Wanted: One College-Level Goalie
That was the most frustrating Michigan hockey game I have ever seen. In fact, I cannot think of a more frustrating Michigan loss in any sport except for possibly the 54-51 football loss to Northwestern in 2000.
You'd think I could be optimistic after watching Michigan score two goals IN THE FIRST MINUTE. I was thrilled, don't get me wrong, but I was not relaxed. Why? Because Billy Sauer is a sad excuse for a high school team goalie. Why is he starting at the University of Michigan? The correct answer is "because Gary might be a better goalie than backup Steve Jakiel".
8-5 loss to the Sioux. Twelve goals scored in the first thirty minutes. Eight goals allowed on 27 shots. Too bad the North Dakota goalie showed up for the second half of the game because Michigan missed a lot of chances to get back in the game during the last thirty minutes. Michigan completely dominated this game when both teams were at even strength.
I said that Michigan would win if they did two things, minimized turnovers and penalties. The good news is that they limited turnovers. The bad news is that North Dakota went on the power play eight times. The Sioux scored on five of those opportunities. Five power play goals. FIVE!! That's sick. Michigan only killed one power play that lasted a full two minutes. All of the other kills were due to the Sioux taking a penalty during while they were on the man advantage.
Michigan lacked the character of a champion this season. There is no excuse for taking so many penalties. Where is the senior leadership? I miss former captain Jed Ortmeyer. He would not have allowed Michigan to lose a game in this fashion. Current team leader and best player TJ Hensick is the counter example of a leader. He decided to help Michigan come back in the third period by taking a ten minute misconduct for mouthing off at the ref. Dumbass.
I had a false sense of security about Billy Sauer after a strong last two months of the season. However, performances like the one from today happened way too many times over the past two seasons. He should never play another game in net for Michigan. Assuming JMFJ leaves for the LA Kings and forgoes his last two years of eligibility, Coach Berenson needs to use that scholarship on a competent goalie. Although Sauer allowed a lot of goals where he had no chance, there were three or four that were embarrassing for a goalie to allow at this level.
Where does this leave Michigan for next year? Well, with TJ Hensick graduating and JMFJ likely leaving for the NHL along with two or three other defensemen, this team will be lucky to win half of their games next year unless a real leader steps up in TJ's absence. I kid you not. The 2007-08 Michigan team is shaping up to be the worst to wear the maize and blue since I started following college hockey in 1990. It's really scary. Michigan's run of 17 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances will not extend to 18 next season. Not without a new goalie.
I thought North Dakota was a better team than what I saw today. Minnesota will wipe them out tomorrow if they don't play better. The Sioux cannot count on all those power plays to bail them out every night.
Grrr....Michigan should have won this game tonight. With a good goalie, they would have won the title this season.
You'd think I could be optimistic after watching Michigan score two goals IN THE FIRST MINUTE. I was thrilled, don't get me wrong, but I was not relaxed. Why? Because Billy Sauer is a sad excuse for a high school team goalie. Why is he starting at the University of Michigan? The correct answer is "because Gary might be a better goalie than backup Steve Jakiel".
8-5 loss to the Sioux. Twelve goals scored in the first thirty minutes. Eight goals allowed on 27 shots. Too bad the North Dakota goalie showed up for the second half of the game because Michigan missed a lot of chances to get back in the game during the last thirty minutes. Michigan completely dominated this game when both teams were at even strength.
I said that Michigan would win if they did two things, minimized turnovers and penalties. The good news is that they limited turnovers. The bad news is that North Dakota went on the power play eight times. The Sioux scored on five of those opportunities. Five power play goals. FIVE!! That's sick. Michigan only killed one power play that lasted a full two minutes. All of the other kills were due to the Sioux taking a penalty during while they were on the man advantage.
Michigan lacked the character of a champion this season. There is no excuse for taking so many penalties. Where is the senior leadership? I miss former captain Jed Ortmeyer. He would not have allowed Michigan to lose a game in this fashion. Current team leader and best player TJ Hensick is the counter example of a leader. He decided to help Michigan come back in the third period by taking a ten minute misconduct for mouthing off at the ref. Dumbass.
I had a false sense of security about Billy Sauer after a strong last two months of the season. However, performances like the one from today happened way too many times over the past two seasons. He should never play another game in net for Michigan. Assuming JMFJ leaves for the LA Kings and forgoes his last two years of eligibility, Coach Berenson needs to use that scholarship on a competent goalie. Although Sauer allowed a lot of goals where he had no chance, there were three or four that were embarrassing for a goalie to allow at this level.
Where does this leave Michigan for next year? Well, with TJ Hensick graduating and JMFJ likely leaving for the NHL along with two or three other defensemen, this team will be lucky to win half of their games next year unless a real leader steps up in TJ's absence. I kid you not. The 2007-08 Michigan team is shaping up to be the worst to wear the maize and blue since I started following college hockey in 1990. It's really scary. Michigan's run of 17 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances will not extend to 18 next season. Not without a new goalie.
I thought North Dakota was a better team than what I saw today. Minnesota will wipe them out tomorrow if they don't play better. The Sioux cannot count on all those power plays to bail them out every night.
Grrr....Michigan should have won this game tonight. With a good goalie, they would have won the title this season.
posted by GaryGinew at 10:30 PM
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