Wolverines Waylay Warriors

Friday, October 6, 2006
Yost Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Skating in their seasons first exhibition game the Wolverines dominated play to skate past the visiting Warriors from Waterloo, finishing the night with a ten to two victory.

With barely a minute ticked off the clock the Warriors made their first trip to the penalty box putting Michigan on the power play early in this game. The Wolverines wasted little time scoring a power play goal just thirteen seconds into the Warrior penalty. There was a quick pass down low, followed by a quick pass out front, where Porter got off a rocket from in close that the Warrior goalie stood no chance of stopping. Turnbull and Hensick each picked up an assist on the power play goal.

With just over fifteen minutes to play Hensick had the puck deep in the Warrior zone when he made an out standing pass to a wide open Porter who did not waste the chance, easily slipping the puck behind the Warrior net minder for his second goal of the game. Hensick and Bailey each picked up an assist on the goal.

The teams trading penalties for most of the rest of the period, with the Warriors picking up their last penalty of the opening stanza with just thirty-seven seconds left to play. It didn't look like Michigan would be able to get anything done before time ran out in the period, but just as the clock was running out the Wolverines got in close and were chipping the puck at the Warrior goal from every direction. Just as the clock reached zero the puck was chipped into the net for the last second power play goal. The goal was credited to Kolarik with Johnson and Hunwick each picking up an assist.

The first period came to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of three to nothing. Michigan held a slight twelve to eleven advantage in shots on goal.

With just over fifteen minutes left to play in the second the Warriors once again found themselves a man short and once again the Wolverines made them pay. This was a classic Kolarik goal, scored barely twenty seconds into the power play. Michigan had taken a shot, but it didn't have much speed and was easily blocked. Fortunately for the Wolverines the rebound was not covered, Kolarik scooped it up and chipped it into the goal off a Warrior player. Hunwick and Johnson each picked up assists on the power play goal.

The middle of the period was a highlight real of Michigan penalties as they were called for four straight penalties, almost all of them coming just as the previous penalty was about to expire. With the clock just under the six minute mark it was the Warriors who were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Barely thirty seconds into the power play the Wolverines scored their fifth goal of the game with a little help from the visiting Warriors. Lebler got off a shot from the left circle that was blocked by the goalie, but it popped straight up in the air. Another Warrior player came to the net and jumped up, trying to sweep the puck away from the net with his hand, but instead he barely nudged the puck with his hand and it fell to the ice, rolling across the goal line for the score. Lebler got credit for the power play goal, while Johnson and Hunwick each picked up an assist.

With the clock just under three minutes Michigan would score their third goal of the period, sixth of the game. The Wolverines made a great outlet pass to a streaking Bailey who carried the puck into the Warrior zone, crashed to the net, and poked the puck past the goalie for the score. Porter and Hensick each picked up an assist on the goal.

The Warriors didn't help their cause as they were whistled for penalties with just over two minutes to play, then again with just over one minute to play, giving Michigan a two man advantage for most of the rest of the period. As the clock started to wind down Hensick missed a great scoring chance at a wide open net, but he gathered up the puck and circled around the zone. As he came back around and closed with the net the entire Warrior team seemed to collapse toward him. As they closed in on him he slid a quick pass out front to Johnson who slammed the puck past the Warrior net minder before he even knew it was there. Johnson gets the goal, while Hensick and Hunwick each picked up an assist.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of seven to nothing. Michigan ended the second period with a thirty-three to twenty-one advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan stared the final period with fifty-free seconds of power play time and a new goalie between the pipes as Jakiel replaces Sauer. Michigan was unable to take advantage of the extra man at this time.

Both teams were pushing the puck up and down the ice, getting very little pressure on either net until Michigan suddenly had possession in the Warrior zone and applied that pressure to their benefit. Cook was positioned between the circles without a Warrior player anywhere near him when Hensick slid him the puck. As soon as the puck hit his stick Cook fired it at and into the net for the score. Hensick and Bailey each picked up an assist.

With the clock just under twelve minutes Michigan was whistled for a penalty putting the Warriors on the power play. They were able to get the puck in close to the Wolverine net and got off a number of shots as Michigan was unable to gain enough control over the puck to clear the zone. Finally, with about ten and half minutes left to play the Warriors got a shot on goal that somehow got past Jakiel for the score. The shot appeared to have been stopped, but it then squirted out behind Jakiel and barely rolled over the goal line.

With just over six minutes to play Johnson was coming out of the box at the same time that Cogliano was skating out of the Michigan zone. Seeing Johnson behind everyone, Cogliano passed the puck up the ice and Johnson did the rest. He carried the puck into the Warrior zone, closed on the net, and fired off a rocket of a shot through the five hole for the score. Cogliano got the lone assist on the goal. Following this goal Mayhew came in to finish the game in goal.

With four and half minutes left to play Michigan would score their tenth and final goal of the game. They were in close, chipping away at the puck, when they got off a shot that was blocked. Once again the Warrior goalie failed to cover the rebound and the puck ended up right on Hensicks stick. Wasting no time Hensick flipped the puck into the net for the score. Johnson and Porter each picked up an assist on the goal.

With just over three minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Warriors on the power play. The Warriors controlled the ensuing face off and quickly got off a shot that beat Mayhew for the score.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of ten to two. Michigan would end the game with a forty-one to thirty-four advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines got their season off to a great start with a dominating win in this opening exhibition game. The Wolverines play next on Sunday when they host the US NTDP team in their second exhibition game of the weekend.