Icers still strong despite loss of star center Comrie

By Joe Smith

Daily Sports Writer

A single player doesn't make a team.

Even if that player is Mike Comrie.

Despite losing their leading scorer just three weeks before classes began, the Michigan hockey team is still the favorite to repeat as CCHA conference champions.

Comrie, a 1999 draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers, elected to forego his junior year at Michigan to play Major Juniors in an attempt to become an unrestricted NHL free agent. Instead of donning maize and blue this fall, Comrie will be a member of the Western Hockey League's Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, British Columbia.

"Mike's a great player, probably one of the best skill players who ever played at Michigan," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "But he decided not to come back. I'm disappointed but we have to move on and not worry about what could have been. I like the returning team just as much now as I did before Comrie made the decision."

Returning is a talented crop of seniors who tasted success as freshmen, winning the national championship in 1998. After two straight years of coming one game short of the Frozen Four, these Wolverines are hungry to return to title form.

With the leading scorer gone, Berenson feels that it won't be just one player who picks up the slack and puts the puck in the net, rather five senior forwards in particular.

Captain Geoff Koch and assistant captain Scott Matzka came on strong when it counted last season, and will be expected to do more of the same this year. Koch netted three game winning goals last year, including the overtime thriller against Colgate in the NCAA first round that kept the Wolverine's season alive. Matzka notched six points in the postseason, and had three game-winners in the season of his own.

Senior forward Josh Langfield is no stranger to pressure situations. He scored the overtime goal that clinched the team's last national title in 1998.

Not to be forgotten is sophomore Andy Hilbert, who had an impressive freshman campaign, ranking third on the team in scoring.

Scoring goals may not be such a necessity with the experienced and intimidating group that will be behind the blue line this season.

"We'll be better on defense even with the loss of (senior Sean) Peach cause of the experience of the returners," Berenson said.

All-American junior Jeff Jillson decided not to go pro this offseason and returns after a solid year where he teamed up with now senior and assistant captain Dave Huntzicker to make up for a depleted front line. The Wolverines lost three defensemen before last season, including their captain Mike Van Ryn to Major Juniors, and the two stepped up their level of play to hold their opponents in check.

Huntzicker will return to his post at defense after spraining his knee in his first shift of the Wolverine's overtime win over Colgate. Three new recruits have also been added to add depth to the blue line, including 6-4, 240 pound Mike Komisarek, who is expected to receive ample ice time this season.

If lined up with Jeff Jillson, it could be a scary combination. "Side by side they're like bookends," Berenson said. "It would be interesting to see them lined up together."

Coaches and teammates alike notice the potential of the new recruit, but realize it will take time for him to develop.

"Komisarek has the tools to be a solid Division I defenseman,"Berenson said. He has the size and talent, but it will take time to make the adjustment."

The Wolverines will be facing the longest and largest schedule in team history, possibly having to face three of the four finalists in the NCAA Frozen Four. This includes October 6-7 when they host the Ice Breaker Tournament. Defending NCAA champion North Dakota will be entering Yost, along with a Colgate team that will use revenge as its motivational tool when it faces the Wolverines in the first game.

"We're really going to be up against it," Berenson said. "All eyes will be set on that game. There's no question they'll come in with revenge in mind."

For the second year in a row, the Wolverines will open the season in September, not leaving a lot of time for practice before their first test on the 30th against Wilfred Laurier.

"It will challenge our team early," Berenson said. "We'll find out what kind of team we are and what kind of team we have to be.

"It'll be a great challenge, but I'm certainly not afraid of it and I don't think the players are either. I think they look forward to the challenge."