Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Jan. 7)

Welcome to another season of MiHockey’s Michi-gamer, now powered by Bauer Hockey.

We take great pride in our homegrown talent. Whether they grew up in the Mitten or we welcomed them here for college or juniors, they are our own. They represent the best place in the world for hockey.

Every night, we’ll keep an eye on those players, and every morning, we will pick one Michi-gamer of the night – one Michigan player who stood out above the rest.


JANUARY 11 – CODY MILAN

With limited action last night, we went through the recent USHL scores, and Cody Milan’s name was the first to pop up on a lopsided scoresheet from Wednesday night. Milan, a 16-year-old native of White Lake, kicked off the scoring for the Sioux Falls Stampede, in a game they eventually won 8-3 against Waterloo. Milan, a Michigan State commit, now has four goals and six assists in his first USHL season, playing in a league that features future NHL draft picks and players as old as 20.

More MiHockey articles on Milan:

Michigan well represented at USHL Futures Draft


JANUARY 10 – PAT NAGLE

Pat Nagle turned aside 25 of the 26 shots he faced last night, and in the process, he helped his Florida Everblades beat the Red Wings’ ECHL affiliate. Nagle, a Bloomfield native, recorded his sixth victory of the season in the 4-1 win over the Toledo Walleye. The former Ferris State Bulldog posted a 20-14-3 record in his first professional season last year, along with a 2.87 goals-against and .905 save percentage. Nagle signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization after the conclusion of his senior season at Ferris State in 2011, after he was named a Hobey Baker candidate and first-team CCHA selection.


JANUARY 9 – CHRIS CONNER

With the help of Livonia native Chris Conner, the Portland Pirates triumphed over the Worcester Sharks in AHL action Tuesday night, 7-3. Conner’s strong, three-assist outing – two of which came on former Michigan Wolverine Chris Brown’s pair of goals – extended his totals to 20 points in 29 games. A former Red Wing and Michigan Tech Huskie, Conner was signed as a free agent by Phoenix last summer and very well could see time with the Coyotes now that the lockout has been resolved.

More MiHockey articles on Conner:

Michi-gamer: The Pride of the Mitten (Week of Oct. 22)

MiHockey’s free agency watch list

Chris Conner – Made in Michigan


JANUARY 8 – CONNOR CARRICK

With limited action Monday night, we turned to Saturday night OHL action for today’s Michi-gamer nod. Connor Carrick, a first-year defenseman for the Plymouth Whalers, tallied the overtime game-winner in a 3-2 victory over Guelph 2:29 into the extra session. For Carrick, that marks his seventh goal on the season, extending his goal and point lead among Whaler defenders. To go along with those seven tallies, he has 15 assists for 22 points in 39 games with the Whalers. Prior to joining Plymouth, Carrick – a 2012 fifth-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals – spent two seasons with the U.S. NTDP, recording 12 points in 57 games over that two-year span.

More MiHockey articles on Carrick:

Carrick’s grace period over, wants to be impact player for Whalers

Carrick experiences Plymouth Whalers’ annual hair-dying tradition for first time


Wolverines defenseman and Winnipeg prospect Jacob Trouba (Michael Caples/MiHockey)

JANUARY 7 – JACOB TROUBA

When you accomplish something no other Michigan native has, odds are you’re going to get our nomination for Michi-gamer first thing Monday morning. Jacob Trouba, the University of Michigan standout freshman, was named the best defenseman of the World Junior tournament this weekend, after recording four goals and five assists in seven games. The Rochester native and National Team Development Program alum is just the third U.S. player – and first Michigan native – to be given the directorate award as the tournament’s best defenseman, joining Erik Johnson (2007) and Joe Corvo (1997). Trouba, who served as one of the assistant captains for Team USA, drew attention from the opposition night after night with his booming slap shot on the blue line, and his physical presence in the defensive zone. The Winnipeg Jets management must have been thrilled while they followed the tournament, as their first-round pick was one of the main reasons Team USA captured gold.

More MiHockey articles on Trouba:

Team USA captures gold at World Juniors

The Top 10 Moments From 2012: College Hockey (In Michigan)

Team USA’s players to watch at the World Juniors


To see last week’s Michi-gamer nominations, click here.