Inside College Hockey | 2003 Midwest Regional Quarterfinals

March 30, 2003
NCAA Midwest Regional
Ya Gotta Believe

NCAA Tournament Coverage

By Mike Eidelbes

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Just one word was scrawled on the dry erase board in the Michigan locker room.

Believe.

Fitting, because few outside the Wolverine family thought they had a donut's chance in Don Koharski's breakfast nook of topping Colorado College, a team with superior talent, in Sunday's Midwest Region final at Yost Ice Arena. The Tigers boasted a rock-solid defensive corps, gifted forwards and outstanding special teams units.

Michigan 5, Colorado College 3
Team	Goal	Str
Time	Assists
First Period
1-UM	Eric Nystrom (15)	EV
2:22	Helminen, Mink
1-CC	Brett Sterling (26)	PP
8:10	Sejna, Clarke
2-CC	Peter Sejna (36)	PP
10:42	Clarke, Preissing
2-UM	Milan Gajic (11)	EV
17:18	Moss, Roemensky
Second Period
3-UM	Mark Mink (6)	SH
1:23	Unassisted
3-CC	Brett Sterling (27)	EV
11:57	Liebel
Third Period
4-UM	Jason Ryznar (7)	EV
4:25	Unassisted
5-UM	Mark Mink (7)	PP EN
19:42	Nystrom
Goaltending
UM: Al Montoya, 60:00, 21 saves, 3 GA
CC: Curtis McElhinney, 59:36, 27 saves, 4 GA
Penalties: UM 8/16; CC 10/20
Power Plays: UM 1-7; CC 2-6
Attendance: 6,781
All-Midwest Regional Team
F: Brett Sterling, Colorado College F: Eric Nystrom, Michigan F: Jed Ortmeyer, Michigan D: Tom Preissing, Colorado College D: Andy Burnes, Michigan G: Al Montoya, Michigan (MVP)

Michigan, however, had a never-say-die attitude, a unsurpassed work ethic and the ability to take advantage of the misfortune of their opponents. They also got a balanced effort from the entire lineup, which was the main reason they ousted Colorado College, 5-3, to advance to the Frozen Four in Buffalo in two weeks.

"That's the reason we're sitting here tonight is because the depth of our team," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "I think our team understands that this is the time to step up if given the chance."

Berenson's belief is evidenced by looking at Sunday's final score sheet. While the Tigers predictably got goals from top scorers Brett Sterling and Peter Sejna, the Wolverines received unlikely contributions from senior Mark Mink and fourth-liners Milan Gajic and Jason Ryznar, who scored the game-winner 4:25 into the final period.

"With our team its not so much the first, second, third, fourth lines," said Gajic, a sophomore from Burnaby, B.C. "Everyone is in tune with each other."

Take fourth-line center David Moss, for example. He quietly made two crucial plays that directly led to Wolverine goals. In the opening period, he tracked down the rebound off a Mike Roemensky shot in the far circle and fired a cross-ice pass to Gajic, who had beaten the back-checking Colorado College forward to the goal mouth for an easy tip-in. Then, on Ryznar's goal, Moss tied up a Tiger defenseman, allowing his linemate to walk out from behind the cage unmolested and rip a wrister past goaltender Curtis McElhinney.

"Me and Moss were working it down low in the corner and they turned the puck over," Ryznar said. "I went around the net and Moss did a great job of tying up his man and I got a quick shot off and luckily, it went in."

Not only is Michigan the only lower-seeded team in this year's tournament to beat a higher-seeded foe, but they're also the only non-No. 1 seed heading to Buffalo. Sure, they've got a date with white-hot Minnesota scheduled for April 10 at HSBC Arena. But judging from the Wolverines' mindset, they're right where they want to be.

ON HIS MARK

As good as the Colorado College defensemen are – and they're very good – none made more of an impact Sunday than freshman Mark Stuart. A hulking blueliner with tremendous strength and a bit of a mean streak, he made a lasting impression on onlookers at Yost Ice Arena with his suprising mobility and intelligent play.

"He just does so many things well," said Tom Preissing, Stuart's defensive partner and the Tigers' captain. "I don't think there are any weaknesses to his game. It's pretty unbelievable for an 18-year-old freshman to come in and make that big of an impact."

Watch Stuart on the penalty kill and you get a sense of the skills to which Preissing refers. He's strong enough to clear traffic in front of McElhinney and hold up opposing forwards so they can't get to rebounds, quick enough to track down loose pucks and smart enough to find the openings to clear the zone.

