Blue scores win over 'chippy' Bucks Icers' 6-4 road victory overshadowed by rowdy play, 'ridiculous' fans By Stephanie Offen Daily Sports Writer COLUMBUS - A chippy Ohio State squad and an NCAA-record crowd of 17,343 fans proved to be an aggravating combination for the Michigan hockey team on Friday here in Value City Arena. The Wolverines' 6-4 victory over the Buckeyes was overshadowed by poor sportsmanship and an obnoxiously rowdy crowd. With about 10 minutes to go in the third period, freshman Mike Cammalleri sent a pass in the front of the net to Andy Hilbert on a 5-on-3 power play. Hilbert flipped the puck over Ohio State goalie Ray Aho for the Wolverines' sixth goal of the game. As the Michigan team celebrated what would be its final goal of a terrific evening for the power play, the Buckeyes were quick to jump all over the Wolverines - literally. While Hilbert was celebrating his second goal of the evening, a Buckeye checked sophomore Mike Comrie into the boards behind the net. Sophomore Jeff Jillson, who said he was "trying to defend his teammates," reacted by fighting with Ohio State's Jean-Francois Dufour. Both combatants were given game disqualifications, and will sit out this Saturday's rematch at Yost Ice Arena. The rowdy behavior leaked from the rink up to the stands, where fans started throwing Yoo Hoo beverages onto the ice. Two fans made obscene gestures to Michigan coach Red Berenson and the players, and one climbed on the glass and reached into the Wolverines' bench, grabbing sticks and throwing them onto the ice. "They were littering our bench with all sorts of debris," said junior Dave Huntzicker, who was trying to defend the bench from the fans. "One kid tried to get in our bench and security took a while to get there so we had to fend for ourselves. It was kind of ridiculous. I wished they had realized it was getting out of hand both on and off the ice." The game took on a rowdy tone throughout, as Michigan and Ohio State regularly exchanged shoves in the first two periods. The first goal of the night was scored shorthanded by junior Geoff Koch, taking the Wolverines into the break leading 1-0. Goaltender Josh Blackburn dished the puck out to Koch, who took it down the ice and fired it between Aho's legs for the goal. The Buckeyes tied the game a minute into the second period. And after worrying all week about the play of his power-play unit, Michigan coach Red Berenson was reassured a few minutes later. Koch started a scoring frenzy with the second Michigan goal of the game. Michigan's power-play unit would score on four out of 11 power plays opportunities. "If you have that many power plays and you score on the first couple, you start to get confidence," Berenson said. Freshman Jed Ortmeyer took that momentum, scoring 50 seconds later. But the Buckeyes' rough-style of play would get to the Wolverines as the two teams started exchanging words and building up penalties. The 3-1 lead didn't stand for long. The Buckeyes would take the momentum into their own hands when Ohio State rallied for two goals to tie the score after two periods. "We got off our game when we started yapping back at them," Koch said. "Coach emphasized that we need to keep our mouths shut and go out there and play our style versus their style." And in the third period, the Wolverines heeded their coach's advice. The Wolverines reducing their rough play, used Ohio State penalties to their advantage, scoring on two more power play opportunities. After Hilbert's first goal of the game, 49 seconds into the period, junior Josh Langfeld sealed the victory for the Wolverines, giving them a 5-3 lead. Coming off a scoring slump, Langfeld blew a shot past Aho on the power play. "They like to play after the whistle," Langfeld said. "And like coach said that's going to hurt them. We'll get on the power play and beat them on the power play." DANA LINNANE/Daily Freshman Jed Ortmeyer and the rest of the Wolverines took a tough victory from Value City Arena Friday, defeating a scrappy Ohio State squad 6-4. Originally on page 1B in the 1-24-2000 issue of the Daily.