Rivalry doubles as recruiting showcase

Blackburn returns to practice today, weekend status still questionable

By Jon Schwartz

Daily Sports Writer

For both Michigan and Michigan State's hockey programs, the coming weekend is big on more fronts than the simple rivalry.

As the two most prominent college hockey programs in the state, the first matchup of the season is the first chance to impress the undecided recruits trying to choose between the two schools.

During Saturday night's matchup at Yost Ice Arena, the shenanigans that Michigan students have made tradition during games will be a bit louder and crazier, the obvious result of the season's biggest game to date.

But several fans will be watching the contest on a much more intense level - closely scrutinizing each program's ups and downs with the ultimate hope of choosing which sweater will drape his body in the future.

"Any big game is going to be" a recruiting showcase, senior assistant captain Scott Matzka said. "When we win the big games we become a successful program and you get the recruits. I guess for the Michigan guys, it would be a good way to tell who you're going to go with."

For a senior in high school who plays defense, every Josh Blackburn save for the Wolverines could make his eye glitter. Every Mike Komisarek check against a Spartan could make a right wing leaning towards Michigan State feel a bit queasy.

But Michigan coach Red Berenson said it's not just the high school students that will have their eyes open wide this weekend.

"It might be a kid who's 12 years old or 14 years old that is impacted or influenced by the outcome of one of these game," Berenson said. "These are showcase games."

Back off the bench: Blackburn expects to return to practice today after missing yesterday's session and the third period of Saturday's 6-2 win over Miami.

Miami's Pat Leahy ran into the junior goaltender in the second period and despite finishing the stanza in goal, had to be replaced by L.J. Scarpace for the third. His status for this weekend is still questionable but will be clearer after today's practice.

"It's getting better every day," Blackburn said. "It's a little stiffer but I kind of expected that. But the pain's going away pretty quickly.

"When you hear separated shoulder that sounds pretty serious and actually, it wasn't that serious, just a little bit sore. It's not like my arm fell off or anything."

Berenson was disappointed that Leahy was given just a two-minute minor for the infraction.

"I can't tell you it was a deliberate hit, but I can tell you he didn't try to stop," Berenson said. "You can tell when a guy's trying to stop or slow down when he's coming into contact with the net or the goalie.

"We've got to protect our goalies and the referees have to protect them as well. If they think there's any deliberate contact with the goalie, that's one of the points of emphasis this year is you've got to call it. You can't have marquis goalies being run at by players indiscriminately." Top of the World: Michigan now tops both major polls for the first time in the regular season since the 1996-1997 season, ahead of Wisconsin by three points it the USCHO poll and one in the USA Today/AHM coaches poll.

As was expected, Berenson and his players downplayed the ranking, claiming that it is still far too early in the season to get excited about such things.

"I'm on one of those polls, too," Berenson said. "And I respect the fact that a team like North Dakota can go from No. 1 to No. 7 or 8 real quickly so you've got to take this all with a grain of salt.

"We just want to focus on playing our best hockey. The ranking can be a negative thing as well as a positive thing. The flattery's good and the respect our program has around the country is good. I think those things are important, on the other hand, we have to live up to that."