Clark goes full circle, scores goal

Michigan forward Justin Clark got a little help from his friends Saturday night against Alaska-Fairbanks. After scoring Michigan's first goal of the season against Minnesota more than three months ago, Clark had struggled to find his scoring touch.

But in the second period against the Nanooks, Clark received a puck from forward Bill Trainor behind the opposing net and wrapped it around Alaska netminder Ian Perkins to give Michigan a 3-0 lead.

"I've been waiting for that one for quite a while," Clark said.

WARREN ZINN/Daily In Saturday's victory over Alaska, Michigan's Greg Crozier scored the first goal of the game, and his fourth goal of the season, for the Wolverines.

And it was a discussion with Michigan center Bobby Hayes between the first and second periods that helped Clark score his second goal of the season.

"Bobby tried earlier in the game to go shortside on (Perkins) when he wrapped it around, and we talked about it in between periods to try and go farside," Clark said. "So I just brought it around as far as I could."

It was a goal that was well received not only by Clark, but by Michigan coach Red Berenson as well. Berenson has been looking for a more balanced scoring attack the entire season.

"I think there are number of guys on the team that have to break out," Berenson said. "It's good to see Clark get rewarded with good patience and good hard work - he's had some good games."

Penalty kills: The Nanooks weren't the only ones making a long road trip this weekend. The parents of Alaska captain Eon MacFarlane made the 1,315-mile trip from Nova Scotia to watch their son play.

But Rick and Louise MacFarlane might have questioned their decision after their son's display Saturday night. The 5-foot-10 defenseman was ejected near the end of the first period after being called for his fourth penalty of the contest.

MacFarlane received two interference penalties in the first five minutes of the game, and then followed with a holding penalty with four minutes left in the period.

Four seconds after Michigan forward Mark Kosick scored a power-play goal to release MacFarlane from the penalty box, MacFarlane was slapped with a 10-minute game misconduct penalty, which removed him from the game.

Alaska, which leads the CCHA in penalty minutes, had seen MacFarlane rack up 34 penalty minutes heading into the weekend - a relatively high number when compared to Michigan's penalty minutes.

Too bad his parents didn't remember that.

Light's out: Michigan's fourth goal of the game was clouded by a bit of confusion thanks to Saturday night's goal judge. After a Hayes shot dribbled past Perkins in the final period, the Wolverines looked to go up, 4-1.

But when the goal light wasn't turned on, there was some debate. Referee Matt Shegos quickly discussed the matter with the goal judge and eventually awarded Michigan the goal. Despite the clarifications, Berenson still seemed to question the issue.

"It's hard for the goal judge, too, because some of those pucks go in and out real quick - but that one didn't," Berenson said. "That one just trickled over the line, as I saw."

01-20-98