Blue takes ice against Colgate in playoffs

By Uma Subramanian

Daily Sports Writer

The experience alone is worth all the blood, sweat and tears shed over the course of a season.

And in their own words, the thrill of being there is more exhilarating than any other high.

So at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon when the Michigan hockey team (26-9-4 overall) takes the ice in Albany, N.Y., against Colgate (24-8-2), the Wolverines will finally be playing in what they believe is their rightful place - the NCAA Tournament.

Perhaps it's the anticipation of an entire year, or perhaps it's the reality that one wrong step could end a season, that makes NCAAs so special. Whatever it is, the tournament atmosphere will coerce phenomenal hockey out of the nation's 12 most elite teams.

"It's tough to describe the experience," Michigan junior forward Scott Matzka said. "It's just a feeling you get. Afterward, you can't tell people how you feel, because at that moment, what you're playing for brings all your emotions out.

"The excitement level is a lot higher. It's incredible how the atmosphere makes you really nervous. You see all the teams watching you and you're just expected to bring your A-game."

But not only is a team required to bring its A-game, it's required to lay its heart and soul out on the blue line.

Playing in the tournament is "like playing your best team during the regular season but adding more to it," Michigan captain Sean Peach said. "It's an amazing level of play. It seems like everyone makes their passes, finishes their hits and is playing well. Everyone is so mentally ready to play."

But regardless of what anyone else says, the only way to fully capture the NCAA experience is to partake in it. So for a team that is heavily dependent on its freshman class, the challenge may be to absorb the emotion without letting it become overwhelming.

But another, perhaps more pressing challenge for the Wolverines will be to prove to themselves that they can win at the ultimate level. The past two weeks during the CCHA playoffs, Michigan struggled, often times being outplayed by a weaker opponent.

Against Colgate there is absolutely no room for error. Though the Red Raiders only took third place in the ECAC Tournament, they have played extremely well in their last 16 games, winning 12 of those final contests.

"They're a gritty hard working team with two top lines, a big defense and a great goalie," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "They've got a good powerplay and no major weaknesses. This will be a good game between two good teams."

But Michigan has faced threatening teams before and played well. In fact, in the 1999-2000 campaign, the Wolverines had greater success against stronger opponents. Case in point, this season, Michigan knocked off both Michigan State and Wisconsin while struggling against teams like Bowling Green.

But as they keep saying, the NCAA playoffs are a new season, one in which the Wolverines must forget both past triumphs and setbacks in time for this weekend and the year's toughest challenges.

Undoubtedly, Michigan and Colgate are singularly focused on tomorrow afternoon, but neither team can forget that the winner of the contest will play No. 1 seed Maine at 3:30 p.m. Sunday to earn a berth in the Frozen Four.

Maine is the defending national champion, and this year the Black Bears won both the Hockey East regular season and tournament crowns.

So not only does the winner of tomorrow's game have to play on back-to-back days, but it has to take on arguably the best team in the country.

None of that matters because through all the trials and tribulations of a championship run, the grand prize acts as a temptress, luring the teams to forget their worries and focus instead on the championship trophy waiting to be presented in Providence, R.I.

"Every game you get further along down the wire, you just think about what it would be like to win that final game," Michigan goalie Josh Blackburn said. "It's a special feeling and you can't describe it."

But before they can focus on any of that, the Wolverines know they must take care of the Red Raiders first. Not only will the contest be a chance to advance to the next round, it will also be a chance for the Wolverines to silence the doubters who only awarded them a five-seed in the tournament.

It's a challenge Berenson is eagerly anticipating.

"I'm excited, even though I may not show it," Berenson said. "We're going to tell the world we're bad, and then go out there and show them just how good we really are."