The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY Eliot said. "When they did the Cold War [with Michigan at Michigan State in 2001], that had national at- tention because it was an event. "We've lost that, and if you're putting on an event and the locals stop coming, then we should look at whether to continue with these out- door games." Michigan has no plans to play in an outdoor game next season, and sources tell The Wolverine the only outdoor venue that would be deemed acceptable going forward would be Michigan Stadium, but the Maize and Blue did not regret this year's participation. "When the crowds quit coming, obviously it won't make any sense," head coach Red Berenson said. "But if you talk to the players, they love it. The coaches like it — this is my seventh game, and these are major games. Each one has a special some- thing to it. I'm glad we came, and I hope they continue [the Hockey City Classic] at some point." DYLAN LARKIN IS U-M'S NEXT GREAT FRESHMAN In Michigan's storied hockey his- tory, only three freshmen have aver- aged better than rookie center Dylan Larkin's current 1.33 points per game (25-game minimum), putting the first-year forward in elite company. Gordon McMillan owns the fresh- man record with 2.24 points per game in 1945-46 while Bruno Baseotto, who holds the rookie record for total points with 76, averaged 2.00 in 1979-80, and Al Renfrew averaged 1.88 points per game in 1945-46. Larkin has put his tally together with 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 24 games this season through Feb. 16 — he missed two contests while participating in the World Junior Championships for Team USA Dec. 26-Jan. 5. He has been on fire since returning from the international holiday tournament, racking up seven goals and eight as- sists in Michigan's nine contests in the New Year. "If we expect him to get five points every weekend, we'd be foolish," said assistant coach Brian Wiseman, who averaged 1.23 points per game in his rookie season of 1990-91. "Ob- viously, he's capable of having nights like he's had recently. "It proves what confidence can do for a player. He came back from World Juniors feeling really good about his individual game, and we've seen that carry over." Team USA did not earn a medal at this year 's WJC, but Larkin starred anyway. He recorded a team-high seven points and shared the tour- nament lead for goal scoring (five markers) despite playing in two fewer games than the Canadians, Russians, Swedes and Slovaks. While head coach Red Berenson always encourages his players to participate in the prestigious World Junior Championships, he's also leery of the effect it can have on his players returning to Ann Arbor for the second half of the college hockey season. For every Al Montoya, who went