracle which depicted the story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team and glorified what has become known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Herbiesâ&#x20AC;?, an endless number of players have muttered the name of their coach under their breath as well.

At least as much as they could while trying to catch their breath.

Every hockey player knows about the Bag Skate. Every hockey player hates the Bag Skate. If you have ever bore witness to one or have been on the business end of one you know why. There really is not a whole lot good about them.

If you happened to be in the inner sanctum of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, or if you were paying the slightest bit of attention during Miracle, you would know that there was a method to Brooksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; madness. He was not trying to physically condition his players, although they probably did get a little benefit in that regard. But he was trying to psychologically condition his players, to develop their mental toughness and get them to work harder than they believed possible. Most importantly, he was trying to bring them together, to get them to understand that they were a team, and all in it together representing their country, not just a group of individual stars from all over the country. If that team cohesiveness was spawned predominantly through a universal, temporary hatred of its head coach, then so be it.

THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALL WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE GOT? Unfortunately, most Bag Skates are a little light on the method and a lot overboard on the madness. And even more unfortunate is the fact that many youth hockey coaches tend to view the Bag Skate as a beneficial coaching tactic and a positive experience for their players. In my opinion that couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be further from the truth.

As a player, I hated the Bag Skate and thought they were stupid. As a coach, I still hate the Bag Skate and still think they are stupid. I also think it is a waste of valuable ice time and causes more harm to youth hockey players than benefit. On the very rare occasions that I have resorted to it, I am much more upset at myself than I am at the players because I have failed them in my role as a coach.

At the higher levels of the game, junior, college and above, where the players are pretty much physically (and maybe or maybe not mentally) mature, the Bag Skate might serve a little bit of a purpose in terms of getting a teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention when all else fails.

But the concept is really quite Neanderthal if you really think about it. A team is not performing as well or working as hard as a coach thinks that it should. So the solution is to put them on the goal line and have them skate to the blue line and back, red line and back, far blue and back, far end and back. That usually takes anywhere from 45 seconds to a minute the first time around and then increasingly longer with each subsequent repetition.

And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got? That is supposed to somehow make them play better or harder? Seriously?

10

Michigan Hockey

PLAYERS SHOULD LOVE TO SKATE The actual physical demands of the Bag Skate really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything but tire the players out and possibly make them mad either at the coach or at the teammates who they believe were the cause of the Bag Skate in the first place.

Mentally, the fear of the Bag Skate might get players to work hard in the short term when threatened with it or it could get them to play harder in the next game or few games after the Bag Skate. But the effects are always only temporary. Fear of the Bag Skate should not be relied on as any kind of motivator for a team or players. All it really does is get their attention when all else fails. The reality is that it is a desperate and short-term move.

In youth hockey, where the players are neither physically or mentally mature, the effects of the Bag Skate have more serious negative consequences.

In a game where skating is arguably the most important skill set, using that skill as a punishment makes very little sense. Why would we want there to be any sort of negative connotation toward skating? Players should love to skate. They should feel good about skating. They should want to skate. As fast as they can for as long as they can. Associating skating with punishment or using the threat of it as fear to motivate players canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a productive strategy in the long run.

BAD, THEN WORSE From a technical standpoint, the Bag Skate does nothing to help players improve their skating technique. In fact, it actually makes them worse.

For the first 15 seconds of a hard skate a player can maintain good skating technique, good knee bend and body posture with a long, powerful stride, returning the skate completely back underneath the body before taking the next stride. After that, it is a complete train wreck. The legs straighten, the base widens, the stride shortens, and the result bears very little resemblance to efficient and powerful skating technique.

But this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just occur for 15 seconds, it goes on for the 45 seconds or longer that it takes for the repetition to be completed. And then it just gets worse for each subsequent go around. In effect we are training our players to be poor skaters. And then we wonder why they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t skate fast?

If that is not bad enough, it can actually get worse depending on when the Bag Skate occurs in a practice. Some coaches like to send the message right from the get-go. Before a puck ever hits the ice, the players are on the goal line getting ready for misery. Down and back they go, over and over again. The ice gets bad. Their skating technique gets worse. They get tired. They get angry. If and when the torture ever stops before practice is scheduled to end, there really is no sense in doing anything else. For all intent and purpose, practice is over. The ice is bad. The players are physically and mentally spent. Anything done from that point on in terms of trying to practice to improve is nothing but a greater waste of time and an even greater waste of the money that paid for the ice time.

Yet the Bag Skate is pretty much accepted as a time-tested staple of pretty much every coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s repertoire, which is really kind of sad when you think about it. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got? Just because it was something that was forced on us at players doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it right.

Times have changed. Most areas of coaching have improved. The use of the Bag Skate confirms one of three things, the coach doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know any better, he saw Miracle too many times or thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing else left in the coaching bag.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Post comments to Lyle Phair online at

April 1-3, 2011 @ Kensington Valley Ice House Brighton, Michigan

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February 14, 2011, Volume 21 : Issue 15

High Performance Training Program A/AA/AAA PLAYERS ONLY

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11

Get Better

February 14, 2011, Volume 21 : Issue 15

“PRO AMBITIONS HOCKEY CAMPS is one of the top camps in the country” - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS

Not just talent A lot more than just talent goes into the recipe for building a successful athlete.

Discipline and a sense of responsibility are vital in anything you do in life. Kids need responsibilities outside of hockey that will help them throughout their lives.

There was not a day growing up that I didn’t have at least a half-hour of chores - stacking a cord of wood, cooking dinner, washing the dishes, cleaning my room or sweeping out the garage. My parents both worked. If I wanted to play the game I loved, I had to carry my share of the family load. I also worked full time in the summer from age fourteen. My dad always taught me to look in the mirror at the end of the day knowing I did everything I could do to improve both as a person and as an athlete.

Hockey is a constant learning process. Emphasize education with your kids, so if they are someday drafted into the NHL, they’ll have a solid education to deal with that high-pressure life. And they’ll also need a solid education to have a worthwhile life after the NHL. Kids also need to be “students of the game”. I used to study Bruins games and focus on my favorite player Ray Bourque. I’d analyze his every shift and try to emulate his moves, his demeanor, and his calmness in my own game. I learned a lot just by watching him. Brains win games!

My folks said if I wanted to start something, whether it was sports or Cub Scouts, I was to give it everything I had. They always taught me to be my own person and an independent thinker. And they insisted that once I started something I had to finish it! If I wasn’t happy on a particular team or in my class at school, they wouldn’t pull me out and take me to another program. I had to figure out a way to get through that situation, whether it was communicating with the coach or the teacher, or to work my way through it with extra help or extra work off the ice. They were really preparing me for adult life.

If hockey was an easy game, everybody would play it and no one would bother to watch. But it’s a tough game about overcoming adversity. You make your own breaks, so when something goes wrong, take the blame and find a way to fix it.

Even in the pros there are players who are quick to blame their linemates, their

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW

BY JEFF SEROWIK

PREPARE FOR

BATTLE

Even great players like the Detroit Red Wings’Henrik Zetterberg make mistakes – but they never lose confidence in their ability.

coach or whoever is handy for their own failures. They should look in a mirror.

Players need to learn to “own it”. This means accepting a mistake, learning from it and becoming a better person because of it.

I always marveled at how well Bourque bounced back from his mistakes. Yes, even one of the greatest defensemen ever made his share of mistakes. It’s how he reacted to the mistakes, how he recovered and didn’t let it happen again that made him such a great player. He never lost confidence in his ability. He always wanted the puck after he made a mistake. He wanted to make up for it, and he always did.

Learn to enjoy this wonderful game on and off the ice. In my hockey career I have met so many great fans, teammates, coaches, parents and campers. It’s really all of these people who give me my greatest memories at the end of the day.

So get to know your teammates and their folks. Show genuine interest in them.

Thank your coaches, your teachers, and above all your parents. Let them know that you understand and appreciate the tremendous financial sacrifice and the huge investment of their lives they are making to let you enjoy this great game.

Jeff Serowik owns Pro Ambitions Hockey.

Give-and-Go Shooting

SOURCE: WEISSTECHHOCKEY.COM

1. First player in line passes to the pointman and then attacks 2. Pointman bank-passes back to next person in line

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Michigan Hockey

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

Garden City Civic Ice Arena • Spring (February 28 – May 1) - $165 per hour

GARDEN CITY SUMMER 3-ON-3 LEAGUE

• Summer (May 9 – September 2) - $145 per hour

• Cost: $450.00 per team

• Ice available on first-come, first-serve basis only!

• Guaranteed 14 games

• 10% down payment required prior to 1st scheduled ice

• 7-week season

• Remaining balance due at mid-point of contracted ice

• 1 Ref per game

Call 734-793-1882 for availability

• 5-7 players per team (w/goalies)

SPRING & SUMMER ICE

• Games are cross-ice • No Checking, No Slap-Shots • USA Hockey player registration required • Mites & Squirt Leagues – Tuesday & Thursday Nights • PeeWees, Bantams, Midgets & Juniors/Senior Leagues – Monday & Wednesday Nights • Games start week of May 31 - July 22 • To register contact the Garden City Ice Arena at 734-793-1882.

• $225 deposit required to guarantee spot in the league and due at sign-up. Remaining balance due before league starts.

• Cash or check payment ONLY accepted.

PUBLIC SKATING

STICKS & PUCKS

DROP-IN HOCKEY

• Sat/Sun afternoons (1:30 to 3:00pm)

• Sat/Sun afternoons (3:00 to 4:30pm)

• Offered for adults 18 & older

• Friday Night (7-8:30pm) – Starting 3/18

• Friday Evening (5:30-7pm) – Starting 3/18

• Cost: $8.00 per skater (maximum of 20)

• Adults (16 & older): $4.00

• All ages and levels welcome

• Goalies FREE (maximum of 4)

• Kids (15 & under): $3.00

• Admission: $6.00 per skater

• Rental Skates: $2.00 per pair

• Goalies FREE

• Mon/Wed/Fri (11am-12:45pm), Sat (7:00-8:30pm)

• Maximum of 35

200 Log Cabin Rd. Garden City, MI 48135

(734) 793-1882 www.gardencitymi.org/civicarena

Tier 1 Elite Standings Make Your Nominations NOW for the...

