'M' icers to renew rivalry with Northern

If the Michigan hockey team had a frequent-flyer program, it could find itself with a free flight to some place nice pretty soon.

After sweeping a weekend series in Alaska, the Wolverines are now making a 444-mile trip to the Upper Peninsula. Michigan (2-1 CCHA, 5-2 overall) will try to tackle Northern Michigan (3-0-1, 4-1-2) tonight and tomorrow in Marquette.

"School is the main concern, along with the physical fatigue," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "I'd rather do this at this time of the year rather than at the end of the year."

The shortened weeks of practice have resulted in increased pressure for the athletes. Most of the players have to make up their missed exams this week, Berenson said.

"My teachers hate me right now, but it's good to get these trips out of the way," Michigan right wing Justin Clark said.

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Michigan left wing Bill Trainor and the Wolverines hope to have better luck against Northern Michigan than they did against one of their other intrastate rivals, Michigan State. While the Spartans and Wolverines have a long and historic rivalry, Michigan hopes to rekindle that sort of relationship with the Wildcats.

A year ago, the Wolverines did not make this trip - the Wildcats were in the WCHA. The last time the two teams met was in Dec. 1995, at the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit.

But after a 13-year hiatus from the conference, the Wildcats have returned to the CCHA, and are playing better than expected. They have not lost a conference game since their return.

"Northern Michigan is rebuilding," Northern Michigan coach Rick Comley said. "We know we'll take our bumps and bruises."

For the second time during this season, the Wolverines are going into a series knowing little to nothing about their opponent. In Michigan's home-opener, the Wolverines lost 2-1 against Colgate, a team they hadn't played ever before.

"We don't know the team and we don't know the rink," Berenson said. "So we're going early to get a feel for the rink."

There is one thing for which the Wolverines are prepared - an exciting atmosphere to play hockey.

"We know they're going to be really rowdy," Clark said. "That's about all they have up there - hockey."

After last weekend's 10-goal outburst, the Wolverines look like they might be starting to find their bearings on the offensive end of the ice, even without injured captain Matt Herr. Freshman Mark Kosick broke his scoring slump with a hat trick last weekend, and the whole offense seems to be coming together.

Berenson expects to see more of that production against the Wildcats.

"I think we're getting stronger offensively," Berenson said. "We're getting more confident. I think we're coming along as well as can be expected."

One by-product of the improved offensive is center Bill Muckalt's passage of Berenson's career goals-scored mark - 79 goals to Berenson's 78.

"It's about time," Berenson joked. "It took him about three years, and a lot more games. I only played 2 1/2 years.

"My challenge to Billy Muckalt is to have a better senior year than I did."

Berenson scored 43 goals in his senior season, a Michigan record. Muckalt is now 22nd on the goals-scored list.

Although the offense appears to be coming together, Michigan's special teams units still need some refining.

"We've been working on our penalty kills," Clark said. "We're still gelling as a team. We've only played a month worth of games and we still have a long ways to go."

Roster change: Junior center Craig Assenmacher, a member of the Wolverines for the past two seasons, left the team before last weekend's trip to Alaska-Fairbanks.

"He left because he's serious about school, medical school in particular," Berenson said. "He gave us two good years, worked hard and played hard. I understand and support his decision."

The Sylvania, Ohio, native was a walk-on, and saw playing time in two games last season - Michigan State and Brown.

"He's still part of the team and close to the team," Berenson said. "He lives with half the junior class."

The Matchup
Who: Michigan vs. Northern Michigan
Where: Marquette
When: Tonight and tomorrow, 7 p.m.

11-07-97