Merrick stars in return to Blue lineup

The game-winning goal, a wrestling match, and the number one star of the game - welcome back, Andrew Merrick.

The Michigan senior left winger stole the show Saturday night against Yale with some inspired play all over the ice.

Merrick, who played in 32 of 42 games for the Wolverines last season, has seen his minutes diminish this year because of a nagging wrist injury and the strong early-season play of the freshmen.

But Saturday night he proved to be the difference in the game.

The Wolverines had just taken the lead on a goal off a pass from Mike Comrie to Mark Kosick, when Merrick struck. The always raucous Yost Ice Arena crowd - still not finished with their ritual taunting of Yale goalie Dan Lombard after the Kosick goal - was brought to a feverish pitch when Merrick flipped the puck over Lombard and into the back of the net just 25 seconds later.

At the time, the scoring flurry appeared to be only the tip of the iceberg, with Michigan netting three goals in under eight minutes.

But the Bulldogs, who were playing in their first game of the season, settled down and held the Wolverines scoreless for the rest of the game, making Merrick's goal the difference.

"When I scored, I thought we were on our way to seven or eight more," Merrick said. "But that wasn't the case.

"It feels good to contribute like that so that we could get a win."

The lack of scoring after a torrid first period didn't mean there was a lack of excitement. Merrick brought the crowd to their feet again late in the second period when he and Yale defensemen John Gauger fell to the ice in a display that looked more like professional wrestling than hockey.

"It gets emotional sometimes," Merrick said. "I hit him because I was frustrated. He was frustrated too and we just kind of got into it."

After the game Merrick was involved in another skirmish. When the two teams lined up to shake hands, Yale's John Chyz had other ideas in mind.

Instead of offering his hand in congratulations, Chyz gave Merrick a push which prompted some not-so-nice words, and both players had to be separated.

"I don't know what was going on there," Merrick said. "I shook his hand and he gave me a push so I asked him what was going on. I guess he was a little upset that they lost."

Chyz obviously realized the same thing that everyone else in attendance had been seeing all night - Merrick was the key to the Michigan victory.

Merrick's efforts impressed the Michigan coaching staff as well, and may have gotten him a shot at becoming a more consistent member of the lineup.

"When a player doesn't play, there's usually a reason," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "It's up to him to come back and show why he should be in the lineup, whether it's scoring goals, or second effort, or playing better defensively.

"That's the way I like to see a player come back. He showed the coaches and he showed the team that he should be playing. The way he continues to play will determine if he stays in the lineup, but tonight was a really good step for him."

11-01-99