Hockey Person of the Year

This award is presented annually “to a person who has made outstanding contributions to the sport of hockey in Michigan as a coach, parent, manager, association volunteer, official, or league administrator.”

Coach of the Year

Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

This award is presented annually “to a male student-athlete born in 1992 or later who has achieved a high level both in the classroom and on the ice during the past hockey season.”

Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

This award is presented annually “to a female student-athlete born in 1992 or later who has achieved a high level both in the classroom and on the ice during the past hockey season.”

HOW TO NOMINATE SOMEONE

Make your nominations at michiganhockeyonline.com or e-mail them to: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com Please include name of nominee, reason for nominating him/her, biographical information about your nominee, your name and your daytime and evening telephone numbers.

Would you like to become a sponsor of this unique event?

Please contact Lucia Zuzga at (248) 479-1134 or lucia@michiganhockeyonline.com.

FOLLOW THE ROAD TO THE STATE CHAMPIONS ON WWW.MICHIGANHOCKEYONLINE.COM

14

Michigan Hockey

MIDGET MAJOR

CHICAGO CYA Chicago Fury Team Illinois Cleveland Chicago Mission

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM 35 36 36 36 35

19 15 17 13 12

11 12 16 17 15

5 9 3 6 8

43 39 37 32 32

113 80 134 116 102 97 87 118 97 99

869 442 444 507 523

DETROIT Compuware Honeybaked Victory Honda Little Caesars Belle Tire

33 33 34 32 32

17 18 17 15 12

5 11 7 8 8 9 12 5 16 4

45 44 43 35 28

98 56 127 85 128 88 90 93 122 107

422 493 541 570 614

EAST Pittsburgh Hornets Buffalo Regals Team Comcast Boston Advantage Philadelphia Jr Flyers

32 30 32 30 32

16 15 13 8 6

7 8 11 14 19

9 7 8 8 7

41 37 34 24 19

105 80 79 72 104 119 59 80 68 99

387 553 530 412 279

MIDAM St. Louis Amateur Blues Dallas Stars Russell Stover Madison Capitols Ohio Blue Jackets

36 36 36 36 36

26 18 12 6 6

2 12 16 23 26

8 6 8 7 4

60 42 32 19 16

144 73 110 89 118 130 72 140 91 134

438 659 388 658 499

WEST Colorado Thunderbirds Colorado Rampage LA Kings Phoenix Jr Coyotes LA Selects Hockey Club

36 36 35 35 36

26 13 10 8 2

3 7 15 8 16 9 17 10 32 2

59 34 29 26 6

132 60 93 98 81 110 87 108 55 165

479 509 534 572 473

MIDGET MINOR

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

CHICAGO Team Illinois Chicago Mission Chicago Y. Americans Chicago Fury Cleveland Barons

30 32 33 33 29

23 20 11 7 5

3 9 20 21 22

4 3 2 5 2

50 43 24 19 12

150 57 106 68 92 120 59 101 53 127

556 428 508 530 379

DETROIT Honeybaked Little Caesars Belle Tire Compuware Victory Honda

30 33 32 32 33

26 26 15 16 13

2 2 6 1 7 10 14 2 13 7

54 53 40 34 33

134 45 132 49 104 83 99 86 100 113

350 471 872 414 696

EAST Pittsburgh Hornets Philadelphia Jr Flyers Buffalo Regals Team Comcast Boston Advantage

30 30 28 28 30

18 13 9 7 2

10 13 14 12 23

2 4 5 9 5

38 30 23 23 9

99 72 76 85 31

76 76 104 95 117

303 284 281 279 414

MIDAM Russell Stover Dallas Stars St Louis AAA Blues Ohio Blue Jackets Madison Capitols

32 32 33 32 32

12 13 11 7 3

9 11 15 4 15 7 22 3 26 3

35 30 29 17 9

94 83 98 76 41

74 96 101 123 136

385 318 328 408 308

WEST LA Selects Hockey Club Colorado Thunderbirds Phoenix Jr Coyotes LA Kings Colorado Rampage

29 30 31 30 30

26 17 13 10 9

3 9 13 14 17

52 38 31 26 22

123 48 99 63 96 102 80 89 67 100

512 352 266 642 253

BANTAM MAJOR

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

Belle Tire Chicago Mission Cleveland Barons Little Caesars Chicago Y. Americans Chicago Fury Honeybaked Victory Honda Team Illinois Compuware

BANTAM MINOR

Compuware Chicago Mission Little Caesars Honeybaked Chicago Y. Americans Belle Tire Cleveland Barons Victory Honda Team Illinois Chicago Fury

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

26 28 29 27 28 31 26 27 27 27

24 22 14 13 10 8 10 5 5 3

0 4 5 6 4

1 1 3 3 11 4 11 3 10 8 13 10 13 3 16 6 17 5 19 5

49 47 32 29 28 26 23 16 15 11

136 33 138 62 75 62 74 71 69 72 60 90 66 82 49 93 49 85 53 119

290 202 394 340 326 528 334 232 394 228

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM 29 31 31 27 29 27 29 31 31 31

22 21 19 17 16 14 5 5 5 4

2 4 8 6 8 5 21 23 25 26

5 6 4 4 5 8 3 3 1 1

49 48 42 38 37 36 13 13 11 9

176 57 136 41 129 68 121 46 107 62 113 56 52 124 52 161 42 180 43 176

499 411 299 184 344 401 551 343 292 628

PEE WEE MAJOR

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

PEE WEE MINOR

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

SQUIRT MAJOR

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

SQUIRT MINOR

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

GIRLS 19U

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

GIRLS 16U

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

GIRLS 14U

GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM

Little Caesars Honeybaked Chicago Mission Compuware Team Illinois Cleveland Belle Tire Victory Honda CYA Chicago Fury

Chicago Mission Little Caesars Team Illinois Honeybaked Compuware Chicago Fury Belle Tire Victory Honda Chicago Y. Americans Cleveland Barons Little Caesars Chicago Mission Honeybaked Cleveland Barons Compuware Victory Honda CYA Belle Tire Team Illinois Chicago Fury Honeybaked Little Caesars Compuware Belle Tire Cleveland Barons Victory Honda

Belle Tire Chicago Mission Little Caesars Pittsburgh Penguins Elite CYA Madison Capitols Victory Honda New Jersey Rockets Honeybaked Ohio Flames St Louis Lady Blues Team Illinois Honeybaked Little Caesars Chicago Mission Madison Capitols Pittsburgh Penguins Elite CYA St Louis Lady Blues Wisconsin Wild Team Illinois Victory Honda Compuware Ohio Flames Chicago Fury Belle Tire Chicago Mission CYA Little Caesars Honeybaked Chicago Fury Ohio Flames St Louis Lady Blues Pittsburgh Pens Elite Wisconsin Wild Compuware Victory Honda Team Illinois

31 28 27 29 26 31 30 31 29 28 31 26 28 29 29 29 28 29 30 29 30 30 29 29 29 30 31 29 31 30 17 16 18 14 14 17

17 17 15 15 17 14 17 15 17 13 15 16 22 22 22 21 16 21 17 17 22 22 22 16 22 22 18 18 18 18 18 17 17 17 17 18 18 18

26 22 20 17 11 11 9 9 3 0 31 21 16 16 15 13 9 6 5 0 28 22 19 15 15 11 6 5 6 4 14 13 7 6 2 2

14 13 11 7 5 7 4 5 4 4 4 0

20 17 16 14 12 12 9 6 4 4 4 2 2 1 16 15 10 9 9 7 7 7 7 3 2 1

0 2 3 6 11 18 18 20 23 27

0 4 8 12 12 13 14 16 24 29 0 4 4 9 12 18 21 18 22 23

3 2 10 6 10 13 1 4 3 5 6 6 6 6 9 6 10 16

0 3 4 6 2 7 4 10 13 15 16 10 17 16 1 2 4 4 8 7 8 8 9 12 15 15

5 4 4 6 4 2 3 2 3 1 0 1 4 1 2 3 5 7 1 0 2 4 6 5 2 1 4 6 3 3 0 1 1 2 2 2

2 0 1 3 6 1 7 4 4 3 1 0 2 2 2 1 2 2 4 1 5 3 2 4 3 5 1 1 4 5 1 3 2 2 1 3 1 2

57 48 44 40 26 24 21 20 9 1 62 43 36 33 32 29 23 19 11 0 58 48 44 35 32 23 16 16 15 11 28 27 15 14 6 6

30 26 23 17 16 15 15 14 12 11 9 0 42 36 34 29 26 26 22 13 13 11 10 8 7 7 33 31 24 23 19 17 16 16 15 9 5 4

234 55 171 52 156 50 142 60 72 88 99 129 86 138 92 126 53 145 23 285

241 36 204 43 106 69 105 83 125 92 89 106 82 107 64 144 66 207 29 224 174 49 143 53 122 57 106 81 84 85 78 117 86 151 61 107 42 100 81 177 78 114 44 52 41 28 77 61 54 39 39 30 33 52 19 42 27 12

38 22 75 51 75 96

18 19 19 32 33 26 40 44 42 38 65 109

122 13 83 21 97 18 73 28 52 13 56 38 32 23 33 52 30 81 29 73 25 94 15 45 24 91 22 103 86 79 58 41 71 55 44 40 49 30 30 12

20 21 32 34 49 45 55 53 61 59 106 60

330 196 214 319 390 345 260 286 378 164 332 383 262 272 531 292 228 402 331 372 353 260 295 234 324 308 289 243 297 299 114 136 156 100 54 140

172 117 134 94 176 128 154 118 147 56 108 82

120 219 165 128 114 151 76 182 171 330 185 134 114 173 136 156 148 106 148 130 108 152 112 186 164 134

Standings by Pointstreak

This award is presented annually “to a head coach from Michigan who is widely regarded as an excellent teacher, role model, and tactician and whose players are regarded to be well-disciplined and reach their full potential under the coach’s guidance.”

