Wolverines Bounce MTU In GLI Consolation Game, 5-3
Call it hamburger instead of steak, but at least call it dinner. That about sums up how the Michigan hockey team feels after yet another weekend split. Disappointed in their result against RPI, the Wolverines played a sloppy and lackluster affair Wednesday afternoon and slipped by Michigan Tech, 5-3.
Freshman Lindsay Sparks recorded his first two collegiate goals, and Senior Brian Lebler chipped in with two goals to pace Michigan’s offensive attack. Bryan Hogan stopped 20 of the Huskie’s 23 shots in route to his 10th victory of the season. Michigan scored three power play goals in the game.
The match started out as a tight checking affair, with neither team creating much offense. The Wolverines raced out to another large shot advantage, but couldn’t find the twine until Tech took a penalty just over halfway through the first period. Carl Hagelin started the rush into the offensive zone and fed Matt Rust at the right near boards. He spotted Sparks bolting for the opposite post and feathered a perfect pass beyond two defenders that Sparks ladled into the open cage. Sparks later said: “I’ve been battling all year for that first goal. It’s nice to win that second game (of the tournament). It’s really good for the team. I’m pretty happy getting both the first and the second goal. It’s a good feeling for everyone.”
The Wolverines skated to a 1-0 first period lead, outshooting the Huskies, 15-6.
The two teams exchanged PP goals in the second period, with Brian Lebler extending Michigan’s lead to 2-0 on a beautiful tip of a point shot from Lee Moffie at 2:50. Brett Olson trimmed the lead to 2-1 at 10:12, scoring a 5x3 PP goal for the Huskies. Michigan was whistled for four consecutive calls overlapping each other between the 6:52 and 11:16 mark which gave the Huskies an extended advantage. Michigan was able to fight off the remaining time and then regained their two goal advantage with yet another PP marker. Matt Rust continued to work on a loose puck at the edge of the crease and finally lifted a tough angle shot over Huskies goaltender Josh Robinson at 17:18. Michigan left the ice with a two goal lead and a 34-14 shot advantage.
Michigan appeared to let up in the third period, and it cost them right out of the gate. Eric Kattelus netted his first goal of the season for MTU at the 3:08 mark to tighten the score to 3-2. Sparks came back six and a half minutes later and notched his first ever game winning tally on a neat rebound from a Lebler shot. Chris Summers also assisted. Tech came roaring back, though, as a defensive mistake allowed a two on one break into the Michigan zone. Jordan Baker faked a pass and whistled a wrister off the shortside post beyond Hogan to make the score 4-3 at 12:22. Tech continued to press the remaining seven minutes and came dangerously close several times, with Hogan making some dandy saves and also benefiting from shots that just slid behind him wide.
The Huskies called time out with just over a minute left, but couldn’t penetrate the defense for a decent chance. Lebler put away MTU with an empty net goal with :11 left on the clock to give his teammates a sigh of relief. Michigan had 10 shots in the period to finish the game with a 44 shots toward Josh Robinson while MTU rebounded in the third period to record 9 shots and 23 for the game.
“It’s a tough game to play,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson of his team’s appearance in the consolation match. “Your goal is to play in the championship game. We got through the game. We did some good things and some not-so-good things. They know they played well last night and didn’t have much to show for it. They wanted to come back and have a big game tonight. To walk out of here with two losses would be tough for Michigan”
Michigan (10-10-0, 5-7-0) will start the second half of the season in league play next weekend as they take on the WMU Broncos in a home and home series. The Friday night game is in Kalamazoo, and the Saturday rematch will be at Yost arena.
YOST Bits
Kevin Lynch and Lindsay Sparks both recorded their first goals as Wolverines in the GLI.
Chris Summers was honored as one of the GLI’s All Tournament Team selections. He finished with two assists in two games, but was mostly rewarded for his strong defensive presence both days. RPI’s Chase Polacek also earned honors. The selections were mostly dominated by the GLI Champion MSU Spartans.
David Wohlberg finally appeared to be waking up offensively. He had a strong game against RPI, scoring once and was a solid presence in yesterday’s game, chipping in with one assist.
Carl Hagelin led the Michigan attack at the GLI with a goal and three assists, boosting his team leading points total to 10-10-20.
Michigan gave up three PPG’s and scored three PPG’s during the tourney. They also produced a total of 100 shots on goal in two games, scoring eight times. Need less to say, it was their defensive lapses and goaltending that cost them during the tourney.
Yostmeister three star selections:
1. Michigan- Lindsay Sparks- 2 goals led the Wolverines over the hapless Huskies
2. Michigan- Brian Lebler- 2 goals and an assist for the Senior in what can be described as one of his
best games of the season. He also stayed out of the penalty box. He can only be popped for being the
forward that did not get back as the defenseman pinched deep, causing the 2 on 1 leading to the
Huskie third goal.
3. Michigan- Matt Rust chipped in with a goal and an assist, and was dangerous with Hagelin all
tournament.
I would also like to note the following corrections on my previous reports:
1. Chase Polacek’s name was misspelled in the RPI re-cap. My apologies.
2. Michigan was named the co-host with Michigan Tech in 1976, not in 1980. MSU was added as a permanent invitee, not a host, of the tourney in 1979, following the opening of the Joe Louis Arena.
Written by Yostmeister
Written by GBMW Staff
Go Blue -- Wear Maize!
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