Physical opener ahead for icers

BRANDON SEDLOFF/Daily

Junior Jeff Jillson returns to the Michigan lineup tonight against Bowling Green after sitting out last weekend's road trip to Alaska due to injury.

By Joe Smith

Daily Sports Writer

Michigan senior defenseman Bob Gassoff will tell you about the brand of physical and chippy hockey that is expected when the fourth-ranked Michigan hockey team (2-0-2) travels to Bowling Green (0-2-0) tonight in the first test toward defending its CCHA conference title.

He doesn't mind because that's his style - gritty, physical and not afraid of defending one of his teammates if things get ugly during a game. Much like two years ago - when Bowling Green took some cheap shots at Michigan assistant captain Bobby Hayes near the opposing bench at the end of Michigan's 9-3 playoff win. Gassoff took matters into his own hands in a fight with Falcon Dennis Williams - receiving a game disqualification and a two-game suspension for his troubles.

"That'll stick in their minds too," Gassoff said. "That if they want to play chippy they'll think twice about going over the limit."

Although emotions will be flaring in a hostile road environment, the players know they have to play their game and stay out of the box in order to take the home crowd out of it early on.

After their first two penalty-ridden games in the Ice Breaker Tournament - resulting in six goals for their opponents - the Wolverines realized the error of their ways and were far more disciplined, taking only seven penalties last weekend in two games in Alaska.

"If they take themselves out of the game with penalties, then we have to bury them on the power play," said Michigan senior Josh Langfeld, who seems to be a Falcon killer with 12 career points against the conference foe.

While many pick Michigan to repeat as conference champs, the coaches picked the Falcons to finish ninth in the preseason poll.

Bowling Green got shut out in consecutive games - for the first time in 31 year program history - this past weekend against unranked Alabama-Huntsville.

But coaches and players alike refuse to take their opponents lightly, as the Falcons always seem to get up for Michigan - beating the Wolverines twice last year.

"It doesn't matter if you're playing the first or last place team," Gassoff said. "The bottom line is that when you're Michigan, you're going to get everyone's best game."

The Wolverines will also have to go into battle without their captain on Friday night, as senior Geoff Koch is battling an ankle injury and has missed practice this week because of a death in his family.

Michigan won without Koch or Jeff Jillson in the lineup against Merrimack last Friday, but will definitely welcome their All-American defenseman back tonight.

Jillson is a "kid that should be a dominant defenseman in this league," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "So we need to see him play at his best."

After Friday's game, the Wolverines will make the 75-mile trip back home for a rest before returning to play Bowling Green again on Sunday night. Normally the games are played on consecutive days, but the Falcons are hosting a football game on Saturday night - giving both teams a chance to regroup.

Berenson said he welcomes the break because it will give his team a "reprieve" from a busy week that included many make-up exams and not much sleep for his players. The jet-lagged Wolverines returned from a four-day Alaskan trip late Sunday night, and he said the extra day will be beneficial.

"Its time to send a message around the CCHA," Gassoff said. "That this team is for real and we're going come to play every night."

This Weekend

BGSU Ice Arena

Who: No. 4 Michigan (2-0-2) vs. Bowling Green (0-2-0)

When: 7:05 p.m. tonight, 7:05 p.m. Sunday

Latest: Defending CCHA champion Michigan opens conference play against a team that was swept by Alabama-Huntsville.