Michigan returns to host Lake Show

Yost Ice Arena will continue its redecorating theme as Michigan squares off with conference foe Lake Superior State tonight.

Two weeks ago the Michigan conference home-opener saw the Wolverines add a banner to the rafters in honor of last season's CCHA Tournament win.

This weekend, as fans make their way into Yost Ice Arena they'll be greeted by bronze-colored commemorative plates fashioned to the walls of each room in the building. The plaques, hung earlier this week, will memorialize donors who contributed thousands of dollars to help complete renovations to the aging arena over a year ago.

But make no mistake, notwithstanding the decor additions the Wolverines have added, it's still the Lakers that Michigan hopes to nail to the wall tonight. Already 7-1 in CCHA action, the Wolverines stand in the league's second spot behind Michigan State with a 10-1 mark overall.

But despite the efficiency with which Michigan has been able to cruise through parts of the early conference season, coach Red Berenson said this Lake Superior team is not one to be taken lightly.

"With Lake Superior I could say they might be the best team to play at Yost this year at this juncture," Berenson.

That would be nothing new to a Michigan team that has been pestered by the Upper Peninsula team for years. Lake Superior is one of only 13 schools that own a winning record against Michigan as they look to add to a 31-20-6 all-time record this weekend. And while Michigan owns a 7-2-1 advantage in the last ten years, the Wolverines are wary of a Lake State team that took two games from them a year ago, including a 6-3 drubbing in their last visit to Yost in February.

"They're 3-3 in the league, but they are real stingy defensively," Berenson said. "Last year they won two out of the three games we played against them so we expect to be challenged."

That challenge, as Berenson suggests, will likely come in surmounting the Lake Superior defense - one of the leagueís best. Returning all eight defensemen from a year ago, coach Scott Borek's blueline unit is anchored by veterans Blaine McCauley and Ryan

Knox.

Conversely, its Michiganís high octane offense that has given the Wolverines the edge in the early going this season as Michigan has outscored opponents 55-23. Leading the way, sophomore Mike Comrie is also leading the league - in overall scoring. Tallying points at a near dizzying pace the speedy forward headlines a group of four

Wolverines among the top 10 in league scoring with 23 points already this season. Meanwhile as a team the Wolverines are in the leagueís third position in goals per game with just over 2 and first in the conference in power-play percentage. Those are the type of offense credentials that it likely take the Wolverines to best the defensive effort

of the Lakers.

"They are a good team. They are a physically mature team," Berenson said. "Theyíre an older team with a lot of experience and a strong senior class. They'll be a challenge for our team."

Being back at home may help ease that challenge after a pair of tight games a week ago in Ohio. Though they managed to carve out a 4-3 win last Saturday against Miami, the game was in doubt for Michigan through three periods before the Wolverines added

the game-ender in overtime.

"We thought Miami was going to be the toughest team that we had faced," Berenson said. "I think they were. We were fortunate to find a way to win both games last weekend."

Now Berenson says his squad is fortunate to come home.

While the road weary Wolverines return to Yost for only the second two-game home series of the year, the Lakers venture from the confines of Taffy Abel Arena for only the second road series of their season.

are real stingy defensively," Berenson said. "Last year they won two out of the three games we played against them so we expect to be challenged."

That challenge, as Berenson suggests, will likely come in surmounting the Lake Superior defense - one of the leagueís best. Returning all eight defensemen from a year ago, coach Scott Borek's blueline unit is anchored by veterans Blaine McCauley and Ryan Knox.

Conversely, its Michiganís high octane offense that has given the Wolverines the edge in the early going this season as Michigan has outscored opponents 55-23. Leading the way, sophomore Mike Comrie is also leading the league - in overall scoring. Tallying points at a near dizzying pace the speedy forward headlines a group of four Wolverines among the top 10 in league scoring with 23 points already this season. Meanwhile as a team the Wolverines are in the league's third position in goals per game with just over 2 and first in the conference in power-play percentage. Those are the type of offense credentials that it likely take the Wolverines to best the defensive effort of the Lakers.

"They are a good team. They are a physically mature team," Berenson said. "They're an older team with a lot of experience and a strong senior class. They'll be a challenge for our team."

Being back at home may help ease that challenge after a pair of tight games a week ago in Ohio. Though they managed to carve out a 4-3 win last Saturday against Miami, the game was in doubt for Michigan through three periods before the Wolverines added the game-ender in overtime.

"We thought Miami was going to be the toughest team that we had faced," Berenson said. "I think they were. We were fortunate to find a way to win both games last weekend."

Now Berenson says his squad is fortunate to come home.

While the road weary Wolverines return to Yost for only the second two-game home series of the year, the Lakers venture from the confines of Taffy Abel Arena for only the second road series of their season.

This weekend

Where: Yost Ice Arena

When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m., tomorrow, 7:30 p.m.

The Latest: Michigan comes off a poor defensive performance in two games last weekend. Defenseman Bob Gassoff remains questionable. The Lakers took last season's series, two games to one.

11-19-99