"People that come see me every night, the first thing they see is the physical play and that's understandable," Stuart explained. "The decision-making and other things in my game are things I have, but things I definitely need to work on."

Naturally, the Rochester, Minn., native is quick to credit his elders on the blue line, specifically Preissing, for mentoring him this season.

"I was really lucky to play with Tom Preissing most of the year," Stuart said. "He taught me a lot about leadership and how to keep your composure, not to give up during games, how to prepare for games and to come out strong. These guys have a lot of character."

No question that attribute has rubbed off on Stuart. Like a predictable karate movie, Preissing expects the student to become the teacher next season.

"He's one of those guys who you can always rely on defensively, one of those guys who can pick up the team with a big hit," Preissing said. "He was a good leader as a freshman and I think next year he'll be counted on to lead even more, which tells you about his character on and off the ice.

Sunday's Three Stars

3. The pro-Michigan crowd at Yost.
No, it's not an overblown myth. The Michigan faithful played a huge role in sparking the Wolverines to victory against a clearly superior Colorado College team.

2. Mark Stuart, Colorado College
He was scoreless on the weekend, and didn't attempt a shot on goal in Sunday's Midwest Regional championship, but the freshman defenseman., who will be a top pick in June's National Hockey League Entry Draft, is the real deal and a joy to watch.

1. Al Montoya, Michigan
The kid has yet to lose a postseason game.

SEEN AND HEARD AT YOST

• With today's win, Michigan remains unbeaten at home in NCAA Regional play since the tournament went to its current format in 1992-93. The Wolverines are 6-0 at Yost during that span.

Berenson, during the post-game press conference: "The home-ice advantage in the NCAA Regional is probably not fair."

• No. 1 seeds who get sent to Michigan for the Midwest Regional next year can take solace: the event takes place at the friendly, neutral combines of Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids in 2004. Interestingly enough, the 2004 West Regional will be held at Colorado Springs World Arena. Maybe one year too late for Tiger fans.

• Referee Dan Murphy, who worked Saturday's Colorado College-Wayne State affair, was on the ice for the game between the Tigers and Wolverines. Fans attending Saturday's contest were privy to a rare glimpse of three-on-three skating. Sunday, Murphy's efforts led to a Michigan two-man advantage and a four-on-three power play for Colorado College.

• Heads-up play by Colorado College forward Peter Sejna. Well, kind of. During a Tiger third-period power play, Sejna lowered his head as he drifted across the slot to screen Michigan goaltender Al Montoya. Tom Preissing's blast from the point caromed of the top of Sejna's helmet and high into the seats behind the U-M net.

• Here's how highly regarded the ECAC is in the West – after the Yost Ice Arena public address announcer relayed the final score of the East Regional between Boston College and Cornell to fans, the news was greeted with silence. Had BC won, at least a few people would've booed.

• An optimistic, if ultimately incorrect, sign held up by a young Colorado College booster read "Hail to the Victors." The back side of the placard: "That's right, CC. Go Tigers!"

• Spotted among the maize-wearing masses was a lone fan sitting on the glass wearing a North Dakota sweater. I'm not sure if he thought the Fighting Sioux had a relegation-round game at Yost, but did deserves kudos for capping off the national anthem by singing, "And the home of the SIOUX!!!"

PLUSSES AND MINUSES

The small but vocal Colorado College cheering section held its own against the partisan Wolverine crowd. The 200 or so rooting for the Tigers rose up at least once each period to support their team, no small feat in the tempest known as Yost.

To the person responsible for the pre-game music at Yost Ice Arena. Most of the tunes were standard warm-up fare, but the inclusion of "Revolution" by the Beatles was a nice touch.

To the Colorado College power play, which had been so good all weekend, but couldn't muster a goal with an extra attacker during the final two periods of Sunday's game and was totally out of sync in its lone opportunity during the final 20 minutes.

To the Michigan fans at Sunday's game. Instead of focusing on their team's incredible accomplishment, they chose to direct their tired, predictable "Season's over" chant at Colorado College. The Lynah Faithful you're not. In fact, you're not even close.

WHAT'S NEXT

For Michigan, it's a third straight trip to the Frozen Four and yet anothe rmountain to climb as they'll face defending champion Minnesota in the evening semifinal April 10. If the Wolverines get past the Gophers, one has to wonder if it's a season of destiny for the Maize and Blue.

Meanwhile, it's decision time for Colorado College's Peter Sejna. Surely, more than one NHL team will dangle a lucrative, multi-year deal in front of him in the days ahead.