'M' wary of slip on Buckeyes

Last season, the biggest ice hockey arena in the nation posed the biggest problems for the Wolverines.

A blizzard and an ice-altering basketball game acted as welcoming committees for Michigan at the Value City Arena in Columbus. And with those warm welcomes came zero victories for the Wolverines. The team will once again have to travel to Ohio State on Saturday for the second game of a home-and-home weekend series with the Buckeyes.

"I can't say it was a treat last year," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "The first game there was a blizzard and they were worried about whether there would be a game at all. They didn't know if the officials could make it and whether or not we would be able to get home. The second game we played there they had a basketball tournament that afternoon and the ice became the issue because they had just taken the boards off."

DANA LINNANE/Daily Jed Ortmeyer and the Michigan hockey team play a home-and-home series against the Buckeyes this weekend.

The first game of the series will be played at Yost Ice Arena. But last season, even in the safe confines of its home, Michigan could not pull off a victory against Ohio State. In fact, the Wolverines did not defeat the Buckeyes last season until Sean Ritchlin scored the winning goal for the Wolverines in the CCHA semi-finals.

This season could be a different story. Ohio State comes into their two-game series with the Wolverines with a 1-5 record, ranked 11th in the conference. The Wolverines, on the other hand, are currently the fifth-ranked team in the nation.

Then again, one just needs to look to last season's Buckeyes to see that this game will not be played out on paper. Ohio State went 1-6 in its first seven game but finished No. 3 in the conference, undefeated against Michigan in the regular season.

"Ohio State always seems to play their best game against us," said center Mike Comrie, who scored one of the few goals against the Buckeyes last season.

Comrie will be pitted against Ohio State winger Eric Meloche, who Berenson praised as one of the best players in the league and the biggest threat on the team.

Comrie has a full roster behind him though, as Andy Hilbert returns from his suspension and Kevin Magnuson is expected to be back after a finger injury.

Both teams have lost significant talent since last season, making health an important factor.

The Buckeyes underwent two major replacements this year. Senior Ray Aho currently takes the spot in goal that was occupied last season by star goalie Jeff Maund.

Meloche is taking over on the offensive end for last season's top scorer Hugo Boisvert.

Even though blizzards and basketball games may not be a factor this Saturday, Meloche, Aho and the crowd could play into both of this weekend's games.

Friday night the Wolverines will host a packed house. Only standing room only tickets are available for Michigan's first home CCHA game. Saturday night, the Wolverines will be faced with Value City Arena's 17,500 fans, who will try to rival the intensity the two teams faced the evening before.

And Berenson said that these two crowds are exactly what he wants for this weekend's games.

"I just like to play when the ice is good and the crowd is good and we're good," Berenson said.

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