Tier 1 Elite Standings (February 07, 2011)

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MichiganHockeyOnline.com

Michigan Hockey

15

PHOTO BY RICK KIMBALL/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

REMEMBERING YOUR FIRST CAR:

Blue Pontiac Grand Am. I drove it to Alaska from Des Moines, Iowa with junior hockey teammate Nick Krueger.

FIRST CONCERT:

Ozzy Osbourne.

THREE PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH:

Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Colin Powell.

FAVORITE MOVIE:

Saving Private Ryan.

MUST SEE TV:

Right now my wife and I are watching the first season of “The West Wing.” Pretty lame, I know.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE:

Any one that would give us the ability to score more goals.

ONE HOUR OF FREE TIMEWHAT DO YOU DO:

Play with my kids.

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Playing street hockey in S.S. Marie.

YOU JUST WON 1 MILLION DOLLARS, WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND IT ON: Buy a house on Lake Michigan.

WHAT HAS HOCKEY TAUGHT YOU:

Perseverance, work ethic and discipline.

So many life lessons.

After taking over a Western Michigan program that had finished in last place in the CCHA two out of the last three years, S.S. Marie native Jeff Blashill has led the fourth-place Broncos to a 15-6-9 record in their first 30 games. A former goalie at Ferris State (1994-98), Blashill made the CCHA all-academic team in 1996-97 and graduated with a degree in finance. He then spent four years as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs and six more at Miami University before becoming the general manager and head coach of the Indiana Ice of the Junior A United States Hockey League (USHL). Blashill led the Ice to the 2009 Clark Cup as league’s playoff champions in his first season. Blashill and his wife, Erica, have two kids, Teddy and Josie.

2011

SPRING TRYOUTS Place your tryout ad in Michigan Hockey and reach the most players and parents 3 to 1 over any other hockey publication in Michigan.

Print – Over 8,000 free copies distributed at over 100 arenas Digital – Over 65,000 page views per issue Website – Over 10,000 visitors monthly

ALL PACKAGES INCLUDE A FREE ONLINE AD THRU DURATION OF YOUR TRYOUTS - SINGLE ISSUE ADS ARE ONLINE UNTIL NEXT ISSUE IS POSTED.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY TRYOUT ISSUES FEBRUARY 21 - Ad copy due: February 9 MARCH 7 - Ad copy due: Febuary 23 MARCH 14 - Ad copy due: March 2

MARCH 21 - Ad copy due: March 9 APRIL 11 - Ad copy due: March 30 APRIL 25 - Ad copy due: April 13

ALL ADS IN FULL COLOR Why would you go anywhere else for tryouts – WE HAVE IT ALL! Get more for your money with Michigan Hockey – we reach more players and parents, period!

Call Lucia today at (248) 479-1134 to place your ad or go online to our new website: www.michiganhockeyonline.com

Michigan Hockey 20th Season

20 Years/20 Issues Michigan Hockey Headlines The Detroit Red Wings win back to back Stanley Cups, again in a sweep, this time over the Washington Capitals.

Captain Steve Yzerman is named the Conn Smyth winner as playoff MVP. The Wings win game 4, 4-1 behind the great play of 25 year old goaltender Chris Osgood.

The University of Michigan wins the NCAA title for the second time in three years. Freshman Josh Langfeld scored for the Wolverines to beat Boston College in overtime 3-2 at the Fleet Center in Boston, MA. Senior goaltender Marty Turco ends his career as the NCAA winningest goaltender in both regular-season and playoff history.

January 26th President Clinton says “I want to say one thing to the American people. I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky”

JANUARY January 19th Destiny’s Child releases “With Me” single off their debut album

January 1st Rose Bowl, Michigan Wolverines beat Washington State Cougars 21 - 16 18

Michigan Hockey

February 17th USA Women’s Hockey Team beats Canada for 1st Olympic Gold medal

February 4th Bill Gates gets a pie thrown in his face in Brussels, Belgium

February 8th 1st female ice hockey game in Olympic history Finland beats Sweden 6-0

Detroit Red Wings Sergei Fedorov ends an eight month contract dispute and rejoins the team. Despite Fedorov feeling he would never again wear the winged wheel, Detroit matched the Carolina Hurricanes offer.

The decision proved itself later that season when Federov and the Wings once again lifted Lord Stanley’s Cup.

May 14th Frank Sinatra passes away

February 20th Tara Lipinski wins Olympic figure skating gold medal

FEBRUARY

Tom Anastos (Dearborn) is named commissioner of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association replacing Bill Beagan as, who held the position for 13 seasons. Anastos was previously the commissioner of the North American Hockey league for the last four seasons. Anastos is currently in his thirteenth seasons as the league’s top official.

June 2nd Stanley Cup Finals, Detroit Red Wings sweep the Washington Capitals

March 27th FDA Approves Viagra

MARCH

APRIL

March 23rd 70th Academy Awards: Titanic wins eleven Oscars

May 12th Larry Bird is Named NBA Coach of the Year

February 7th 18th Winter Olympic games open at Nagano Japan MichiganHockeyOnline.com

MAY

JUNE

May 14th Last episode of Seinfeld on NBC, commercials are $2 million each

June 30th Linda Tripp begins to testify before a grand jury about the Lewinsky case

Michigan Hockey 20th Season

February 14, 2011 Volume 21 : Issue 15

Flashback: CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

MLB Champion New York Yankees

Cost of a U.S. Stamp $0.32

NFL Superbowl winner Denver Broncos

Hart trophy - NHL MVP Dominik Hasek-Buffalo Sabres

NBA Champion Chicago Bulls

Cost of a dozen Eggs 1.09

NHL Stanley Cup winner Detroit Red Wings

Cost of a gallon of Milk $3.16

OHL Champion Guelph Storm

Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.06

Memorial Cup Champion Portland Winter Hawks

#1 Song My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion

NCAA Champion Michigan Academy Award’s Top Movie Shakespeare in Love Top Television Show E.R. Jack Adams awardTop NHL Coach Pat Burns-Boston Bruins

July 24th “Saving Private Ryan” is released

JULY

Ross trophy - Top NHL scorer Jaromir Jagr-Penguins #1 NHL Draft Pick Vinny Lecavlier-Tampa Bay CCHA Reg. Season Champion Michigan State Vezina trophy Best NHL Goaltender Dominik Hasek-Buffalo Sabres

August 17th President Bill Clinton testifies before a grand jury investigating his conduct (first president to do so), and admits an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with Monica Lewinsky

AUGUST

A year after breaking a 42-year Stanley Cup drought in 1997, the Detroit Red Wings did it again in 1998.

Behind the strong play of goaltender Chris Osgood and center Sergei Fedorov, the Red Wings swept the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup final to become the first team to repeat since the Pittsburgh Penguins did it in 1991-92.

The Red Wings won the Cup again without workhorse defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov, who would never play again after being seriously injured in a limousine crash along with team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov on June 13, 1997.

The accident seemed to help the Red Wings bond as a team with one common goal: to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. “(Vladdie) was never forgotten by our team, but he was never used as a motivational ploy,” said Detroit captain Steve Yzerman, who was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as series MVP. “We just constantly followed his and Sergei’s recoveries.

“If anything, our team grew closer throughout the year and that is probably the biggest reason why we were successful.”

Konstantinov joined the Red Wings on the ice in a wheelchair after Detroit clinched the 1998 Stanley Cup with a 4-1 win in Washington on June 16. After hoisting the Cup over his head, Yzerman handed it to Konstantinov and he carried it on his lap as he was wheeled around the ice for a victory lap.

“Everyone knows what it was for us to get the Cup and have Vladdie involved in it,” said Detroit coach Scotty Bowman.

Just two months earlier, the Michigan Wolverines captured the 1998 NCAA national championship, their second in three seasons, on April 4 with a 3-2 overtime victory over Boston College on freshman Josh Langfield’s winning goal at Boston’s FleetCenter.

“I shot it low, it went in the net and we’re national champions,” said Langfield.

October 27th Mark McGwire hits record-setting 70th home run

December 31st U.S. movie box office hits record $6.24 billion for year November 29th Pixar Animation Studios’ A Bug’s Life is released

September 4th Google is founded

SEPTEMBER September 8th Mark McGwire breaks Roger Maris’ Single-Season Home Run Record of 61

July 12th France Defeats Brazil to win the 1998 World Cup Final

Michigan had struggled to score all season long and had won numerous tight games in route to the final. The Eagles had numerous scoring chances and hit goalposts, but the Wolverines got two goals from freshman Mark Kosick and outstanding goaltending from senior Marty Turco.

Michigan also won the 1996 national title on Brendan Morrison’s OT goal, and they savored the feeling of winning their second championship in three seasons on heart and sheer effort.

“When we won (in 1996) it was a monkey off everyone’s back,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “This game we shouldn’t have won, yet we did. And it’s an even greater feeling.”

By Philip Colvin

OCTOBER October 29th John Glenn returns to space at the age of 77 as a payload specialist on the Discovery

September 1st Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Released in the US MichiganHockeyOnline.com

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

December 19th House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment, charging President Clinton with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice

Michigan Hockey

19

From the Crease

STEVE McKICHAN From the crease No time for playoff pouters With playoffs in full swing, at this time of the season my role often switches to that of a psychologist rather than a technical goalie coach.

Why, you might ask, does that happen? It’s a great question.

The short answer is that all too often goalies (and/or their parents) do not want to accept responsibility for their lack of performance.

I look at the regular season as the time to establish your credentials for the postseason. Generally, in youth hockey there is close to a 50/50 split of games between goalies during the regular season. Each and every one of these games needs to be understood for what it really is - a test and an opportunity to prove you are the number one goalie.

CONSTANT EVALUATION Goalies often fail to grasp this fundamental truth that they are constantly being evaluated and you are only as good as your last start. It may seem harsh but at its core it is the truth. Put together two or three stinkers and you go from #1 to #2 in a hurry.

