Former freshmen set an extraordinary standard

BOSTON - It's going to be all downhill now for the freshmen.

After winning an NCAA championship, the remainder of their careers might be anti-climactic. But for now, the 10 freshmen who grew up and lived together for an entire season can revel in their most recent accomplishment - the national title.

"I'm so happy," freshman forward Mark Kosick said. "When I came down here I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know one player on the whole team. I met all the freshmen and they're all my best friends. I have friends at home, but these are all my best friends now."

The Wolverines, stacked with 10 freshmen this season, appeared to be skating on thin ice. And when the postseason started, it seemed logical that Michigan would be led by its battle-tested seniors. Logic doesn't always work in sports, however.

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Mark Kosick and nine other freshmen from last year's Michigan hockey team decided to skip a rebuilding year and take the national championship instead. Kosick scored two goals in the title game.

All three Michigan goals in the championship game were scored by freshmen. Mark Kosick recorded the two regulation goals and Josh Langfeld netted the game-winner in overtime.

"I just shot it low, it went into the net - and we're national champions," Langfeld said.

All season, the freshmen have grown and built themselves into strong players. The upperclassmen have often said that during the season they were no longer freshmen, that they were playing with a maturity beyond their years.

Langfeld, who started the season as one of the marquee newcomers, was in somewhat of a slump in the second half of the season. The big forward recorded 19 goals and 18 assists and was named to the all-CCHA second team. Although only making the second team upset the Coon Rapids, Minn. native, Langfeld got his redemption with the game-winner.

Other freshmen came up huge in the championship game as well, especially on the defensive end. Defenseman Dave Huntzicker was a force all season, playing on the first line with Bubba Berenzweig. On numerous occasions, the Ann Arbor native was the lone defender in the Michigan zone and refused to get beat, keeping himself between (Boston College forward Marty) Reasoner and his own net.

"We've played these kind of games all year," Huntzicker said. "They had us on our heels a little bit, but we knew that all it takes is one shot to win it."

Two other freshmen defensemen, Mike Van Ryn and Scott Crawford, also played significant roles on defense. Van Ryn, arguably the best offensive defensemen (with apologies to Berenzweig), continued his strong play until sustaining a concussion late in Saturday's game.

The all-CCHA rookie team selection Van Ryn recorded 18 points on the season along with scoring five assists in a single game, against Colgate back on Oct. 18.

And when Van Ryn went down with the concussion, the little-used Crawford stepped up and filled his shoes during the overtime.

While the freshmen blueliners were the biggest question marks heading into the season, the forwards weren't necessarily a sure thing either. Although the coaches knew that Langfeld would be a force offensively, the other freshmen were virtual shots in the dark.

And as the season developed, the coaches soon found out that Kosick, Geoff Koch and Scott Matzka were each scoring threats. Kosick's achievements were well-known, earning him a spot on the all-CCHA rookie team. Koch, Langfeld and Matzka - the freshman line - proved to be invaluable to coach Red Berenson. He felt secure pairing that line up with any other line in the country.

"I didn't feel uncomfortable playing them against Reasoner's line, which might be one of the best lines in the country," Berenson said. "But that line can skate."

Another unsung Michigan freshman this season was Bill Trainor. Trainor was an instrumental part of the second penalty-kill unit.

Michigan's penalty kill was somewhat effective allowing a single power play goal in four chances.

As outstanding as the freshmen have played this season, the coaches attribute much of their success to the more experienced Wolverines.

"I think our upperclassmen did a great job of taking them under their wing, as well as coach Berenson," Michigan assistant coach Mel Pearson said. "I'm just happy for them. We keep talking how it could be anybody and that we're a chain-link. You're only as strong as your weakest links."

09-08-98