COLLEGE HOCKEY SHOWCASE COVERAGE

I'll be live at Yost Ice Arena tonight providing live coverage of the college
hockey showcase.  The Wolverines host Minnesota tonight and Wisconsin Saturday
night.  The Cover It Live chat will start around 7 p.m. and the puck drops at
7:35 p.m.

Tonight's game is only available on Fox Sports North.  Saturday's game can be
seen on Comcast Local.  If you don't get either one, or if you do and want to
chat with your fellow fans, stop on by MHNet for the live chat.  Hoping for a
big turnout this weekend!

RED COMMENTS ON RECRUITS

U-M hockey head coach Red Berenson talked about each of the five recruits who
signed their letter of intent this past week on The Red Berenson Show.  And
although he couldn't comment specifically on goaltender Jack Campbell's
decommitment, he did offer some general words on the situation.

On defenseman Kevin Clare... Kevin is one of those out of state kids who was
recruited into the program, and I would call him a real hard-nosed, defensive
defenseman who can shoot the puck.  I think he'll fit in really well in the CCHA
and our team.

On defenseman Jon Merrill... Johnny is a terrific player.  He's smooth skating;
he's a big time player.  He's smart with the puck, he's smart without the puck. 
He's going to be a delight for our fans to watch him develop here.

On defenseman Mac Bennett... Mac is related to players that I played with and
coached.  Curt Bennett and Harvey Bennett were NHL players and they were from
Brown University, and their brother Bill had this young player Mac who's a good
player, then as they got talking about him Curt says, "Well, you gotta call Red
at Michigan.  You don't want him going where we went," and so on.  So I get a
call from Bill Bennett and I thought it was just one of those calls about a kid
that might not be that good but they were calling anyway, and boy, Billy Powers
went and saw him and said this kid is dynamite, so he's going to be an exciting
defenseman.  I would call him a rushing offensive, solid defenseman.

On forward Luke Moffatt... Boy, these kids are coming from all over now.  I
always smile when I talk about it because I never dreamt we would be recruiting
a kid from Arizona.  Luke is a kid who came out of the woodwork.  He showed up
at the prospect camps and Mel Pearson really liked his skills and the kid wanted
to come to Michigan.  He's had Michigan on his mind before we ever met him, and
those are the kids you're glad they're good enough and here they want to come to
Michigan all along, and here is he from Arizona, so I think Luke will have a
real good time here.

On forward Jacob Fallon... Jake's, I think, a real good two-way centerman. 
He'll be good with the puck, good without the puck; a real solid player.

On recruiting this group... This is what keeps me going.  You recruit these kids
then you want to coach them, and it goes on and on and on; it never stops. 
We're excited about the group.  I think they'll be a good group.

On the decommitment... There are kids out there who will make commitments but
when it comes right down to it will either break their verbal commitment or they
even sign the letter (of intent) and break that.  There's a kid who was suppose
to go to Notre Dame last year, a terrific player, and at the last minute, even
after he signed, he's taking the money—he didn't say taking the money but we all
know what's going on, and that's what happens.  So you really have to trust the
kid and family that they're informed, that they know what they're doing when
they commit to go to college, and they got all these voices in their ear telling
them, "Oh, no, this is the shorter way to the pros," and this and this and this,
and usually those promises don't work out.  But anyway, that's the world we live
in.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net

CZARNIK BOLTS WOLVERINES

Sophomore forward Robbie Czarnik has decided to leave the Michigan Wolverines
and join the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. The Whalers had just
acquired his rights from Oshawa.

Czarnik had three goals and three assists in 12 games this season, and 5-11-16
in 39 games his freshman season.

No word yet on why he decided to leave, but certainly a blow to the Wolverines,
who were looking to rebound after a poor start to the season.

Man, nothing is going to come easy this season.

FIVE RECRUITS SIGN BUT ONE MAJOR PIECE MISSING

The early signing period is over and the Wolverines signed five players for fall
2010, however one major piece of the puzzle did not ink his letter yet.  U.S.
National Team Development Program Under-18 goaltender Jack Campbell did not turn
in his letter of intent.

