Michigan hockey team settling into role of underdog at Frozen Four
Though it's one of the most successful programs in the nation, the Michigan hockey team knows a little something about being an underdog, too.
Just last year the Wolverines scratched their way back from a seventh-place finish in the CCHA to win the conference tournament and extend their streak of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances to 20.
But senior Louie Caporusso says that was a much different challenge than the one the Wolverines face in a Frozen Four national semifinal against top-ranked North Dakota on April 7.
"You’re looking at two different scenarios," Caporusso said on a Frozen Four teleconference this afternoon. "We have definitely not been the best team in college hockey at any point this season, but we’ve never been a huge underdog.
"If you're asking me who's the better team, North Dakota looks a lot faster and has huge skill. That’s how we’re going to treat them."
Coach Red Berenson added to the underdog theme:
"Do we have a chance? Everybody has a chance. We’re probably the overwhelming underdog in this game, but everybody has a chance," he said.
North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol wasn't quite as willing to take on the role of being the favorite to win the school's eighth national title -- which would put them one behind Michigan's all-time record of nine.
"We expect a great hockey game and we know that coming out of our regional, where we felt we played well, we have to continue to improve and play our best game of the season next Thursday," Hakstol said. ""(Michigan has) been on a roll for several months. They’re playing tremendous."
Like in its 2-1 regional final win over Colorado College, Berenson indicated defense and penalty killing will be a major factor for his team.
"I don’t know if we can match North Dakota’s speed or skill, and I don’t know if anyone has figured out a way to take that out of the game," he said. "They’ve got the edge on special teams and they have the edge in offensive skills. You’ve seen three other No. 1 seeds go down and this is the last team standing. They’re as good as it gets."
Two top seeds, Boston College and Miami (Ohio), were eliminated in regional semifinals. Yale lost to Minnesota-Duluth in a regional championship game.
North Dakota, meanwhile, had little trouble in regional wins over RPI (6-0) and Denver (6-1).
Michigan (28-10-4) and North Dakota (32-8-3) will play at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The other semifinal, starting at 5 p.m., will match Notre Dame (25-13-5) against Minnesota-Duluth (24-10-6).
The winners meet at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9, for the national title.
Rich Rezler covers sports for AnnArbor.com. Contact him at 734-623-2553 or richrezler@annarbor.com.
Comments
David Muzzatti
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 8:08 p.m.
So here we are. Yet ANOTHER Frozen Four appearance by Red Berenson & his band of players. I'm mystified as to why this yet again continues NOT to make news. Berenson is arguably the greatest college coach in the university's history & most certainly one of the greatest college hockey coaches in history. Furthermore, Berenson has put more Michigan players in the sport's professional leagues than his peers across North America in football, baseball & basketball. No disrespect here but Brady Hoke hasn't played one quarter of football at Michigan.
Disco D
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 11:43 a.m.
I echo David's comments and add the best defensive team will win this game. U of M's game against CC was their best defensive game this year. To hold CC to just over 20 shots for the game after CC destroyed BC 8-4 in their previous game was a remarkable defensive performance by our Wolverines. It will take that level of effort and more (offense) to negate ND's speed and skill as Red said in the article. I look forward to seeing this game. GO BLUE!!
David Vande Bunte
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 9:16 p.m.
This game will be decided by Shawn Hunwick's play. Michigan probably will not be able to outscore North Dakota, so they have to outdefend them, and Hunwick needs to be the best goalie on the ice. Michigan can win this game, as long as remains a close low scoring game. The only way Michigan can keep it a low scoring game is for Hunwick to play at his best. If Hunwick is anything less than great, Michigan probably doesn't win. But, this is a winnable game. They aren't invincible by any means. Michigan had only two more loss all year, (10 to 8), and gave up only 3 more goals overall (95 to 92). North Dakota has a big advantage in goals scored, but this matchup isn't exactly David vs. Goliath, it's more like Andre the Giant vs. the Big Show.