Coaches are constantly evaluating goalies and forming opinions. Those opinions can be backed by stats, but over the course of the season a body of opinion calcifies and a #1 goalie emerges. Once that opinion is formed it is often difficult to change it, especially if you are deemed the #2 goalie.

Past history and a record of success will often buy a goalie greater respect and the benefit of the doubt, something the #2 goalie cannot dismiss nor

20

Michigan Hockey

minimize. If in doubt, most coaches will go with the goalie that has a proven past pedigree and that can be frustrating to someone itching to prove themselves.

Number two goalies (and their parents) often ask me why they aren’t playing more in the playoffs and in most cases they fail to understand the obvious: when they have a chance to start they must seize the opportunity and not give the net back. That is the essence of competition. There are two goalies and one net, so someone isn’t going to be happy no matter what happens.

COMPETING AT PRACTICE Much of this can be traced back to the essentials of what I preach all year long at practice: compete, compete, compete.

Goalies who ignore my pleas to battle harder for rebounds, to play loose pucks, to get better at puck handling, to get more fit... well, they are on the bench in the playoffs while their partner gets the starts and the glory.

The blame falls squarely on their shoulders and they need look no further than the nearest mirror for who is to blame.

It’s at this time of year, when a goalie sits four or five games in row, that character is revealed. Winners will suck it up, not complain and then turn up the training intensity to be ready when their chance comes (and it will).

Others will seek to blame everyone else and become playoff pouters.

I know which one I want on my team next year when it’s time for tryouts.

By Dave Wells Steve McKichan is the owner of Future Pro goalie school and the former goaltending coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

ATTENTION

February 14, 2011, Volume 21 : Issue 15

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

2011 HOCKEY CAMP

where...

MICHIGAN STATE ATE UNIVERSITY Y

when...

June 19 too 233 July 10 to 14 July 17 to 21 July 24 too 28

For a FREE brochure, complete information and mail to: M.S.U. SPORTS CAMP, 400 E. Jenison Field House, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1025 or phone (517) 432-0730.

www.sportcamps.msu.edu/ email: hockey@msu.edu

HOCKEY CAMP Name___________________________ Age ______ Address _____________________________________ City/Town ___________________________________ State ______________ Zip _____________________ Telephone____________________________________ Position Playing________________________________

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Mt. Pleasant Patriots Get Into the Cold Tournaments March 4-6, 2011 Mt. Pleasant, MI Squirt B mtpleasanthockey.com St. Paddy’s Tournament Mt. Pleasant, MI March 11-13, 2011 Pee Wee and Bantam B (989) 772-9623 mpicearena.org Girls Go Pink Tournament Marquette, MI March 11-13. 2011 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 19U House/Rec, 19U Tier II Comp., College/Senior Women Mqthockey.org (906) 228-9193 Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI March 11-13, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com CCHA Kids College Classic Farmington Hills, Novi, Detroit, MI March 18-20, 2011 Squirt and Pee Wee House, A & AA 248-479-1139 jjones@suburbanice.com ccha.com Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI March 25-27, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Top Shelf Spring Classic Brighton, MI April 1-4, 2011 Adult – Men 18&Up (open) 21&Up & 30&Up Women’s Competitive Rec Recreational/Novice/Beginner COED - Competitive Novice/ Competitive Rec 810-494-555x5 afinkbeiner@ kensingtonvalleyicehouse.com Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI April 8-10, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com McCann Ice Arena 8th Annual Travel Tune-Up Tournament Grosse Pointe Woods, MI April 14-17, 2011 Mite-Midget Travel 313-343-0947 Big Dog Invitational Troy, MI May 4-8, 2011 Squirt Major-18U 248-674-2913 bigdoginvitational.com larrybthompson@yahoo.com

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High School Boys

February 14, 2011, Volume 21 : Issue 15

PHOTO BY ANDY KNAPIK/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY "The Original"

$288 m e p r tea

Trenton coming together for stretch run

BY RYAN DOHERTY

After a stretch where they were hit with suspensions and injuries, three-time defending Division 2 state champion Trenton reeled off five wins in six games, including a big 7-4 victory over rival Birmingham Brother Rice on Feb. 5 The win was just the Trojans (11-4-2) second against the Warriors in the last eight seasons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just now starting to put the team we picked back in November on the ice,â&#x20AC;? said Turner, who has been behind the Trenton bench for over 25 years.

Trentonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top line of Carlo DeGrazia (14-9-23), Jonathon Miller (4-10-14) and junior Mike Lesko (7-8-15) has only played a handful of games together this season.

But junior goaltender Blake Wojtala helped keep the Trojans competitive while they were shorthanded. An All-State Dream Team selection a year ago, the softspoken Wojtala has started every game this season and has posted a gaudy 1.96 GAA and a .923 save percentage.

Up next for the Trojans is the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase in Trenton Feb. 10-12.

The Trojans will face a re-match against Midland, the team Trenton beat in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Division II state championship game, as well as a matchup against powerhouse Marquette, who is now competing in Division 2.

S.S. MARIE BONDS ON THE ROAD With their closest opponent 80 miles away in Cheboygan, every road game is a road trip for S.S. Marie.

But their schedule means that the Blue Devils get to spend a lot of quality time together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our players watch movies on the bus together, we go out to eat as a team, and for the most part we stay at least one night in a hotel,â&#x20AC;? said S.S. Marie head coach Doug Laprade, whose team will bus five and half hours to Trenton for matchups against Port Huron Northern and Grand Rapids Catholic Central at the upcoming MIHL Prep Showcase.

Laprade says the amount of requests from teams in southeastern Michigan willing to travel up to Sault Ste. Marie have increased as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you have a quality program, other quality teams will want to play you,â&#x20AC;? explained Laprade. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think a lot of those teams in the Detroit area are starting to realize the type of camaraderie that your team can develop by spending so much time together.â&#x20AC;?

In addition to the extensive travel schedule the Blue Devils face, Laprade started a tradition three years ago by taking a page out of the Detroit Red Wingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playbook. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every year when we go down to Trenton for the showcase we make it our fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekend, and that way only the players and their dads ride down on the bus together,â&#x20AC;? said Laprade, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a member of the coaching staff at Sault Ste. Marie for seven years.

Along with the bus ride, the fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekend includes a Father-Son dinner on Friday night, and this year the team is going to stay an extra night in Detroit so the players and their fathers can attend the Red Wings game on Sunday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We view the Trenton showcase as two really competitive games, but we also want our players to develop some lasting memories with their dads,â&#x20AC;? said Laprade.

This year the Blue Devils have been led by two all-state seniors, forward Luc McLeod

24

Michigan Hockey

Trenton junior goalie Blake Wojtala will lead the Trojans in a rematch of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Division 2 state final against Midland on Feb. 11 at the MIHL Showcase.

Goalies $40

(24-18-42) and defenseman Nico Talentino, who averages over 30 minutes a game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Luc kills penalties, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out there for every power-play, and he really puts this team on his back,â&#x20AC;? said Laprade.

ESCANABA GETTING HEALTHY FOR TRIP SOUTH For the first time in the 27-year hockey history at Escanaba, the Eskymos (9-9) were invited to compete in the MIHL Prep Showcase in Trenton.

Head coach Charlie Elliott said says his team is excited to make the 455-mile trek south to Kennedy Rec Center for games against Allen Park and Southgate. The Eskymos will start the weekend with a matchup against Utica Eisenhower on Feb. 10 at the MPHSH Showcase in Chelsea. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got some great players hidden up here in Escanaba, and hopefully this will get them some exposure,â&#x20AC;? said Elliott, who is in his second year behind the Eskymosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bench.

Elliot has had to juggle his lineup after battling bouts of mono and the injury bug all season long. The Eskymos lost their junior captain Danny Williams and junior assistant captain Bryce Wolf for over a month with mono. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trying to put three periods of solid hockey together has been tough for us,â&#x20AC;? said Elliott.

Still, several players have stepped up and are contributing at both ends of the ice. Senior forward Jared Dagenais (6-15-21) leads the Eskymoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in scoring, while his two senior teammates, Justyn Doucette (3-7-10), and Josh Miller (9-5-14) have come on as of late.

Junior netminder Austin Young is a great student-athlete, and one of the reasons the Eskymos are in every game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to get some serious consideration to play hockey after high school,â&#x20AC;? added Elliott.

SALEM ROLLING INTO MPHSH SHOWCASE With only one loss in January, Salem propelled themselves into the Division 1 rankings.

The Rocks (11-5-2) draw players from Salem, Canton, and Plymouth and have been led by junior forward Mark McGee (13-19-32) and senior captain Ryan Quigley (20-13-33). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every time Ryan steps on the ice good things happen,â&#x20AC;? said Salem head coach Ryan Ossenamcher.

Senior netminder Brandon Price (.900 save percentage and a 2.90 GAA) has yet to surrender more than four goals in any game has accounted for all 11 Rock wins.

Two senior defensemen who are helping to balance the blueline for the Rocks are Garrett Berg (3-7-10) and Michael Hochkins (1-12-13). â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you have a goal against average below three, you know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s due in large part to your defensemen, and those two guys have been doing a great job,â&#x20AC;? said Ossenmacher.

Ossenmacher is looking forward to games against Macomb Dakota (Feb.10) and East Kentwood (Feb. 11) at the MPHSH Showcase in Chelsea and still sees some upside with his squad. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really played a complete 51 minute game in a few weeks,â&#x20AC;? he said.

