Practice begins today for Michigan hockey

The Michigan hockey team opens official practice today in the same situation as last year - trying to replace graduated, high-scoring seniors with a highly touted freshman recruiting class.

Maybe the only difference in 1998 is that the Wolverines have a national championship to defend, which has made Michigan a major bulls eye for every team on its schedule.

The incoming freshmen won't be too green, though. Tri-captains Bubba Berenzweig, Bobby Hayes and Dale Rominski have been putting the team through rigorous conditioning workouts. Coaches were not allowed to supervise these workouts until today, according to NCAA rules.

Young or not, experts are pegging the Wolverines to win the CCHA. Both the conference coaches' and media polls predicted Michigan to finish in first place come March, ahead of pursuers Michigan State and Ohio State.

"The preseason polls have to be accepted with a grain of salt," Michigan coach Red Berenson cautioned. "We're given a lot of respect. We were not a dominant team last year, we just ended up in the right place at the right time and got lucky."

Undoubtedly, the biggest change from last season will be the goaltending situation. Former net stalwart Marty Turco, and his all-time NCAA-leading 127 victories, departed for the professional ranks. A pair of freshmen - Josh Blackburn and Kevin O'Malley - provides the top two contenders for the starting role.

"In theory, when we recruited Blackburn, we recruited him with the idea that he would be our starting goalie," Berenson said, adding that he hadn't seen enough of Blackburn or O'Malley to give a definite opinion just yet.

Greg Daddario can't be counted out, either. The senior has patiently been the third-stringer for all of his three seasons at Michigan. Whether or not Daddario actually sees significant ice time in '98, his leadership and experience should provide a strong base for his two freshmen competitors.

If there's one area in which the Wolverines are loaded, it's defense. Berenzweig and sophomores Mike Van Ryn and Dave Huntzicker lead a capable corps of defensemen. Six other blueliners on the roster will grapple for the remaining three playing

09-28-98