Icers showcase talents against WCHA teams

By Ryan C. Moloney

Daily Sports Writer

The annual College Hockey Showcase tournament always means a little more to the Michigan hockey team for two reasons. For starters, Michigan's annual adversaries, Wisconsin and Minnesota, are equally prominent college hockey programs and worthy challengers. In addition, the Big Ten animosity shared by the three schools' other sports teams tends to spill into the rink.

The Wolverines are reeling after losing three out of their last five games, making a successful weekend not only a goal, but a necessity.

"We're not as good as maybe we think we are," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "In the games we lost, our team wasn't ready to play. Half of our team was, but their were four or five guys who didn't have good games and it cost us."

Michigan's Thanksgiving Day opponent, No. 12 Wisconsin, can sympathize with the Wolverines' misfortunes.

The Badgers have fallen on tough times after starting the season with seven straight wins. Wisconsin currently stands at 8-6-0 after losing six of its last seven.

Wisconsin is led by sophomore forward Dany Heatley, the No. 2 overall pick in last June's NHL entry draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. Heatley enjoyed a dynamite freshman season, scoring 28 goals and adding 28 assists.

This season, Heatley has 16 points in 14 games, but the rest of the Wisconsin team has struggled offensively.

Last year, Michigan handled Wisconsin at Yost Ice Arena, racking up an impressive 4-1 victory.

On Saturday, the Wolverines face a Minnesota team Berenson described as "better this year." An eyebrow-raising remark - the second-ranked Golden Gophers beat Michigan last season, 6-1.

"They came into Yost and spanked us," Berenson said.

Forward Erik Westrum is on an offensive tear, netting nine goals and 21 points in 12 games. Defenseman Jordan Leopold has complemented Westrum well on the Gophers' 34.8 percent power play, tallying 13 assists and 18 points.

"I think Erik is one of the premier players in college hockey," Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. "Jordan has really gone to another level this year - he's good offensively and he shuts the door defensively."

Minnesota goaltender Adam Hauser has played every minute of the season and sports a 9-1-2 record, with a 2.47 goals against average.

Defensively, the Wolverines are trying to plug some holes after losing Dave Huntzicker and Brad Fraser to MCL injuries for six weeks. Seldom-used Bob Gassoff will get a guarded opportunity according to Berenson, who is also contemplating using five defensemen or moving Jed Ortmeyer to the blue line.

"Playing five defensemen, our defense might be better, everybody plays a little more and gets into the game," Berenson said. Ortmeyer "is a good defenseman but he's also a good forward. You hope you don't have to go to him."

Regardless of Michigan's strategy, the minutes for each defensive pairing are likely to increase. More minutes at this point in the season are not ideal, so the Michigan blueliners could be exploited by Minnesota's power play juggernaut.

"You really have no choice, you just have to be prepared to play a lot of minutes," defenseman Jeff Jillson said. "You've to spot your shifts, try not to get too involved too early or it will catch up to you later in the game."

BRENDAN O'DONNELL/Daily

Alaska-Fairbanks center Blaine Bablitz hits Michigan's Bill Trainor last weekend. The Wolverines split the series with the Nanooks.