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

APRIL 8-10, 2011

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LOCATIONS TM

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NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE 2010-11 NAHL Standings (as of Feb 8) CENTRAL Coulee Region Owatonna Bismarck Alexandria Austin Aberdeen NORTH St. Louis Janesville Michigan Motor City Traverse City Springfield Chicago Port Huron

GP 42 44 41 40 39 42 GP 46 41 39 41 38 42 42 41

W 25 24 24 20 14 14 W 32 27 23 24 24 20 8 4

L OTL PTS 13 4 54 15 5 53 14 3 51 15 5 45 22 3 31 25 3 31 L OTL PTS 10 4 68 11 3 57 12 4 50 16 1 49 13 1 49 19 3 43 30 4 20 35 2 10

PCT 0.643 0.602 0.622 0.563 0.397 0.369 PCT 0.739 0.695 0.641 0.598 0.645 0.512 0.238 0.122

GF 147 127 129 139 98 119 GF 177 135 145 175 150 127 113 96

GA 128 132 99 129 126 163 GA 99 85 110 134 119 126 211 252

PIM 791 811 778 660 856 628 PIM 635 680 605 953 651 699 683 1123

SOUTH Topeka Amarillo Texas Wichita Falls Corpus Christi New Mexico WEST Fairbanks Alaska Wenatchee Kenai River Dawson Creek Fresno

GP 42 40 42 42 45 43 GP 42 47 44 45 47 43

W 31 26 25 20 17 12 W 28 26 25 22 19 16

L OTL PTS 8 3 65 11 3 55 12 5 55 18 4 44 26 2 36 28 3 27 L OTL PTS 12 2 58 18 3 55 16 3 53 18 5 49 26 2 40 23 4 36

PCT 0.774 0.688 0.655 0.524 0.400 0.314 PCT 0.690 0.585 0.602 0.544 0.426 0.419

GF 175 150 147 143 120 105 GF 177 153 160 152 126 129

GA 105 114 120 135 180 172 GA 138 140 119 146 165 167

PIM 1351 1085 1030 1091 1790 1032 PIM 910 1235 992 890 1348 1200

TOP SCORERS TEAM POS GP G A Wydo, Cody MCM F 41 35 41 Kleiman, RJ STL F 40 26 36 Brancheau, Steve MCM F 41 22 37 Ciotti, Chris STL F 45 25 30 Nagtzaam, Nardo ALX F 40 22 33 Hill, Michael TOP F 33 30 21 Lubanski, Brett KNR F 45 14 36 Beck, Doug KNR F 42 23 26 Walker, Beau COR F 43 17 31 Gaarder, Connor COU F 42 17 30 Mauermann, Ross JNE F 41 22 25 Osborn, JT FAI F 40 28 19 Frischmon, Zac COU F 42 23 23 Mason, Dakota DAW F 43 24 21 Hussar, Justin TOP F 42 22 23 Kolb, Andrew MIC F 27 22 23 Ward, Cory ABD F 42 26 18 Gates, Matthew BIS F 39 18 26 Barber, Jacob WEN F 45 25 18 Christie, Brian TOP F 41 17 26 Smith, Brad STL F 46 13 29 Nauman, Ethan SPR F 42 15 27 Zierke, Steve ALX F 39 22 20 Opie, Tim TVC F 38 17 25 Leef, Jackson TEX F 42 17 24 Educate, Louis ABD F 42 18 23 Linnell, Jared FAI F 42 23 17 Monfredo, Mike MCM D 40 10 30 Freeman, Cody AMA F 39 20 20 Vandercook, DJ WEN F 38 16 24

PTS 76 62 59 55 55 51 50 49 48 47 47 47 46 45 45 45 44 44 43 43 42 42 42 42 41 41 40 40 40 40

PIM 24 34 26 42 43 92 24 65 26 59 10 19 31 31 12 28 32 43 20 64 8 35 73 16 4 22 40 152 22 21

PPG 12 12 8 7 10 11 5 11 7 7 7 9 8 5 11 8 9 5 11 3 3 2 7 6 6 9 4 4 4 6

SHG 1 0 4 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 4 2 0 0 2 4 0 1 1 2 1 1

TOP GOALIES Jacobson, David Green, Matt Comunale, Tom Tadazak, Robert Faragher, Ryan Szczerba, Nikifor Tirronen, Rasmus Rohrkemper, Eric Jaeger, Brandon

GA 65 33 33 52 81 65 59 42 72

TEAM JNE STL STL MIC BIS AMA TOP TOP WEN

GP 34 17 17 28 37 30 27 19 30

MIN 2036:18 1025:00 979:11 1480:02 2179:03 1710:34 1493:20 1045:21 1768:48

SO 8 3 4 4 3 4 3 0 4

GAA 1.92 1.93 2.02 2.11 2.23 2.28 2.37 2.41 2.44

SV 782 351 323 756 938 828 606 368 658

SV% 0.923 0.914 0.907 0.936 0.921 0.927 0.911 0.898 0.901

Tadazak, Tiller form 1-2 punch for Warriors

BY MATT MACKINDER

“I did my research and saw that Moe had coached at the NTDP and in the minors, Most teams lean on one goaltender to get them through the season, but when played in the NHL and had done well as a player both goaltenders show the ability to be a No. 1, and a coach,” Tadazak noted. “Everyone I asked any coach will say it is a good problem to have. spoke well of him, so I knew then that coming to That’s what is happening this year in Flint, as Flint would be a great opportunity.” the Michigan Warriors have Robert Tadazak and And sitting in third place in the North Division, Brach Tiller earning playing time on a regular basis. making the playoffs could provide another Tadazak is the older of the two and has seen opportunity for theWarriors to play well into spring. more action, but depending on how the week’s TC D-MAN DORER PICKS FERRIS STATE practices go he knows he could be sitting on the Holt native Zack Dorer, a rookie defenseman bench come game time. with the Traverse City North Stars, has committed “You always want competition,” said Tadazak, to Ferris State for the 2012-13 season. a Lapeer native who recently committed to Army.

“It’s very exciting, obviously,” said Dorer. “I “You never want anyone to give up and with Brach, played baseball, golf and football growing up, it’s not like that. We know who he is and what he’s but hockey has been my favorite sport since I was capable of and if he’s in there, we know we can rely young. I made it my goal to play Division I college on him. If I’m in there, I’d like to believe the guys hockey and it’s pretty satisfying to have committed feel the same way about me.” to one of my top schools of choice.”

“Tadazak and I are very good friends and we “Zack is a great kid with a tremendous amount have supported each other every step of the way,” of upside,” said North Stars head coach Anthony added Tiller, who is from Maumee, Ohio. “With Palumbo. “He’s responsible in our own end and any sport there is competition to have the starting job. It’s good to push each other – that’s how you Michigan Warriors have a solid goaltending tandem has the tools to provide some offensive punch from back there, too. We see the same things that Ferris become better.” that includes Lapeer native Robert Tadazak. sees – a very productive player with an immense Each also gave credit to Warriors coach Moe amount of upside as well.”

Mantha for creating an atmosphere in Flint where being successful is the norm.

“The Michigan Warriors organization is a very stable environment and it’s comforting for us,”Tiller said. “It helps when you have a coach like Moe who has been NAHL NOTEBOOK The North Stars kick off the February Face-off for The Father Fred Foundation at through it all and knows what he is doing. He has instilled the importance of hard work in our heads and how truly important it is. You can’t make it to high levels of home games on Feb. 11, 12, 13, and 18 where fans can donate a non-perishable any sport without an honest effort and the will to work hard. Also, being that he was food item to re-stock the area’s food pantry … Springfield has named Joe Dibble a professional, he has taught us how to handle ourselves and act on and off the ice.” the team’s interim head coach, replacing Andy Maher … On Jan. 23, in front of a Acquired from Alexandria in the offseason, Tadazak quickly learned what he was sellout crowd at the Amarillo Civic Center, the Amarillo Bulls presented Amarillo Youth Hockey with a check for $3,950. getting into by coming back to his home state.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 8)

NORTH DIVISION Motor City forward Steve Brancheau put home four goals and an assist as the Metal Jackets split a twogame series with St. Louis. On Feb. 3, the River Rouge native notched a goal in a 3-2 loss. The next night, the 20-year-old recorded a hat trick, including the gamewinning goal, and an assist as the Metal Jackets downed the Bandits, 5-2. He was also a plus-4 on the weekend.

HONORABLE MENTION: Janesville forward Connor McBride; Port Huron forward Rudi Pino; St. Louis forward Kevin Crowe and defenseman Patrick Sheehan.

SOUTH DIVISION Topeka forward Michael Hill struck for six goals as the RoadRunners celebrated a three-game sweep over Corpus Christi. On Feb. 3, the Fort Worth, Texas, native recorded a hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 5-3 victory. The next night, the 20-year-old notched two more goals as the RoadRunners again bested the IceRays, 5-3. Hill wrapped up his weekend

CHECK IT OUT

with a one-tally effort on Saturday - a 6-0 win. The University of Alaska-Fairbanks recruit was also a plus-3 on the weekend.

HONORABLE MENTION: Amarillo defenseman Brandon Lubin;Texas forward Jackson Leef;Topeka forward Brian Christie and defenseman Cory Ramsey.

CENTRAL DIVISION Bismarck forward Matt Gates connected for two goals and seven assists as the Bobcats put together a 2-1 record. On Feb. 3, the Palatine, Ill., native recorded an assist in a 3-2 loss to Aberdeen. The next night, the 20-year-old notched a goal and four assists, including one on Dan Zawacki’s game-winning marker, in a 5-1 triumph over the Owatonna Express. Gates came through with a goal and two more assists, including one on another Zawacki game-winner, as the Bobcats downed the Wings on Feb. 5, 6-2. He was also a plus-5 on the weekend.

.COM

WEST DIVISION Kenai River forward Brett Lubanski rang up three goals and two assists as the Brown Bears fashioned a 1-0-1 mark against Fairbanks. On Feb. 4, the Farmington Hills native picked up a goal and two assists, including one on Chris Rial’s game-winning marker, in a 3-1 victory.

The next night, the 19-year-old tallied two more goals as the Brown Bears fell to the Ice Dogs in a shootout, 6-5. He was also a plus-3 on the weekend.

HONORABLE MENTION: Alaska forward Matt Friese.

GOALTENDER Topeka goaltender Rasmus Tirronen backstopped the RoadRunners to a pair of wins in his two starts against Corpus Christi, turning aside 54 of 57 shots. On Feb. 3, the Espoo, Finland, native made 31 saves in a 5-3 victory. Two nights later, the 20-year-old Merrimack College recruit stopped all 23 shots he faced as the RoadRunners blanked the IceRays, 6-0.

