All that matters is final result

The Wolverines dropped their first game at Yost Ice Arena in 36 games. They lost to Michigan State four times, including the Great Lakes Invitational championship game - Michigan's first time falling short of that title in a decade.

The Wolverines didn't win the CCHA. Even when they had a chance to capture the conference playoff crown, they fell short to upstart Ohio State in the semifinal round.

Sharat Raju Sharat in the Dark

Does any of that matter? None of those losses - none of them - will be remembered by the players, coaches or especially the fans. The shortcomings of last season will be totally wiped clean from memory.

An NCAA Championship will do that for you. It cleanses the brain, makes all the good memories seem lucid and clear while erasing the bad ones.

There were plenty of good memories. Really good ones.

Goaltender Marty Turco shattered the NCAA all-time victories record. Michigan rallied from two goals behind against defending champion North Dakota - twice - in the NCAA West Regional championship game in Ann Arbor.

The young Michigan defense shut down the high-octane New Hampshire offense behind blueliner Bubba Berenzweig's heroics in the national semifinal game in Boston.

All those memories would be wonderful keepsakes for any ordinary season. But nothing - nothing - will top that April 4 evening at the FleetCenter when Josh Langfeld found the back of the Boston College net in overtime, threw off his helmet and jumped into the arms of his teammates - that's what will stand out vividly.

The silent Boston crowd. The jubilant Michigan fans who made the road trip.

Turco and captain Matt Herr pounding on the glass towards the Michigan crowd.

The scene still lingers for old Michigan fans.

But for new Michigan fans, there are more memories in store for the next four years.

There will be more scenes like the one in Boston. There will be more astonishing performances and heartbreaking finishes.

This team will fill you up with hope and emotion, but will drain you of all energy and optimism - often, in a single weekend series. New memories will be made with friends at Yost and across the nation, taunting referees and opposing goalies. Will the memories be as easily remembered as the spring of '98 was? No one knows, obviously.

Now is an exciting time to be a Michigan hockey fan. Instead of being a time of new beginnings, now is merely a continuation of its dominance in college hockey. With 10 freshmen on the roster last season, the Wolverines were supposed to let the rest of the NCAA catch up to their level.

Too bad no one told Michigan coach Red Berenson. He knew his team wasn't as experienced or talented as the other top squads. He said it often, as a matter of fact.

But his team showed that hard work can never be underestimated, never be doubted in athletics. And in life. Michigan hockey embodies all that is the University - if you work hard, good things will happen.

Hopefully, for Michigan hockey fans, good things will continue to happen.

- Sharat Raju is a Daily Sports editor. He can be reached via e-mail at at sraju@umich.edu.

09-08-98