Blue Rips White

Sunday, October 3, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Sunday afternoon at Yost Ice Arena was the setting for the annual Blue/White game, pitting the Wolverines against themselves. Because of the new rules governing when the season could start and when coaches could practice with their teams this years Blue/White game was held after yesterdays exhibition game against Windsor. Being unable to attend this years Blue/White game I have simply provided information on scores and assists from the Michigan Ice Hockey home page.

As is customary in the Blue/White game a number of walk-on candidates help to fill out the ranks of both teams. This year a total of twelve players helped fill out the ranks of the Wolverine squads. Some of these players skate with the club team, while others are simply interested in earning a spot on the Wolverine varsity squad. One player looking to get that walk-on spot is Varjuan Arman, former Wolverine Krikor Arman's brother.

Al Montoya did not play in this game, giving the two back up goalies a chance to see some solid ice team. Mike Mayhew took care of the goal tending duties for the Blue team, while Noah Ruden back stopped the White.

The Blue got on the board first with Tambellini scoring the games first goal just 5:32 into the opening period of play while on the power play. The lone assist on the score was given to walk-on candidate Brian Wilkinson.

It took them just over five minutes to answer, but answer they did as the White teams Mike Woodford evened the score at one goal apiece 11:48 into the period. Assists on this goal went to Henderson and Rohlfs.

The White would actually take the lead in this game roughly four minutes later, when Milan Gajic found the back of the net at 15:37. Assists on this goal went to Porter and Ebbett.

The first period would come to an end with the White team leading by a score of two to one. The White team also held the slight edge in shots on goal with an eleven to seven count.

Things would really heat up in the second period, especially for the Blue team, as they scored early and often to take control of the game. The first goal of the second period came just 55 seconds into the stanza when freshman Chad Kolarik found the back of the net. Assists on this goal went to Moss and Kaleniecki.

Less than three minutes later, at the 3:32 mark, it would be T.J. Hensick finding the back of the net with a goal of his own. This power play goal was scored an unassisted goal.

Taking a bit more time for their next score, a whole six minutes, the Blue would score once again as David Moss slipped the puck home at 9:38 of the second. The lone assist went to walk-on candidate Adam Dunlap.

With time running down in the middle stanza the Blue went on a mini scoring streak putting the puck in the net at the 17:18 mark, followed by their sixth goal of the game at the 17:37 mark. The goal at 17:18 was scored by T.J. Hensick, while once again on the power play. The lone assist going to Jeff Tambellini. The goal at 17:37 was scored by walk-on candidate Justin Kozik with the assist going to another walk-on candidate, Chris Fragner.

The second period came to an end with the Blue team holding a commanding six to two lead. The shots were pretty even in the second with the White getting fifteen to just fourteen for the Blue. The White continued to hold the edge in total shots on goal through two periods of play with a twenty-six to twenty-three count.

There would be just one goal scored in the third period, that goal coming at the 18:26 mark of the period. This goal went T.J. Hensick once again while on the power play, his hat trick for the game. The lone assist went to walk-on candidate Varjuan Arman.

The annual Blue/White intra squad scrimmage would end with the Blue team beating the White team by a score of seven to two. The Blue team ended the game with a thirty-one to twenty-nine edge in shots on goal.

There were plenty of penalties to go around in this game as the Blue team was whistled for a total of six, while the White team was whistled for a total of eight. Hensick took full advantage of his power play opportunities scoring his hat trick with three power play goals for the Blue. The White was unable to score while on the power play.

The regular season gets underway next weekend when the Wolverines travel to Dayton, Ohio to play in the Lefty McFadden Invitational, hosted by the Miami Redhawks. This being a pre-season tournament the games won't count against the Wolverines total games played for the season, but the games will count on the Wolverines record. This will be a great chance for Michigan to set a tone for the season as they will play two Hockey East opponents, Northeastern on Friday night and Boston University on Saturday.