Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of April 1)

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. 

APRIL 5 – JUSTIN WILLIAMS

Justin Williams had quite a night for the Kings yesterday. The former Plymouth Whalers star picked up a pair of goals in a 3-0 Los Angeles win over the Minnesota Wild. Williams kicked off the scoring in the contest with snipe on a two-on-one just 1:29 into the first period. Then, early in the second period, Williams put the Kings up 3-0 with a slap shot from the top of the right circle, off a long feed from Anze Kopitar. The two tallies marked Williams’ ninth and 10^th goals of the season, and his Kings now check in at No. 4 in the West as they try to hold onto Lord Stanley’s Cup for another season.

More MiHockey articles on Williams:

Michi-gamer: The pride of the Mitten (2011-12 archive)

APRIL 4 – TYLER GRON

In his first playoff game as a professional hockey player, Tyler Gron scored just one goal. However, when that goal is the game-winner in overtime, it’s rather significant. Gron, the four-year letterwinner at Northern Michigan University, buried his own rebound just 26 seconds into the extra period, helping his Idaho Steelheads to a 4-3 win in their ECHL playoff opener against the Colorado Eagles. In 34 regular-season ECHL games this season, Gron recorded 21 goals and 11 assists for 32 points in 34 games. He also played in 31 games with the CHL’s Bloomington Blaze, where he picked up 21 goals and 14 assists over 31 contests.

More MiHockey articles on Gron:

MiHockey Previews: Northern Michigan looks to separate from the pack

Michigan teams win in first night of CCHA playoffs

APRIL 3 – DAVID LEGWAND

In a night where a few Michigan natives certainly could’ve earned Michi-gamer honors for Wednesday, Detroit native David Legwand gets the nod for his performance in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. With the Nashville Predators pushing for a playoff spot and every point at a premium, Legwand’s late-game heroics helped seal two points for the Preds. With 1:14 remaining in the third period and the game tied 1-1, Legwand wristed a puck past J-S Giguere for his 10th of the season and the eventual game-winner. With 15 seconds left, Legwand recorded a helper on Paul Gaustad’s empty-netter, insurance tally to wrap things up at 3-1. The 32-year-old Legwand now has 10 goals and 11 assists in 37 contests this season for Nashville. With the victory, the Preds jumped from twelfth place into ninth, tying the eighth-place Blues at 38 points. However, having played three more games than St. Louis, the Preds are currently one spot out of a tight Western Conference playoff race.

More MiHockey articles on Legwand:

Michi-gamer: The pride of the Mitten (2011-12 archive)

Red Wings’ season comes to a close on Legwand’s goal

APRIL 2 – JUSTIN ABDELKADER

Justin Abdelkader joked after last night’s game that he was auditioning for the Detroit Tigers – since it was Opening Day and all. The Muskegon native ‘bunted’ a puck out of midair into the net last night to score his seventh goal of the season, and to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead in their game with the Colorado Avalanche. It was an important goal for the Wings; just a little more than 24 hours before, they had endured a 7-1 thrashing by the Chicago Blackhawks. The former Michigan State star’s goal helped lead the Wings to a 3-2 win over the Avs Monday night, which keeps them in the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference.

More MiHockey articles on Abdelkader:

Red Wings rebound from Sunday afternoon loss with Monday night win

Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of March 25)

Abdelkader talks training camp, urgency to prepare for shortened season

APRIL 1 – REID BOUCHER

Even though his Albany Devils lost 5-4, Saturday was a day Reid Boucher won’t soon forget. The Grand Ledge native – fresh off a record-breaking season with the Sarnia Sting – scored his first professional goal, and chipped in two assists. Boucher played in one AHL game last season, so it wasn’t his first go-around at the professional circuit, but it was the first time he found the score sheet, and he did it on three different occasions. Finding the back of the net is something Boucher has done a lot lately; he broke Steven Stamkos’ franchise mark for goals by recording 62 (tops in all of the OHL) before graduating to the big leagues. Fellow Michigan native Andy Miele was responsible for spoiling Boucher’s party, scoring his second of the night at the 14:12 mark of the third period for the game-winner.

More MiHockey articles on Boucher:

With Game 4 victory, Whalers sweep Sting and advance to second round

Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Nov. 19)

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

Eight Michigan connections stay alive at U.S. Junior Evaluation Camp

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

This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Stefan Kubus and Michael Caples.