Saturday, October 3, 2009
Yost Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverine's opened up their 2009-2010 hockey campaign with an exhibition game win over the cross town team; that would be the US-NTDP under 18's who live in Ann Arbor and lay at the Ice Cube. Going into the game Michigan had never lost to the the development team and while the stars seemed aligned to at least give the young team their first real shot at a win, it was not to be as Michigan carried the play and left the ice with a four to two victory.

The Wolverine's shocked the US team right out of the gate, taking just thirteen seconds to score the games first goal. After getting the puck into the Michigan zone off the opening face off, the Wolverine's quickly gained control and broke back toward the US zone. Czarnik got the puck to center ice, where Wohlberg picked it up, taking it into the US zone down the boards. As he passed the left face off circle he backhanded a pass to Burlon who was just arriving at the top of the circle. Taking about one more stride Burlon unleashed a shot that beat the US goaltender for the quick score. Burlon got credit for the score, with Czarnik and Wohlberg each picking up assists.

Michigan would score their second goal of the night on a perfectly executed give and go play with just under twelve minutes left to play in the period. Michigan flew out of center ice on a two man break away, with Winnett carrying the puck into the US zone and Treais following over to his right. Winnett drove hard for the goal until Campbell could do nothing other than commit to covering Winnett. As soon as that happened he dropped a pass back to Treais who quickly buried it for the score. Winnett got the lone assist on the score.

With just 2:17 left in the first period Michigan was whistled for a penalty to put the US team on the power play. With 32 seconds left in that penalty Michigan was hit with a second infraction to give the US team a two man advantage. The US team moved the puck well on the power play, making Michigan work to keep the shooting lanes clogged and the puck away from their goal. As the first penalty expired and Michigan was trying to get the fourth player into the mix, the US team finally found a lane to shoot through and did not waste it, getting a shot past Hogan to score their first goal of the game.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverine's holding a slim two to one lead. Michigan also held a fourteen to eleven advantage in shots on goal.

The second period was pretty much an up and down battle with neither team really mounting much of a scoring threat. With just 6:28 left to go in the period it looked like Michigan had scored their third goal of the game, however, it was waved off a review with the officials ruling that the puck was hit in with a glove. It looked more like the player hit it with his stick, but they ruled it was his glove so no goal.

It looked like it would remain a one goal game going into the second intermission, when Hagelin out worked everybody in front of the net to push Michigan back to a two goal lead. Michigan seemed to have intensified their pressure in the closing minutes of the period and had the puck in tight to the US goal with players from both teams scrambling to gain control of the puck. It was finally Hagelin who got that control just outside the crease, almost dead center of the goal, allowing him to punch the puck through the five hole for the score. Winnett and Treais each picked up assists on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverine's holding a three to one lead. Michigan out shot the US team eleven to four in the period to hold a twenty-five to fifteen advantage in shots on goal after forty minutes of play.

The US team started the final period of play with 1:52 of power play time, however, they were unable to take advantage of the extra attacker. The power play ended with no damage done. In similar fashion to the second period the third was very workman like, but neither team showed any real scoring threats. Also, like the second the intensity seemed to pick up in the closing seconds of the period.

With just 2:25 left to play in the game the US team was whistled for a penalty that would lead to Michigan's fourth and final goal of the game. Michigan worked the puck around the US zone, looking to open a shooting lane. Caparusso got the puck down low to Hagelin who passed it back out front to Brown who was in the slot, between the circle. Brown got off a shot that was blocked, but Hagelin had gone to the net following his pass out front to Brown and he was right there to fire the rebound back into the net for the score. Brown got the lone assist.

With just 42.2 seconds left in the game the US team would score a second goal when they worked the puck down low, getting off a great shot from the face off circle to the right of the Michigan goal. The shot beat Hogan clean, but it wasn't enough to alter the final outcome of the game.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of four to two. Michigan out shot the US team fourteen to thirteen in the final period, to end the game with a thirty-nine to twenty-eight advantage in shots on goal.

Considering that today was the first day that Michigan could officially practice and the US team has been playing and practicing for at least two weeks it seemed like the perfect chance for the young guys to get their first ever win over Michigan. However, while Michigan hasn't had an official practice they have been working out under the direction of the Captains since early September. Unlike the last couple of years when Michigan was young and inexperienced, this year, while still a bit young, they have plenty of experience and it showed tonight. Without even a Blue/White game to get the feel for game time action, the Wolverine's had to jump right into the thick of it against the hungry US team. While there are certainly things to be worked on Michigan looked pretty good for this time of year in their first actual game against an actual opponent other than themselves. Tomorrow night they play their final exhibition game of the season, then get ready for a road trip to Alaska to open the season by playing in the Kendall Auto Hockey Classic. Other teams in the season opening tournament are Alaska-Fairbanks, Alaska-Anchorage, and Mercyhurst; the games are played in Anchorage. Michigan opens against Fairbanks on Friday night, then plays Anchorage on Saturday night.