By Kevin Kasiborski
Daily Sports Writer
Nine departed seniors are replaceable. The national championship experience they take with them isn't.
The Michigan Hockey team said good-bye to nine players last spring, and a nine-member freshman class has arrived this fall to take its place. The Wolverines' first challenge this year will be learning everybody's name.
Originally there were ten recruits, and ten names to learn. However, Ryan VanBuskirk, a 6-foot-1, 190 pound defenseman from St. Clair Shores, has backed out of his commitment to play for Michigan this fall. He instead signed with the Sarnia Sting, a Major Junior team in the Ontario Hockey League.
Michigan coach Red Berenson said that VanBuskirk informed him of his decision through an agent. Berenson's attempts to talk to VanBuskirk since then have been unsuccessful.
"I got the impression," Berenson said, "that like a lot of kids, he got this message from agents that it's a short-cut to pro hockey to play junior hockey. I think the kid weakened, and his parents weakened, and I think he made a serious error."
Berenson said most of the kids in his program have to deal with the lure of junior hockey. When Berenson was recruited to play at Michigan thirty years ago, he was told that he would never play pro hockey if he went to college. Berenson played the NHL for seventeen years after earning three varsity letters at Michigan.
"It's not like our team is going to miss a player who is a 17-year old freshman," Berenson said. "I just feel sad for the boy himself, that he is never going to experience this, and it will be tough for him to get an education."
Players in junior hockey usually don't have time to go to school, according to Berenson, even though they may be promised education packages. After two or three years players typically sign pro contracts, and then their education packages are no longer valid.
"I'm not worried about our team," Berenson said. "I just feel bad about the kid, and the way it happened at the last minute, and the weakness in the father, who just allowed it to happen."
Two members of the hockey class of '97 recently signed contracts, further proving that college players can play pro hockey.
Jason Botterill signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars on August 14. Botterill underwent shoulder surgery the same day, and will not be able to play for three or four months.
The 6-4, 217 pound winger had shoulder surgery in April, but reinjured himself and required a second operation.
It is possible that when Botterill is healthy he'll spend some time with the Kalamazoo K-wings, Dallas' top farm club.
The New Jersey Devils signed winger John Madden. New Jersey is also negotiating with center Brendan Morrison, last year's Hobey Baker recipient. The Devils drafted Morrison in the second round in 1993.
Nine departed seniors are replaceable. The national championship experience they take with them isn't.
The Michigan hockey team said good-bye to nine players last spring, and a nine-member freshman class has arrived this fall to take its place. The Wolverines' first challenge this year will be learning everybody's name.
Originally there were 10 recruits, and 10 names to learn. But, Ryan VanBuskirk, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound defenseman from St. Clair Shores, has backed out of his commitment to play for Michigan this fall. He instead signed with the Sarnia Sting, a major junior team in the Ontario Hockey League.
Michigan coach Red Berenson said that VanBuskirk informed him of his decision through an agent. Berenson's attempts to talk to VanBuskirk since then have been unsuccessful.
"I got the impression," Berenson said, "that like a lot of kids, he got this message from agents that it's a short-cut to pro hockey to play junior hockey. I think the kid weakened, and his parents weakened, and I think he made a serious error."
Berenson said most of the kids in his program have to deal with the lure of junior hockey. When Berenson was recruited to play at Michigan 30 years ago, he was told that he would never play pro hockey if he went to college. Berenson played the NHL for 17 years after earning three varsity letters at Michigan.
"It's not like our team is going to miss a player who is a 17-year-old freshman," Berenson said. "I just feel sad for the boy himself, that he is never going to experience this, and it will be tough for him to get an education."
Players in junior hockey usually don't have time to go to school, according to Berenson, even though they may be promised education packages. After two or three years, players typically sign pro contracts and then their education packages are no longer valid.
"I'm not worried about our team," Berenson said. "I just feel bad about the kid, and the way it happened at the last minute, and the weakness in the father, who just allowed it to happen."
Two members of the hockey class of '97 recently signed contracts.
Jason Botterill signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars on Aug. 14. Botterill underwent shoulder surgery the same day and will not be able to play for three or four months.
The 6-foot-4, 217 pound winger also had shoulder surgery in April, but he reinjured himself and required a second operation.
It is possible that when Botterill is healthy he'll spend some time with the Kalamazoo K-Wings, Dallas's top farm club.
The New Jersey Devils signed free-agent winger John Madden. New Jersey is also negotiating with center Brendan Morrison, last year's Hobey Baker Award winner. The Devils drafted Morrison in the second round in 1993.
09-03-97
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