HONORABLE MENTION: Amarillo’s Nikifor Szczerba; Kenai River’s Josh Benton; New Mexico’s Marco Weiser; St. Louis’ Matt Green; Texas’ Jake Stafford.

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Michigan Hockey

29

Junior Hockey

February 14, 2011, Volume 21 : Issue 15

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DIG PHOTO

3FYNTSFQ 9JFR )J[JQTURJSY 5WTLWFR

U.S. National Teams on a roll Th U.S. The U S National N ionall Under-17 Nat U d 17 T Under Team eam pl plays lays in i Pies Piestany, i tany Slovakia Slovaki Sl kia at the 2011 Vlad Dzurilla Tournament on Feb. 11-13.

BY PHILIP COLVIN

When the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams headed to Eastern Europe in early February, they left Ann Arbor red hot.

The two teams went a combined 10-1-1 in their last 12 United States Hockey League games before leaving for the Czech Republic, where the Under-18 Team is playing in the Five Nations Tournament in Hradec Kralove, Feb. 9-13, and Slovakia, where the Under-17 Team will compete in the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament, Feb. 11-13.

U18Team goaltender John Gibson is on a four-game winning streak in the USHL, and stopped 109 of 115 shots in that stretch.

Reid Boucher scored twice, including the game winner, in a 6-1 win over Tri-City on Feb 3 in Ann Arbor. Ryan Haggerty had an assist to extend his point streak to six games.

The next night the Under-17 Team won a shootout in Chicago, 2-1, against the Steel. Thomas DiPauli scored in the second period and Connor Carrick had the only goal in the SO. Jared Rutledge made 18 saves in the game and stopped all five shoot out attempts for the win.

Seth Jones has nine points (0-9) in his last 12 games and leads all NTDP defensemen in scoring with 18 points (4-14) in 32 games. Henrik Samuelsson leads the U17 team in scoring (11-12-23) and Miles Koules has 13 goals in 29 games.

Rocco Grimaldi leads the U18 Team in scoring with 24-21-45, while Boucher has 15 goals and 30 points.

PLYMOUTH DEFLATES SARNIA TWICE The Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers are the “comeback kids” - at least when they play Sarnia.

In two games against Sting, the Whalers rallied both times to hand Sarnia devastating losses and in the midst of it all, Sting head coach Dave MacQueen was fired.

On Feb. 3 in Sarnia, rookie defenseman Dario Trutmann’s goal at 19:24 of the third period completed the first comeback as the Whalers scored four goals in the third period to overcome a 5-2 Sarnia lead and win the game, 6-5.

“We decided that the third period was going to be our period,” Plymouth overage forward James Livingston said. “We were playing a little sluggish before then. When we put our minds to it, we’re a really good team. When we play like we did in the third period, we can beat just about any team in the league.”

Then on Feb. 5 at Compuware Arena, Sarnia jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period before the Whalers came back

30

Michigan Hockey

with four goals in the second period and three more in the third to take a 7-3 win.

“The game was two different periods and we were two different teams,” Livingston said. “We came out in the first period slow and you might attribute it to coming back late last night from Kitchener. We said ‘Let’s take a look in the mirror. If we keep playing like this, we’re going to stink up the building. If we want to win, we’re going to go out and have a great period.’

I guess we picked the latter.”

Stefan Noesen had two goals and three assists, Robbie Czarnik added two goals and two assists and Rickard Rakell pitched in a goal with two helpers.

“We’ve got three or four lines going at once and when that happens, we’re a dangerous team,” Livingston said.

Hockey fans, come check out some of the brightest rightest young stars of the game for the lo lowest pricess arroun nd at th he Ann Arbor Ice Cub be!

Upcoming Games Friday, February 18

Under-17 nde er-17 T Team ea am vvs. s.. M Muskegon usskegon LLumberjacks umberjacks - 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 19

Under-17 Team vs. Chicago Steel - 7 p.m m.

Wed dnesday, March 2

Under-17 Und der-17 T Team ea am vs.. W Waterloo aterloo B Blackhawks lacckhawk ks - 7 p.m.

PLYMOUTH WHALERS NOTEBOOK Livingston played his 300th career OHL game last on Feb. 5 and recorded an assist. The OHL record for most career games played is 337, held by former Whalers forward Cory Tanaka, who missed just three regular season games in his five-year OHL career with Plymouth and Belleville from 2004-09…

Defenseman Curtis Crombeen, acquired from Owen Sound on Jan. 10, made his Whalers debut on Feb. 3. Crombeen has missed most of the season with a lower body injury.

Friday, March 4

Under-18 Un nder-18 Tea Team am vs. W Waterloo aterlloo Black Blackhawks khawk ks - 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 5

Under-18 nder-18 Team m vvs. s. D Des es M Moines oines B Buccaneers uccanee ers - 7 p.m.

SAGINAW SPIRIT NOTEBOOK After five straight losses, including three on an Eastern Conference road swing, Saginaw dropped out of first place in the OHL’s Western Conference for the first time since October…

The Spirit opened the trip in Barrie by losing to the worst team in the league, 3-2, on Feb.3. John McFarland and Jordan Szwarz scored for Saginaw while Steven Beyers scored all three goals for the Colts. Mavric Parks finished with 30 saves in the loss…

The Spirit fared no better in Sudbury the following night as the Wolves dominated in an 8-2 win. Anthony Camara and Josh Shalla scored the Spirit goals… Saginaw dropped its fifth straight with a 5-4 loss in Owen Sound on Feb. 6. The win put the Attack four points ahead of the Spirit and the two teams will play again in Saginaw on Feb. 11. Shalla, with his team leading 39th goal, Szwarz, McFarland and Brandon Saad scored for the Spirit who failed to maintain a 2-1 lead. Parks stopped 41 of 46 shots.

By Matt Mackinder and Carl Chimenti

Sun nday, March 6

Under-17 7 Team m vs. Fargo o Force - 3 p.m.

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Feature: CCHA

T C A G N I C N A L A B ey k c o h d n a l o o h c s s le g g ju r Nill Michigan State’s Trevo

.m.. and Nill, like most arts for Detroit at 4 pp.m The bus depparts t. ht. g nig nigh that time to take a quick nap. wander to the upcomingg game Nill is of teammates, use the and ay akee iday O F Frid PO on IPP ILIP dl idle DIF are s EX said. “But we allll wak rtan AL BY B But this week the Spa “I hit the hay pretty quick,” Nill al life is a challenge for ared tch before his 8 prep stre a get to and t ve kfas arri we brea k Balancing schoolwork with a soci re quic befo a . for or 20 minutes ing hockey six days a week up at 7 a.m 0 a.m., Nill takes up about 15 aany college student. Throw play hanical engineering class. At 11:3 mec . .” for a.m g sed ntin focu dau and ome bec can ying for all week. are settled in at the Joe i the mix and the experience into the statistics quiz he’s been stud By 5:30 p.m., Nill and Crandell ” Nill said. see, ll we’ but l, wel that includes juggling ty pret tine t eeven the best students. rou “I think it wen start their pregame Nill is up to and or s Trev ard focu can forw I or n the juni s e clas Stat teammates join in on the But Michigan ical engineering a soccer ball. At least 10 other e to fruition, he’s “One more mechan com ’t don ms e lines drea key hoc ’s Nill the task. If ” e and then Nill leads one of thre n Arena light-hearted gam seventh-round pick of the on hockey.

A .

Mun to plan gets k-up Nill , bac day ng nts. the stro spri a of t s and s buil After his third clas through a routine of stretche Draft, Nill is a mechanical loose and focused,” Nill St. Louis Blues in the 2007 NHL afternoon practice. late a for 1:45 at load rse“We try to make sure we are cou ging s llen guy cha a the ires all requ how ch have fun, see whi to or, y maj engineering some goofy stuff and we try to “I like to get there pretty earl practice said. “But we have king on projects in the lab. for s wor nt plan pumps.” spe st and rs fi ls e hou dril ss som the ntle of and st cou ves and Nill said. “Mo e goofy high fi budget his time and his are doing,” so we know too. We give som , with room and er lock plan e the in gam rd the Nill wages a constant battle to boa sits the revi on At 6:15 p.m. Comley the respect are drawn up earn him ed help e sed, hav dres ice ing the skills on and off players start gett doing on the ice.” on music playing loudly, the an alternate captain at what we are ced him . oun d ann ents vote ley stm who Com adju es, ent Rick mat ch ipm coa team equ of his sticks and make any Michigan State head of the season, work on their high a end r the afte at and ring ., reti p.m 7 be ld at the beginning of the season. ice wou he The Spartans take the classroom and to the Tuesday that d. “Practices have er room as the ice is And if his commitments in the then the tone at practice change e sinc ity. and mun rgy warmup return to their lock com ene the in ve the of acti end also is the w Nill , kno ugh ys eno “Gu . en’t said team wer edge now,” Nill “Bike for Breast Cancer” more of an nce to make resurfaced. e sure I’m focused The Novi native developed the ing, but we still have a great cha com is on seas ates like to say a quick prayer and mak ticip “I par and d cer sen can to st brea hard for very ey through some situations initiative to raise mon And we are all working mentally,” Nill said. “I’ll also run d to make visits to a great run for it. igne des , ram like prog dies Bud in the Spartan I’m going to face in the game, off on the right note.” tice in my mind that I know prac Hospital. He is also involved coach re ” rrow ses. befo pas Spa utes p at d cris min war ing 20 ic ut mak iatr abo ped and the Nill gets on the ice the puck off the boards Toys, the Children’s Miracle State n utes after, using the picking higa min Mic 30 on, ut seas abo the for of with Shoot For a Cure, Teams for on s es stay In one of the best gam Christmas Child, and the begins and ls and have some fun of 17,577 fans on goals Network Telethon, Operation a time to work on individual dril extr cks off Michigan, 2-1, in front kno e.

