Hat trick for Comrie in sweep of Irish

NOTRE DAME - The message sent out by the Michigan hockey team this weekend to the rest of the CCHA was pretty clear - they may not be big, but they're fast and they're pretty darn good.

The Wolverines entered this weekend's two-game series against Notre Dame knowing that the Irish were a bigger and more physical team, but as the old adage goes, "The bigger they are the harder they fall." That proved to be the case for the Irish, who were defeated 6-1 on Friday. For the Wolverines, the win completed a weekend, and season sweep of the Irish.

"Our players may not be big, but they play big," Berenson said. "You're not going to intimidate anyone on our team. I really admire the way that they paid the price (this weekend), and that's what it's all about."

The Wolverines got things going when forward Scott Matzka stole the puck at the Michigan blue line and after making a move to get around his defender, he hit the jets and skated in for the score. Sophomore playmaker Mike Comrie scored what proved to

DANA LINNANE/Daily Dave Huntzicker (right) and the Michigan defense held the Fighting Irish to one goal Friday as the Wolverines rolled.

be the game winning goal late in the period when he slid the puck in the net after stealing the puck down low from a Notre Dame defender.

Comrie led the Wolverines in scoring on the night - recording his first career hat trick against the Irish. Comrie's second goal of the night - a fake slap shot followed by some tricky puck handling between the legs of an Irish defender, and a quick flick over the glove side shoulder of Notre Dame goalie Jeremiah Kimento - gave the Wolverines a 4-1 advantage, and put the game out of reach.

"He was able to put the puck in the net and make the difference in the game," Berenson said. "He's a dangerous player and with the puck he may as good as anyone we've seen in the league."

Comrie completed the hat trick just :23 seconds later, beating Kimento through the five-hole.

Comrie now has four goals in the first two games of the season - picking up right where he left off last season when he was named CCHA freshman of the year. He has proven to be the team's top playmaker on what has thus far been an explosive Michigan offensive attack.

The game was a statement of sorts for the Wolverine's defense as well.

Despite the unexpected loss of three defensemen during the off season the Michigan blue liners have been dominated. At one point during the series the defense had held Notre Dame scoreless for 53:04, spanning from midway through the third period of Thursday night's game to early on in the third period Friday.

"We didn't give up much defensively," Berenson said. "If we were worried

about our defense we got an answer this weekend. I think these guys can do

the job."

Freshman Mink finished the scoring for the Wolverines with the first goal

of his collegiate career - beating Notre Dame's replacement goalie Tony Zasowski

with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

Michigan now stands atop the early CCHA leaderboard, and, after a loss by

Michigan State to Colorado College, will probably be the league's highest

ranked team next week. The win should provide momentum early as they vie

for the conference crown.

"We can build on this," Comrie said. "We showed that we're an explosive

team and these two games were big games for us to win early on in the

season."

10-11-99