Campbell is considered one of the top goalie prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry
Draft and has been a U-M verbal commitment for just over a year.  Not sure yet
why he didn't sign, but it certainly has some fans concerned about his maize n'
blue future.

Meanwhile, several of Campbell's teammates did sign their letters for Michigan. 
Forwards Luke Moffatt and Jacob Fallon, along with defensemen Jon Merrill and
Kevin Clare will all be staying in Ann Arbor.  In addition, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
defenseman Mac Bennett also signed his letter.

Michigan still has a few verbal commitments who were considered 2010/2011
options.  Don't be surprised if they pull the trigger on at least one of them
during the spring signing period with Czarnik now gone.

I am working on updating the Recruits page on Michigan Hockey Net and will have
more info on each player shortly.

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Don't forget, I will be Yost Ice Arena Friday and Saturday providing live
coverage of the College Hockey Showcase on MHNet.  Friday's game is on Fox
Sports North and Saturday on Comcast Local.  If you aren't able to watch, please
stop on by!

That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net

Quick update from Toledo...

The skid is over!  Michigan dominates Bowling Green, 4-1, to end their losing
streak.  The Wolverines out shot the falcons 30-12.  This game reminded me a lot
of their Friday night win against Lake Superior State back in October where they
dominated from start to finish.

Michigan jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Carl Hagelin and A.J. Treais. 
Marc Rodriguez cut it to 2-1 with 4:22 left in the opening stanza, but 1:13
later Brian Lebler beat Nick Eno for a 3-1 lead.

After a scoreless second period, Chris Brown would extend the lead when he
buried a pass from Louie Caporusso.  Michigan would hold on for the 4-1 win.

Still some bad penalties to be ironed out, though.  Robbie Czarnik took a bad
tripping penalty at the end of the second period, giving BGSU a power play to
start the third.  Tristin Llewellyn then added another bad penalty on a take
down, then with seven minutes to play Brian Lebler took a major penalty and game
misconduct for hitting from behind.  The Wolverines managed to kill them all
off, but they never should have given the Falcons that much power play time in
the third period to try to get back into the game.

Anyways, hurray for the win!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for the live chat tonight.  Next live chat
will be next Friday as I'll be at Yost Ice Arena for the start of the College
Hockey Showcase.

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That's all for now...

GO BLUE!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net

Quick update...

UGH.  Does that sum it up enough for you?  I hope so, because that's about all
your getting out of me tonight!

After playing pretty solid for 40 minutes, the Michigan hockey team did their
impersonation of the Michigan football team and collapsed during the final 20
minutes.

Bowling Green scored three unanswered goals in a 2:22 span of the third period
to take a 4-2 lead, which would end up being the final score.  The Wolverines
have now lost five in a row for the first time in what, 21 years?

I put the full transcript of the post-game press conference on Michigan Hockey
Net.  Needless to say, the mood wasn't too pleasant.

The Wolverines will faceoff with Bowling Green tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. at
Lucas County Arena in Toledo.  I will be there doing another Cover It Live chat.
MGoBlue.com will also be providing a video feed of the game.

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That's all for now...

GO BLUE!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net

Quick note to let you all know I will be at tonight's game between Michigan and
Bowling Green doing live coverage on Michigan Hockey Net.  Tonight's game is can
also be watched on MGoBlue.com.  The puck drops at 7:35 p.m.  I'll open the chat
around 7-7:15 p.m.

I am also planning on being at tomorrow's game against BGSU in Toledo.  Hoping
to do another Cover It Live chat, though internet access may be iffy.  We'll
see.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net

Tonight's game between Michigan and Michigan State will be aired on Fox Sports
Detroit.  If you make or watch the game, or just want to stop by and chat, I
will be doing a Cover It Live chat tonight on MHNet, so feel free to join!  The
chat will open at 7 p.m. and the puck drops at 7:35 p.m.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net