Driv d Foo Shean, his first lete Ath sen Studentmates. an Jake Chelios and ior Joe national nominees for with his team es watch “The from freshm mat team ral seve and For his efforts, Nill is one of 25 Nill , After practice lth Management Hockey ie Channel in of the season. the Joe,” Nill said. “For the prestigious BNY Mellon Wea the Michigan State Campus Mov on n” t Tow nes fi ’s “It never gets old playing at key hoc er, lege “col dinn r to n Afte l. crowd give mea rd, red Awa cate n a aria ng Humanit extra loud. You could tell the the locker room while eati unwind some reason it was and ent rtm apa ir the to k bac en.” d citiz Nill hea PHOTO BY PH ILIP COLVIN/M was really into it.”

Nill for a look at one of Crandell and ICHIGAN HOCK ching television.

EY the Michigan State fight Michigan Hockey caught up with by playing Call of Duty and wat After the game, the team sings e mak to ine rout ng chance to ds: tchi ken stre a wee his typical room in celebration. Nill has a At 10 p.m. Nill goes through e against song in the locker gam . re the p.m 8 befo w’s fans e orro Stat tom n for y higa sure he’s loose and read talk to his family and several Mic Y DA DY na.

STU Y: Are is .

SDA Lou R sing UR Joe H Lan TH higan at ride back to East Nill usually devotes the Mic I always try to call it an bus Crandell are back at With no classes on Thursdays, Wi “It’s the day before a game, so r unloading the bus, Nill and e Afte hav s rtan into Spa the ing k gett wee ing This . feel rd ying wei stud of friends stop by a to ple was day cou “It A r y of the oorit jor majo ma maj y night,” Nill said. their apartment by 12:30 a.m. a Thursday.” is State, and Nill spends earl like Ferr h at e muc so gam t felt nigh y day le rsda who Thu a rare because the to talk about the game. prepping for a statistics bed lyst for the rest of the morning and early afternoon thhe m the or “A win like that can really be a cata juni e, mat room his A and EN Nill AR ., IS p.m need that one big, LOU 2:15 just At JOE quiz oon Friday. . “Sometimes you Y: MICHIGAN AT the season,” Nill said to the Michigan State SATURDA at d tch hea , stre dell team a Cran t and t Mat kfas man brea fennnse fe defe de to be a spark.”

Nill is up by 9 a.m. for ped two close win v ity Club for a team meal. e is big, as the Spartans have drop Univers gam ’s ight Ton . the rink load to na n Ice Are on, and the BBy 3 p.m. the team is at Mun against the Wolverines this seas ER re active than the of three games mo e ly will be SUNDAY: RECOV littl like a t busy en wha in hm top fres on the out h ley Com d bus, wit sen a fun day to recover from a to ts ally wan usu is and team Sunday about two hours away e, only is aliz ids soci l.

Rap rk, riva Big ewo tate en. hom in-s assm ir on ercl the up p h upp up the bus,” his last game against kend, and a time to catc on wee ks boo s che read or wat ic g team mus ndin to the , n atte e plan sleep in before lo of the guys liste “a lot After Comley goes over the gam or simply sleep. Nill and Crandell keep studying for to k boo s istic stat my ght brou Nill said. “I Ni Nill the Wolverines. a church service. the ride I got in a quick nap.” video of p,” Nill said. “We got to great job of always having a big a do s my quiz. About 15 minutes into guy o vide r “Ou en gleb “We needed every minute of slee walks around Ewi can watch those “We . said Nill a good service and we us,” for was Nill isn’t dressing tonight, so he y It e. read s nos church right at 11 on the lores the facilities selection of clip re exp and befo p es mat grou a as team m er the oth e ch people after.”

Arena with som but usually we all wat had a chance to talk to a lot of ng with former Spartan at any time, sitti up s end and ts star e gam and Crandell hang out the until the ice.”

After lunch at Panera Bread, Nill onton Oilers, who is in the going on pre-game skate, a for . a.m 11 at ice the ki.

Jeff Petry, a rookie with the Edm take s ews The Spartan and Golembi k. junior forward with Perlini , especially middle of the NHL All-Star brea mi ally lasts about 30 minutes. Nill, usu time, we will all hang out as a team ch the this whi of st ing “Mo ryth “Eve . ki said ews Nill l,” mbi wel Gole ly d a lot of real Zach g che ard wat doin n forw We bee on. ore “He’s rting events going Brett Perlini and sophom .” freshman if there are big spo with ls dril .” c iors cifi Jun spe ld on k Wor wor the to season has worked out for him se the ice offs together and dogs, the mood in the stay out on the start – only the NFL play classroom, Despite the 2-1 loss to the Bull Will Yanakeff, who will be getting der ses, totaling about six hours in the lten clas er goa ve eth fi h tog Wit put s rtan Spa the as est. ber , Nill uses bigg som tice t the y isn’ prac ainl locker room lo , along with hockey of the year, but cert skate, looming on Monday w they were only a couple his fifth ame kne preg a and ing od k. dur peri d wee ter ng thir ligh ng omi bit e stro upc a “The tone is a littl Sunday night to study for the result. night,” Nill said. rk done Sunday night bbounces away from a different know we have a job to do that all we and but t, nigh “I usually try to get all my homewo mid r afte the at sing k Lan bac be East g out to in e k hav bac y ves the re The bus arri t week. Sometimes we will han With a couple of hours befo session and get a jump on nex Crandell head back to their y and Dut low Nill of a r of Call gea r k kind thei quic g a just in adin are ’s get unlo r aafte late at night. Sunday arena, Nill and Crandell in the hour. the father Jim, the with friends for g his arin with prep in cks and che ng veri Nill aapartment and are in bed with reco and before lunch stress day. It’s all about gs.

Win Red e starts all over.” assistant general manager of the he week ahead when the cycl Y lot and I just wanted to see how a dad my FRIDAY: USUALLY GAME DA to talk “I set day of the week for Nill. wanted to make sure he was all Friday’s are the most challenging on, was doing,” Nill said. “I rno afte the of dle mid the W into e.” /DR VE REGINEK With three classes that run with who was coming to the gam PHOTO BY DA ol without letting his mind he has to stay focused on scho

32

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Red Wings Insider

Focus is on improving defensively

BY DAVE WADDELL

When it comes to the grind of the long NHL season, February seems to be the cruelest month of all for the Detroit Red Wings.

The Wings have struggled most during this month in recent seasons, usually because of the holes in their line-up created by injuries. The injury bug continues to haunt Detroit, but it should lessen its sting as the month wears on.

However, there is no excuse for the Wings continued struggles defensively. As of the last 22 games Detroit had played prior to Feb. 7, the Wings had surrendered three or more goals in 19 of them.

The team has slipped to 19th in the league in goals against.

“We’re finding ways to win games, which is a real good thing.” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “But in the end, you can’t be successful in this manner. We all know it. We talked about it again and went through it. We’ll continue to work on it, get better at it.”

If the Red Wings needed a reminder, they got it of late when they were blanked 3-0 in back to back games versus Columbus and Nashville.

Neither club is an offensive juggernaut, but it’s a lot harder to outscore your mistakes than to defend well.

That’s exactly what Detroit did last season to stay in the playoff race when injuries devastated them.This season, they’ve managed to maintain their scoring rate thanks to some superb work by Henrik Zetterberg and the third and fourth liners stepping up with some timely contributions.

However, the supply of goals has dried up of late.

“I think we’ve played better defensively the last two games (Columbus, Nashville),” Nick Lidstrom said. “Overall, I thought we did a much better job in our own zone.”

Perhaps, that’s only because there was so much room for improvement. The Wings have been guilty of being too cute with the puck. Turnovers are fueling the oppositions’ attacks as the miscues are leaving the Wings forwards out of position as teams cross the Detroit blueline.

Once in the zone, Detroit skaters have too frequently been trying to do their own job along with someone else’s as well.

GOALTENDING NOT THE SAME While Detroit’s team defensive game has been shoddy for a couple months now, the Wings aren’t getting the same level of goaltending from Jimmy Howard they received last year.

A Calder Cup candidate last season, Howard’s numbers have steadily declined month after month. Certainly what’s happened in front of him has contributed to that, but it’s not the entire explanation.

It’s not that he’s been horrible, it’s just that something isn’t quite right. Howard, who is an unrestricted free agent on July 1, doesn’t look as big in net nor as confident.

Without Chris Osgood, who is out to mid-March after undergoing sports hernia surgery, theWings have been forced to play Howard more than they like. He hasn’t had the opportunity to get a mental break to fine tune his game.

In front of goalie Jimmy Howard, the Red Wings have slipped to 19th in the NHL in goals against.

While the return of Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom, Brad Stuart and Mike Modano are going to solve a myriad of problems, there seems no obvious help coming in goal internally. It’s going to take Osgood some time to get his timing back and furthermore he’s simply not an everyday goaltender anymore.

Wings general manager Ken Holland rolled the dice shortly before the All-Star Break by signing San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabakov and trying to sneak him through waivers. The New York Islanders short-circuited Holland’s plan by claiming him, but one has to wonder if the move has shaken Howard’s confidence.

TRADE DEADLINE COMING UP It’s too early to tell what the long-term fallout is going to be, but it is a clear indication that the Wings aren’t happy with their current goaltending situation.

With the NHL’s trade deadline set for 3 p.m. on Feb. 28, it will be interesting to see if Holland attempts to go out and

find a goalie who could at least challenge Howard and step into the breach if required.

However, such help won’t come cheaply.

With so few teams out of the playoff picture, supply will be limited. And even if the Wings are able to find a willing dance partner, they face salary cap limitations.

They offered Nabokov basically the maximum ($270,000) they had left under the cap. To do anything more, Holland is going to have to move a player off the team’s NHL roster.

Holland didn’t tip his hand about Nabokov and hasn’t confirmed any interest in another goalie. But two weeks before the Wings signed Brett Hull in July, 2001, Holland adamantly dismissed the prospect of signing the free agent. That worked out pretty well and Holland has been a known horse trader at the deadline.

With Lidstrom not getting any younger and the window to win the Stanley Cup with this group limited, one has to wonder how big is the temptation get some skin in the game again?

