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Wolverines Skate To Draw With Crimson
Saturday, December 15, 2001
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Michigan plays just one game this weekend, that against the visiting Harvard
Crimson. After completing the first half of CCHA play the Wolverines find themselves
all alone in second place, just three points behind conference leading Michigan
State with one game in hand. Harvard is one of the few teams with a hockey program
older than Michigan's and the Crimson currently lead the ECAC. This game should be
a good one between two of the countries better teams.
The Wolverines will play this weekends game without leading scorer Mike Cammalleri,
who is at the try outs for the Canadian World Junior team. He is expected to make
the team. Originally two additional Wolverines were expected to play for Team USA
in the World Juniors. Those players were Dwight Helminen and Mike Komisarek. Because
of an injury, amazingly enough to a player from Harvard, Eric Nystrom will join his
team mates on Team USA. With Nystrom joining the World Junior team it appears the
Wolverines will be without four front line players in the GLI tournament and the two
games against Notre Dame. While this clearly leaves the Wolverines at a distinct
disadvantage in these games, it does provide opportunities for other players on the
team to step up and fill in, perhaps making a case for more playing time on their
part.
This game started with the stands full and a definite air of anticipation as Harvard
made their first visit ever to Yost Arena. The action got under way right from the
start, but it would be Michigan who would draw first blood. With just over seventeen
minutes left in the first period Michigan dumped the puck into the Harvard zone, going
for a line change. As the new line came onto the ice the puck kind of drifted out to
the goalies left. A Wolverine got to the puck first and got off a shot, but it didn't
have much speed and was blocked, rebounding out to the right. In the right place at the
right time Wyzgowski got off a shot that sent the puck into the net, top shelf, over
the Harvard goalies left shoulder. Assists on the goal went to Shouneyia and Fraser.
Michigan would get the first power play chance of the night when Harvard was called
for a penalty as the clock went under the fifteen minute mark. While the Wolverines
came close to getting another goal off a rebound they failed to take advantage of the
chance and the Crimson killed off the penalty. Michigan would get called for the next
penalty of the game, but that Harvard power play was cut short when the Crimson were
called for a bench minor with just over half the power play gone. All penalties and
resulting power plays were killed off by both teams.
Michigan would get off a flurry of shots around the seven minute mark of the period,
but they would all be blocked. Following this Michigan would again be called for a
penalty putting Harvard back on the power play. Less than a minute into the power
play it appeared that Harvard had scored a power play. After review the goal was
waved off with the officials indicating that it had been kicked into the goal.
The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of one to
nothing. The Wolverines also held a slight edge in shots on goal with a ten to
seven count.
Vancik was called for a penalty as the clock reached all zeroes in the first period
so Harvard started the second period on the power play. Less than a minute into the
period Harvard would score a power play goal when Dominic Moore
would come from behind the Michigan net and score a wrap around goal to tie the game.
It would again be a penalty and the ensuing Harvard power play that would cause
Michigan difficulties. With just over eleven minutes left in the period Michigan was
called for a penalty putting Harvard back on the power play. This time just 26 seconds
into the power play Harvard would take a shot from near the blue line that would beat
Blackburn to give the Crimson the lead.
That lead would hold up for about five minutes when some excellent passing would lead
to the Wolverines second goal of the game. Michigan would break out of their own zone, bringing
the puck straight up the middle of the ice. As the puck crossed the Harvard blue line it
was passed to the right. As the Wolverines closed on the goal the Harvard goalie shifted
over to block the shot the puck was passed back over to the left. From there Nystrom
took a shot that again went top shelf, beating the Harvard goalie over his right shoulder.
Assists on the goal went to Shouneyia and Ortmeyer.
Both teams would see another power play opportunity in the final minutes of the
second period, but neither team would be able to take advantage of the extra attacker.
The second period came to an end with the game all tied up at two goals each. Michigan
extended their lead in shots on goal, leading by a twenty-five to eighteen count.
Both teams came out skating hard and checking hard in the final period, but neither
team was able to put the puck in the net until the clock moved down toward the thirteen
minute mark. Passing the puck around the Harvard zone the puck ended up over by the
left face off circle. Out of a group of players, all fighting for the puck, Henderson
came up with the puck long enough to send a floater of a shot toward the Harvard goal.
His shot sailed into the Harvard goal to once again give the Wolverines a one goal
lead. Assists on the goal went to Werner and Woodford.
The Michigan lead not hold up long with Harvard getting back to even just two minutes
after the Wolverines took the lead. This time Harvard had gotten the puck on the Michigan
net, but Blackburn had stopped the shot. With several players from each team in front
of the net there was some pushing and shoving going on. Just as it seemed the officials
were going to get the players separated Nystrom would slash a Harvard player across the
backs of his legs, putting Nystrom in the penalty box and the Harvard power play back on
the ice. Less than one minute into the power play Harvard would score their third power
play goal of the game to once again tie the game.
Michigan would miss some chances to score a game winner in the closing minutes, at least
one of them a golden chance at an open net. Through all of the shots the Harvard
goalie stopped everything and regulation time came to an end with the game all tied
at three goals each. Michigan again extended their shots on goal lead ending
regulation time with a thirty-five to twenty-three lead in shots.
The overtime period would be fast and hard hitting and the Wolverines did everything
they needed to do except put the puck in the net. Getting the only shots on goal during
the overtime period Michigan would come so very close, but not quite get it done. There
was one chance late in the overtime period, again at an empty goal, but again the
Wolverines simply couldn't get the puck into the net. The game came to an end still
tied at three goals for each team. Michigan ended the game with a thirty-eight to
twenty-three advantage in shots on goal.
This game was everything it was expected to be, at least when you look at the final
score. From one point of view it wasn't a loss, but it also wasn't a win. It was a bit
disappointing because of the mistakes made; mistakes it looked like the Wolverines were
finally putting behind them in the last few weeks. They missed shots into open nets, they
took some ridiculous penalties which ultimately cost them the win. The special teams play
was once again weak, after looking like it had started to come around. From that point
of view it was very disappointing. Michigan now has just under two weeks off to figure out how to
replace four of their front line players before playing North Dakota in the GLI. With
North Dakotas struggles and Michigan's missing players this game will be to close to call.
One final note from the game. Congratulations to Rachel and Kevin. For those of you
who don't know they play a game called score-o between the second and third periods. Three
players are selected from a pool of game attendees who sign up to be in the game. Each contestant
gets two shots to put the puck through a fairly small hole in a board placed in front of
the goal. Everything was going along as usual until the final player was introduced - this
was Rachel. As she was getting ready to take her first shot the announcer asked her to
stop. The unusual thing in all of this was that when she was introduced, it was also
noted that she was accompanied by her good friend Kevin. Well when she was asked to stop
she and 6,700 other hockey fans found out why. As the announcer explained to her and us
Kevin had decided she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. The
newly engaged couple got a round of applause from the crowd. I've heard of these kinds of
proposals, but I've never seen one so I thought I would share with everyone else. I don't
think either Rachel or Kevin will have trouble remembering where they were when he popped
the question. Hopefully they won't schedule the wedding on a game day or maybe they'll
hold the wedding at center ice - wouldn't that be interesting!
Merry Christmas to all Wolverines around the world.
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