Icers can't afford to assume victories over lesser foes

Western Michigan's goaltender, Matt Barnes, stands only 5-foot-4. Even their mascot, Buster Bronco, has a difficult time skating on the Lawson Arena ice.

Basically, this game was counted as a victory for the Michigan hockey team. The defending national champions against a school known for Puckboy, a middle-school kid who throws pucks into the crowd while wearing a puck costume? The game should be an easy two points.

T.J. Berka Teeing Off

Honestly, Michigan could have assumed that they could count this game as a victory in October. As the defending national champion and CCHA preseason favorite, the Wolverines couldn't have been blamed for placing this game in the victory column before the season even started. A 6-3 whipping of the Broncos on Jan. 16 further demonstrated the talent gap between the two teams.

Really, what could Western do to stop the powerful Wolverines? Unleash the intimidating Buster Bronco on Red Berenson? That wouldn't be a good idea for old Buster.

So why even play the game? With a mismatch like this, it would have been better if Western Michigan had cancelled the game and saved the Wolverines some gas money.

But the CCHA has a funny little rule. If a game appears on the schedule, it has to be played. So the Wolverines planned to drive two hours, gain two points, and head back two more hours with smiles on their faces and food in their stomachs.

These plans seemed pretty solid in October. But Michigan didn't plan on having a six-game winless streak.

Western Michigan took the assumptions of every Michigan fan and threw them out the window Saturday night by tying the Wolverines, 2-2.

While getting a point against Michigan might call for a campus-wide party at former coach Bill Wilkinson's house - BYOB, of course - it was actually a letdown for the Broncos.

Western Michigan could have easily beaten Michigan for the first time in four seasons. In fact, the Broncos came within 7.1 seconds of pulling off a shocking victory.

A tie against Western Michigan is not good for the Wolverines. It's about as unnatural as Pamela Anderson Lee's chest. Due to this freak phenomenon, there are only two possible ways to explain the events of Feb. 13.

1. Western Michigan's a good team: The Broncos have only lost one out of their last four games since Jim Culhane took over for Wilkinson on an interim basis. But, the Broncos have only won five out of 29 games this season. In most countries, that sucks. So that can't be the reason.

2) Michigan's got some problems: As much as the players deny it, the Wolverines aren't playing too well right now. Michigan is having difficulty coming out of the gates strong.

The Wolverines have trailed after the first period in the last four games. They have an extremely hard time burying their offensive chances and deflecting the intensity that opposing defenders bring to the table when playing the defending national champions.

The Wolverines, whether they admit it or not, assumed a victory over Western Michigan this weekend. They also assume that they will host a CCHA first-round playoff series and qualify for regionals in Madison. Michigan's in third place right now, but they are only five points removed from sixth.

These assumptions can still be fulfilled, but if the Wolverines don't get their act together, all the assuming will have been for naught.

- T.J. Berka can be reached via email at berkat@umich.edu

- Comments about our hockey coverage can be sent via email to dailyhockey@umich.edu

02-15-99