University of Michigan hockey news
Last night the University of Michigan Wolverines (#1) played the Ohio State Buckeyes (#2) in the CCHA finals at the Joe Louis Arena in front of 16,891 people. After a close game at the end of the second period tied 2-2, the Wolverines pulled ahead to win 4-2 and thus received an automatic bid into the 16-team NCAA tournament - for an NCAA-record 15th consecutive season. “This is a great tournament to win and it will give us a strong start into the NCAA Tournament,” said Michigan head coach Red Berenson to Daily News-Miner.
Last year in the CCHA final, Ohio State beat Michigan by the same score, 4-2, and marked their first CCHA title. “Them coming out and beating us last year in the final - that didn’t taste too good going home after losing to a team that kind of came from behind and worked their way to the top,” junior Jeff Tambellini said to The Ann Arbor News.
Michigan senior Milan Gajic scored the first two goals in the power play while junior right wing Jeff Tambellini netted the game-winning goal and the CCHA Tournament’s Bill Beagan Trophy for being the MVP. “Any time the game is on the line and you’re going against your top rival … to raise that banner is a great feeling,” Tambellini said.
Michigan beat Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, 3-1, in the semi-finals to face the Buckeyes. The Wolverines who are 30-7-3 had already won the CCHA regular-season championship. In total, Michigan has won seven CCHA championships including three in the last four years.
In an article by DJ Powers of HockeysFuture.com, it lists and describes the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. This year marks the 25th anniversary that is presented to the nation’s top collegiate player. The 10 finalists this season are made up of five forwards, four goaltenders, and one defenseman. Four of these players are current NHL prospects. Michigan sophomore forward T.J. Henisck leads his team and the conference with 51 points (22 goals, 29 assists) putting him fourth in the nation. This past winter, he was selected to the United States’ team at the World Junior Championships. He has also received other honors such as his selection to the CCHA’s All-Conference First Team and three CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors. Hensick is eligible for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and is currently ranked 84th among all North American skaters eligible.
Attendance Problems in Conference Playoffs
Here’s a report on attendance playoffs by The Ann Arbor News:
Thursday’s attendance of 3,436 for the opening day of the CCHA Super Six was the smallest crowd ever for a session since the league tournament moved into Joe Louis Arena in 1982. Friday’s crowd of 10,128 was the smallest semifinal session in 22 years.
And don’t just blame that on the NHL lockout or St. Patrick’s Day. At the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn., 15,586 attended Thursday’s play-in game and 17,794 came out to the Xcel Energy Center on Friday. At the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Friday’s Hockey East semifinals drew 17,565.
NCAA Hockey Tournament News
Six teams received automotic bids for winning their conference: Boston College in Hockey East, Mercyhurst in Atlantic Hockey, Cornell in ECACHL, Michigan in CCHA, Denver in WCHA, and Bemidji State in CHA. The other 10 team bids go to: North Dakota, Boston University, Minnesota, Ohio State, Maine, Colorado College, Wisconsion, Colgate, New Hampshire, and Harvard.
Here are all the matchups thanks to ESPN.com:
East Regional (Worchester, Mass.) -
Friday, March 25
No. 1 Boston College (25-6-7) vs. No. 4 Mercyhurst (18-15-4), 4:30 p.m.
No. 2 North Dakota (22-14-5) vs. No. 3 Boston U. (23-13-4), 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 26
Boston College-Mercyhurst winner vs. North Dakota-Boston U. winner, 8 p.m.West Regional (Minneapolis)
Saturday, March 26
No. 1 Minnesota (26-14-1) vs. No. 4 Maine (20-12-7), 2:30 p.m.
No. 2 Cornell (26-4-3) vs. No. 3 Ohio State (27-10-4), 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 27
Minnesota-Maine winner vs. Cornell-Ohio State winner, 3:30 p.m.Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Friday, March 25
No. 1 Colorado College (29-8-3) vs. No. 4 Colgate (25-10-3), 5 p.m.
No. 2 Michigan (30-7-3) vs. No. 3 Wisconsin (23-13-4), 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 26
Colorado College-Colgate winner vs. Michigan-Wisconsin winner, 5 p.m.Northeast Regional (Amherst, Massachusetts)
Saturday, March 26
No. 1 Denver (28-9-2) vs. Bemidji State (23-12-1), Noon
No. 2 New Hampshire (25-10-5) vs. No. 3 Harvard (21-9-3), 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 27
Denver-Bemidji State winner vs. New Hampshire-Harvard winner, NoonFrozen Four (Columbus, Ohio)
Thursday, April 7
East Regional winner vs. West Regional winner, 2 or 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Midwest Regional winner vs. Northeast Regional winner, 2 or 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saturday, April 10
Championship
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Great post, Christy.
Brian and I went to see Game 1 of UM’s series against Notre Dame a little over a week ago. You know, the game UM scored 10 goals in. Needless to say, it was a fun game to watch.
I noticed a bit of a crowd problem myself at that game. While Yost wasn’t empty, it wasn’t packed either. It was disappointing. There certainly were enough UM students there to taunt the players, though. I felt bad for the ND parents sitting there but I still laughed at the cheers.
It’s not very often you get to see 7 goals by one team in a period and a team use all three goalies.
Brian and I were lucky, the score of the next game was much closer. 1-0 in OT, I think. It probably was more exciting but goals are always good.