Michigan captures 2011 GLI championship

The Michigan Wolverines celebrate their 2011 GLI championship. (Andrew Knapik/Michigan Hockey)

By Brian Kalisher –

DETROIT – Playing in the Great Lakes Invitational championship game is a special honor, but playing for the title against your in-state rival is another story entirely – especially when overtime decides the outcome.

The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Michigan State Spartans in the 47th annual GLI championship game Friday night at Joe Louis Arena.  Michigan – who has now won four of the past five GLI tournaments – will add a 15th title to their trophy case.  Kevin Clare one-timed a pass from teammate Lee Moffie with 8:16 left in the first overtime session to lead Michigan to a 3-2 win over MSU.

“Moffie made a great play, had the puck and was patient, and thank God it got to me because if that got poked it would have been an odd-man rush down,” Clare said. “Thankfully he got the puck to me, and open net, right down the middle.”

The U of M captains receive their new hardware from Michigan Tech AD Suzanne Sanregret and Detroit Red Wings director of strategic hockey alliances Mike Bayoff. (Andrew Knapik/Michigan Hockey)

Michigan coach Red Berenson tried to describe the excitement of the in-state rivals battling down to the wire.

“It was an exciting game, you had to really enjoy the game no matter which team you were cheering for,” Berenson said.  “It was a one-goal game most of the game and then you get into overtime, and the excitement of scoring with the empty net, the goalie pulled in the last minute and then going into overtime, and both teams had great scoring chances in overtime.”

Before any actual hockey action took place, cheers and boos could be heard from the 17,242 packing JLA as images of each school’s logo was shown on the ice surface.  It was apparent from the start that there was a rivalry game taking place. Both teams battled a little harder along the boards, throwing heavy body checks – with a few extra scrums resulting after the whistles.

The first period saw no scoring, but it didn’t lack excitement.  Both sides had plenty of opportunities, starting when Michigan’s David Wohlberg and Chris Brown broke in on a 2-on-1 opportunity just over a minute into the contest. MSU goaltender Drew Palmisano made an outstanding save to keep the game locked at zero.  At the other end of the ice, Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick made key saves as well, including stopping MSU’s Daultan Leveille on a breakaway chance seven minutes into the game.

Michigan assistant captain David Wohlberg battles for position with MSU's Tim Buttery. (Andrew Knapik/Michigan Hockey)

Michigan was able to kill off an A.J. Treais elbowing minor midway through the period, while MSU didn’t let the Wolverines score during a power play at the end of the first period, despite facing late pressure around their net. The Spartans out-shot the Wolverines 11-7 in the first frame.

The Spartans tested Shawn Hunwick and the Wolverines early with a 2-on-1 chance three minutes into the second frame.  Although MSU was able to squeeze the puck past Hunwick and over the goal line, the tally was quickly disallowed because the whistle was blown as the puck trickled into Hunwick’s pads.

MSU goalie Drew Palmisano kept the puck out of the net for his club midway through the second period, making some great saves – including a sprawling save with his stick during a U of M power play.  A few minutes later, Michigan State took their turn on the power play but couldn’t capitalize either.

Michigan State freshman forward Tanner Sorenson finally broke open the scoring at 13:59 of the second period – scoring his first career goal as a Spartan, rifling a shot past Michigan’s Shawn Hunwick.  Assists went to Daultan Leveille and Torey Krug.

The Spartans took their one-goal lead into the second intermission, due in large part to Drew Palmisano’s 40 minutes of shutout hockey.  After two periods, the teams were tied with 18 shots a piece.

Michigan right wing Derek DuBlois put the Wolverines on the scoreboard, tying the game for his club with his sixth goal of the season midway through the third period.  Assists went to Travis and Kevin Lynch.

MSU’s Brett Perlini answered a couple minutes later at 12:32, giving his Spartans a 2-1 lead, beating Hunwick with a snipe from the left face-off dot.  Assists went to Kevin Walrod and Matt Berry.

Wolverines’ forward Kevin Lynch tied the game on a late power-play goal – with 50.4 seconds remaining in the period – sending the GLI championship to sudden death overtime.

Clare won the game for the Wolverines with 8:16 remaining in the first overtime session, one-timing a pass from Moffie.

Krug, the Spartans’ captain, said that his team will be looking forward to seeing Michigan again on Feb. 10 and 11, in East Lansing and then back at Joe Louis Arena.

“I hate to lose and every loss is [tough] but when you lose to these guys obviously it stings a little more,” Krug said. “So you’ve got to let it sting and you’ve got to learn from it and you try to move on.”

Notes: Palmisano set a GLI record with 90 saves over the weekend. Video of the post-game press conferences coming soon.