Michigan
Boston University
Turco, Michigan Blank Boston University to Advance to NCAA Final
3/28/1996 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site: Cincinnati, Ohio (Riverfront Coliseum)
Event: NCAA Frozen Four (Semifinal)
Score:Â Michigan 4, Boston University 0
Records: U-M (33-7-2), BU (30-7-3)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 30 -- vs. Colorado College - NCAA Championship Game (Cincinnati, Ohio)
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team took apart the defending national champion Boston University Terriers in the opening 10 minutes en route to a 4-0 shutout victory Thursday (March 28) in the NCAA semifinal round before a crowd of 11,521 at Riverfront Coliseum. The Wolverines will play top-ranked Colorado College in the championship game Saturday (March 30).
The Wolverines outshot the Terriers in those 10 minutes, 18-1 -- and had a 27-6 advantage in attempted shots -- and opened up a 2-0 lead on goals from Brendan Morrison and Greg Crozier. After the teams switched ends after the first 10 minutes -- this was due to soft ice at one end, necessitating the early switch -- goalie Marty Turco came up with several huge saves.
Turco stopped all 17 Terrier shots for his fifth complete and ninth total shutout this season -- part of Michigan's school-record ninth shutout of the season. Bill Muckalt and Crozier added later goals for Michigan, which moved into the NCAA championship game for the first time since the 1976-77 season.
The Michigan-Boston University game began at 9:32 p.m. EST, almost 90 minutes later than expected, due to repairs to the ice surface. Once the game began, Michigan took charge in the game's pivotal first half of the first period.
Goal Descriptions
#1 -- On the third try, Brendan Morrison knocked in a point-blank shot past Tom Noble. Morrison (Hilton, Botterill) at 3:58 of first period (power play) -- 1-0 U-M
#2 -- During another flurry, Greg Crozier slid the puck past Noble. Crozier (Luhning, Sloan) at 4:32 of first period -- 2-0 U-M
#3 -- Bill Muckalt flipped in a tremendous centering pass from Brendan Morrison past Noble. Muckalt (Botterill, Luhning) at 5:37 of the second period (power play) -- 3-0 U-M
#4 -- Greg Crozier came down the left wing on a 2-on-1 break and slammed a slapshot past Noble. Crozier (Luhning) at 4:25 of the third period -- 4-0 U-M
Postgame Quotes
Michigan Coach Red Berenson
On the day before the game ... "An hour and a half delay wasn't expected, we didn't know if we'd play or not. Obviously getting the lead was important."
U-M Freshman Left Wing Greg Crozier
On what the players did during the delay ... "We listened to the radio, listened to CDs, and stayed in the locker room. We told jokes to ease the pressure and stayed focused on the game."
On the ice ... "It was good to skate on, but the puck stuck to the ice a bit. I think that gave us an advantage because it's kind of like the ice at Yost."
U-M Sophomore Goalie Marty Turco
On his game ... "I'm on top of my game more now than in any other time in my career. My confidence was down earlier in the year, but I feel real good out there now."
