Michigan Down's Development Team

Friday, November 1, 2002
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines opened the month of November by playing their final exhibition game of the season against the U.S. Under-18 National Development team. This would also be their only game of the weekend. Knowing this was a game they should win Michigan looked to rest some injured players and get some players who haven't seen much playing time some quality game ice time. The Wolverines also expected to work on some problem areas in their game, like the power play.

The opening period was fairly closely played with the U.S. team checking the Wolverines tightly in an attempt to slow down their offense. This worked for a good portion of the period, but the Wolverines finally got on the board with just under seven minutes to play. Nystrom brought the puck in the U.S. zone, but was forced to the left side of the ice. Waiting patiently Nystrom dropped a pass back to a trailing Helminen, who banked a shot off the U.S. goalie for the first score of the night. The assists on the goal went to Nystrom and Ortmeyer.

With just over four minutes left in the period the U.S. team would get whistled for a penalty that put Michigan on the power play. It took the Wolverines over half of the power play time, but they would get their second goal of the night with a little help from the boards. Richmond took a shot from the point that went wide of the net, but it bounced right back out in front of the goal and right onto the stick of a waiting Kaleniecki. Wasting no time Kaleniecki put the puck into the goal for Michigan's second goal of the period, this one a power play goal. Assists on this goal went to Richmond and Moss.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of two to nothing. The Wolverines also held the edge in shots on goal with an eight to two count.

The U.S. team started the second period with thirty-eight seconds of power play time but they were unable to notch a goal. Ruden also relieved Montoya in goal and would play for the remainder of the game.

Michigan would strike for the third time in the game just over four minutes into the second period. Taking a pass from Kaleniecki Moss was able to slide the puck through the U.S. goalies five hole. Assists on this goal went to Kaleniecki and Martens.

The next thirteen minutes would be fairly quiet as both teams worked the puck up and down the ice. When the scoring got back under way it would once again be the Wolverines doing the damage. Skating behind the U.S. goal Swistak would send a pass out front of the goal to Kautz who punched the puck into the net for Michigan's fourth goal of the game. Assists on the goal went to Swistak and Henderson.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of four to nothing. The Wolverines also made a significant move in shots on goal as they ended the second period with a twenty-seven to eight advantage.

While the U.S. team kept it close through two the Wolverines would get hot and put the game away in seven minute stretch of time starting just over four minutes into the third period. While on the power play Gajic would get a look at the goal from the left face off circle. After being close so many times in the first month of the season, this time Gajic didn't miss the opportunity and buried the puck for Michigans fifth of the night. Assists went to Werner and Richmond. Just over three minutes later it would once again be Gajic doing the damage. This time he would receive the puck from Mink and once again Gajic would bury it for his second of the period and game.

Michigan's sixth goal would cause the U.S. team to switch goalies, but it didn't make much difference. With the speed and skill of the Wolverines really taking its toll the U.S. team was struggling to keep up with Michigan as the Wolverines really turned up the heat. Less than two minutes after Gajic had scored his second goal, Ortmeyer carried the puck into the U.S. zone. Skating hard right down the slot the Captain let loose a wrist shot that blew past the U.S. goalie for the Wolverines seventh goal of the night. Assists on the goal went to Helminen and Rogers.

Just as the clock was reaching the mid-point of the period Michigan would be whistled for a penalty to put the U.S. team on the power play. While the Wolverines were holding the U.S. team at bay, they were whistled for their second penalty with about one minute still left on the original penalty. With the two man advantage the U.S. finally got on the board, scoring a power play goal with about eight and half minutes to play. Since they scored with the two man advantage the U.S. team continued on the power play and they would once again draw blood. It would be almost one minute later, with the power play almost killed off, that the U.S. would net their second straight power play goal and cut the Michigan lead to five.

While they had a little success on the power play late in the third period, that would be the end of the U.S. team threat. Barely one minute after the U.S. team scored their second goal Michigan would score their eighth and final goal of the game. Skating through the slot, Kaleniecki would fire a shot that would beat the U.S. goalie wide to his glove side. Assists on this goal were given to Woodford and Martens.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of eight to two. The Wolverines would end the game with a thirty-seven to fifteen advantage in shots on goal. Michigan got some work in during the game, working on the power play (converting two of five chances) and got some different players on the ice. While the win doesn't count for their record it does keep the U.S. team from having bragging rights over their cross town team. With several players on the Michigan team coming from the U.S. development team you have to figure Michigan doesn't want to lose to this team or they will hear about for an entire year. This was the biggest margin of victory for Michigan when playing the U.S. team. While the U.S. team has a lot of talent, Michigan simply has more. Michigan was bigger, faster, and stronger; by the end of the game it really showed as the Wolverines were playing dominant hockey in the third period. Next week Michigan returns to NCAA and CCHA play when they take their first CCHA road trip down to Bowling Green.