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MICHIGAN TEAM RANKINGS AS OF FEBRUARY 08, 2011 Rank Midget Major Record 1..........Honeybaked 18U AAA ...................29-12-12 2..........Compuware 18U AAA....................29-10-17 3..........Victory Honda 18U AAA ................29-13-14 4..........Belle Tire 18U AAA ........................25-21-7 5..........Lansing Capitals 18U AAA .............31-13-3 6..........Little Caesars 18U AAA ..................28-19-8 7..........Detroit Falcons 18U AAA ...............24-16-2 8..........Lansing CC Pride 18U AAA.............27-16-4 9..........West Michigan Hounds 18U AAA ..26-20-3 10........Marquette Electricians 18U AAA ...14-28-7 Rank Midget Minor Record 1..........Honeybaked 16U AAA ...................47-2-2 2..........Little Caesars 16U AAA ..................33-8-2 3..........Belle Tire 16U AAA ........................24-19-11 4..........Compuware 16U AAA....................28-22-3 5..........Motor City Metal Jackets 16U AAA 32-9-5 6..........Victory Honda 16U AAA ................25-22-10 7..........Detroit Falcons 16U AAA ...............13-16-1 8..........Lansing Capitals 16U AAA .............3-31-1 9..........West Michigan Hounds 16U AAA ..7-22-1 10........Belle Tire Selects 16U AAA ............7-25-3 Rank Bantam Major Record 1..........Belle Tire 96 AAA...........................41-4-3 2..........Little Caesars 96 AAA ....................30-20-2 3..........Honeybaked 96 AAA .....................23-22-4 4..........Victory Honda 96 AAA...................19-21-8 5..........Compuware 96 AAA ......................17-23-7 6..........MC Metal Jackets Grizzlies 96 AAA 27-9-1 7..........West Michigan Hounds 96 AAA.....6-27-2 8..........Lansing Capitals 96 AAA ...............4-32-2 Rank Bantam Minor Record 1..........Compuware 97 AAA ......................48-6-8 2..........Honeybaked 97 AAA .....................27-9-4 3..........Little Caesars 97 AAA ....................35-14-7 4..........Belle Tire 97 AAA...........................21-13-10 5..........PK Warriors 97 AAA .......................14-19-0 6..........Victory Honda 97 AAA...................7-32-5 Rank Pee Wee Major Record 1..........Little Caesars 98 AAA ....................41-3-5 2..........Honeybaked 98 AAA .....................38-6-5 3..........Compuware 98 AAA ......................29-11-6 4..........Victory Honda 98 AAA...................21-28-3 5..........Belle Tire 98 AAA...........................13-24-6

Rank Pee Wee Minor Record 1..........Little Caesars 99 AAA ....................38-8-2 2..........Compuware 99 AAA ......................33-19-4 3..........Honeybaked 99 AAA .....................29-18-3 4..........Belle Tire 99 AAA...........................18-24-7 5..........Victory Honda 99 AAA...................14-26-9 Rank Squirt Major Record 1..........Little Caesars 00 AAA ....................44-1-2 2..........Honeybaked 00 AAA .....................38-11-7 3..........Compuware 00 AAA ......................26-20-4 4..........Victory Honda 00 AAA...................16-25-6 5..........Belle Tire 00 AAA...........................5-29-8 Rank Squirt Minor Record 1..........Little Caesars (North) 01 AAA........42-5-4 2..........Honeybaked 01 AAA .....................31-9-2 3..........Belle Tire 01 AAA...........................19-13-3 4..........Little Caesars (South) 01 AAA .......18-16-4 5..........Compuware 01 AAA ......................17-24-4 6..........Victory Honda 01 AAA...................7-26-3 Rank Midget AA Record 1..........St Clair Shores Saints 18U AA ........43-5-3 2..........Troy Sting 18U AA .........................27-12-7 3..........Michigan Blues 18U AA .................14-11-5 4..........USA Eagles 18U AA .......................18-23-5 5..........Westland Warriors 18U AA ............2-8-1 6..........Battle Creek Bruins 18U AA ...........17-5-3 7..........Plymouth Stingrays 18U AA ..........17-6-1 8..........Rochester Rattlers 18U AA ............6-23-2 9..........Alpena Flyers 18U AA ....................10-16-3 10........St Ignace Firehawks 18U AA..........14-12-4

Rank Bantam AA Record 1..........Rochester Rattlers 96 AA...............32-8-7 2..........St Clair Shores Saints 96 AA ..........28-14-5 3..........Farmington Hills Fire 96 AA...........22-13-5 4..........Trenton Thunder 96 AA .................29-12-4 5..........Midland North Stars 96 AA ...........24-18-4 6..........Oakland Jr Grizzlies 96 AA .............19-14-4 7..........K. Valley Renegades 96 AA ............18-16-8 8..........Livonia Knights 96 AA ...................21-12-2 9..........Kentwood Falcons 96 AA...............29-13-4 10 Lakeland Hawks 96 AA 22-16-4 Rank Bantam A Record 1..........Farmington Hills Flames 97 A .......39-6-3 2..........Suburban Stars 97 A .....................28-11-5 3..........West Kent Hawks 97 A ..................27-17-3 4..........Belle Tire South 97 A .....................29-17-6 5..........Rochester Rattlers 97 A .................28-14-2 6..........Michigan Ice Hawks 97 A ..............30-15-8 7..........Trenton 97 A .................................23-14-7 8..........Oakland Jr Grizzlies 97 A ...............13-22-6 9..........Grand Rapids Griffins 97 A ............23-18-9 10........Fraser Falcons 97 A........................21-18-5 Rank Pee Wee AA Record 1..........Holland Ice Dogs 98 AA .................37-6-2 2..........Novi Ice Cats 98 AA........................33-11-5 3..........Plymouth Stingrays 98 AA ............44-10-7 4..........Allen Park Huskies 98 AA ..............37-11-4 5..........Grosse Pointe Bulldogs 98 AA .......22-15-4 6..........Midland North Stars 98 AA ...........30-14-4 7..........Traverse City Dave Harveys 98 AA..27-6-2 8..........Grand Rapids Griffins 98 AA ..........33-17-1 9..........Soo Jr Lakers 98 AA .......................12-5-2 10........Trenton Trojans 98 AA ...................22-14-8

Rank Midget A Record Rank Pee Wee A Record 1..........Allen Park Huskies 16U A ..............50-5-2 1 ..........USA Eagles 99 A ............................39-7-5 2..........Summit Plastics 16U A ..................44-7-4 2..........Troy Sting 99 A ..............................35-13-5 3..........West Kent Hawks 16U A ................31-11-4 3..........Grand Rapids Griffins 99 A ............31-12-7 4..........Oakland Jr Grizzlies 16U A.............15-15-8 4..........Livonia Knights 99 A .....................23-12-6 5..........Lansing CC Pride 16U A .................23-18-7 5..........Ann Arbor Wolves 99 A .................30-14-7 6..........Flint Phantoms 16U A ...................18-13-7 6..........Suburban Stars 99 A .....................22-14-3 7..........Mt Clemens Wolves 16U A.............21-16-4 7..........St Clair Shores Saints 99 A.............21-9-8 8..........K. Valley Rebels 16U A...................29-10-3 8..........K. Valley Rebels 99 A .....................27-17-4 9..........Belle Tire Taylor 16U A...................8-21-3 MYHOCKEYRANKINGS.COM 9..........Holland Ice Dogs 99 A ...................28-17-3 10........Grand Rapids Griffins 16U A ..........6-23-6 FOR NATIONAL RANKINGS 10........Oakland Jr Grizzlies 99 A ...............15-19-10

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Rank Squirt AA Record 1..........Midland North Stars 00 AA ...........34-10-2 2..........Novi Ice Cats 00 AA........................23-18-5 3..........Grosse Ile Islanders 00 AA .............28-7-5 4..........Plymouth Stingrays 00 AA ............31-9-6 5..........Birmingham Rangers 00 AA..........19-13-3 6..........Grand Rapids Griffins 00 AA ..........26-5-5 7..........Oakland Jr Grizzlies 00 AA .............29-11-5 8..........PK Warriors 00 AA .........................12-19-2 9..........Livonia Knights 00 AA ...................11-17-7 10........Macomb Mavericks 00 AA .............19-12-6 Rank Squirt A Record 1..........K. Valley Rebels 01 A .....................40-6-5 2..........Troy Sting 01 A ..............................34-8-3 3..........Macomb Mavericks 01 A ...............25-9-4 4..........Ann Arbor Wolves 01 A .................25-13-3 5..........Bay County Blizzard 01 A ..............24-13-4 6..........Suburban Stars 01 A .....................18-19-2 7..........Oakland Jr Grizzlies 01 A ...............14-15-2 8..........Bluewater Stars 01 A.....................22-11-6 9..........USA Eagles 01 A ............................15-9-6 10........Rochester Rattlers 01 A .................20-16-7 Rank Girls 19U Tier I Record 1..........Detroit Belle Tire (Tier1) 19U.........32-9-6 2..........Detroit Little Caesars 19U..............31-18-4 3..........Detroit Victory Honda 19U ............4-11-10 4..........Detroit Honeybaked 19U...............7-21-4 Rank Girls 16U Tier I Record 1..........Detroit Honeybaked 16U...............36-2-4 2..........Detroit Little Caesars 16U..............42-14-7 3..........Detroit Victory Honda 16U ............3-31-5 4..........Detroit Belle Tire 16U ....................2-12-3 5..........Detroit Compuware 16U ...............3-27-2 Rank Girls 14U Tier I Record 1..........Detroit Little Caesars 14U..............16-16-8 2..........Detroit Honeybaked 14U...............18-13-9 3..........Detroit Compuware 14U ...............4-25-6 4..........Detroit Victory Honda 14U ............2-15-1 Rank Girls 12U Tier I Record 1..........Detroit Honeybaked 12U...............18-10-5 2..........Detroit Compuware 12U ...............17-13-7 3..........Detroit Belle Tire 12U ....................11-18-5 5..........Detroit Little Caesars 12U..............3-28-0

Michigan Hockey

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