It hasn't been a dream season for Western Michigan, which hosts the Michigan hockey team on Saturday.
September started off on the wrong foot, as the Broncos dealt with NCAA violations, a reprimand on coach Bill Wilkinson and the suspensions of two players - Steven Rymsha and Mark Wilkinson.
The chaos distracted the Broncos into one of the worst campaigns in school history, strumming up only three wins overall in the first four months of the season.
And due to the diversions, Western Michigan Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard fired Wilkinson, the 34th winningest coach in NCAA hockey history, ending his 15-year reign on Feb. 2. The announcement came with only nine games remaining in the regular season and the Broncos guaranteed of their third straight losing season.
The pink slip came as a shock to now interim coach Jim Culhane, who played under Wilkinson for four years and was his assistant for seven.
"We were surprised on this end too," interim coach Jim Culhane said. "I've known Jim and his family for more than 15 years. The relationship was great and there continues to be one, but I've had to set aside those emotions and do what's best for this team and these kids."
The Broncos, who won only two CCHA games before this past weekend, stormed back with a vengeance with their new chief, doubling their victories thanks to a strong power-play performance and solid goaltending from Matt Barnes.
"Teams usually respond to new coaches," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "Not because there's a better coach. The new players responded to show the new coach that they aren't as bad as the old coach was fired for."
Western Michigan had struggled in all areas previously this season where it remained in the CCHA cellar in almost every category including the standings. But this past weekend, the Broncos showed that they have a good shot at the eighth playoff spot.
"Last weekend we competed hard for 60 minutes against both teams," Culhane said. "That's what I told my players they needed to do the day I met with them."
Berenson believes that his team could take a lesson from the Broncos. Many of Michigan's latest losses in its present five-game winless streak included a small time period of the contest when the Wolverines struggled immensely.
"We need to play better for the entire 60 minutes," Berenson said. "We now see that we can't have a bad period or even a bad minute"
Western Michigan, on the other hand, might not be able to sustain a full contest due to a sharp disadvantage this weekend. The Broncos have to battle Ferris State on Friday, while Michigan practices and rests at home.
The Wolverines struggled with the same scheduling troubles last weekend, when they played two games, while Saturday night's opponent Ohio State took Friday off.
The problem "has been brought up before, and yes, it's somewhat of a concern." Culhane said. "Obviously, I have inherited it."
Who: Michigan (14-6-3 CCHA, 17-8-4 overall) vs. Western Michigan (4-13-6, 5-16-6)
Where: Lawson Arena, Kalamazoo
When: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: Fox Sports Detroit, Ch. 27; WTKA 1080 AM
- Comments about our hockey coverage can be sent to dailyhockey@umich.edu
02-12-99
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