The Michigan hockey team will be shorthanded once again.
From mid-December through the beginning of January, Michigan assistant coach Mel Pearson will join the U.S. National Junior Team at the World Junior Tournament as an assistant coach.
"It's an opportunity that came up about a month ago when (U.S. national team coach) Jeff Jackson asked me to help out with the junior national team in Switzerland," Pearson said.
The team, comprised of the nation's top 19-and-under hockey players, leaves Dec. 16 for an eight-day training camp in Germany. The 'training' will consist of a pre-tournament against the German, Slovak and Swedish National Junior Teams.
The American squad will then travel to the World Junior Tournament in Switzerland, which lasts from Dec. 26-Jan. 4.
Not only will Pearson be making the trip overseas, but some Michigan players may be joining him.
"We're looking at a couple (Michigan) guys right now," Pearson said. "Coach Jeff Jackson has asked me about (Michigan defenseman) Bubba Berenzweig and (Michigan forward) Sean Ritchlin, and they both participated in the (junior) camp this summer. They're both looking very good at this point. Those two guys have a chance."
Pearson, as well as the players involved, will miss some of Michigan's regular-season games.
The Wolverines will compete in the Great Lakes Invitational and host Ferris State during the three-week period.
The roster of players will be finalized Nov. 30.
Offensive officiating: It seems as if no one is very pleased with CCHA officials lately. With a rash of disqualifications against the Wolverines and their opponents in the past two weekends, the officials have found themselves in the line of fire.
"I don't want to comment on the officiating," Berenson said. "We've seen some questionable (disqualifications). It's unfortunate, but that's the way they call them."
A no-call just before Matt Herr scored to bring the Wolverines within one goal during Saturday's 3-3 tie at Bowling Green drew fire from Falcons coach Buddy Powers.
"I think Herr's goal was definitely offside and they let it go," Powers said. "What are you gonna do? That's a bad call."
Berenson said that his team cannot use officiating as an excuse.
"We can't continue to complain about the refereeing," Berenson said. "The referee did a good job in the game. There were some things that maybe he could've called. But those are the rules every night for every game and we'll play with them."
Shorthanded sensation: When the CCHA announced its Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for the weekend of Nov. 15-17, it was an unusual occurrence.
Both were forwards. While Lake Superior center Bryan Fuss won the offensive award, it was a Wolverine who brought home the defensive honor.
Michigan center John Madden was recognized as the leader of a penalty-killing unit that allowed only two power-play goals in 15 chances this weekend.
"Last year I came close to winning defensive player-of-the-year," he said. "But I've never been defensive player-of-the-week before."
Madden earned the award as a result of his individual shorthanded play as well. He scored a shorthanded goal in Michigan's 5-1 victory over Michigan State on Friday and netted the tying goal while a man down in the Wolverines' 3-3 tie at Bowling Green.
"It's an honor," he said. "While it doesn't seem like much, for a forward to be named defensive player-of-the week doesn't happen too (often)."
A Morrison milestone: Michigan senior center Brendan Morrison scored his 75th career goal in Friday's game against Michigan State. Morrison appeared to have his 76th in Saturday's 3-3 tie at Bowling Green, but the goal judge did not turn on the light. A replay indicated the puck hit the top lining of the net and then came out.
"I definitely thought it was a goal. The puck was sitting there on the line, two inches from the line and I shot it pretty hard," Morrison said. "Next thing I know, I look back and (the goaltender's) got it in his glove. I thought I scored and (referee Jim Sotiroff) said no goal."