Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Oct. 21)
Welcome to another season of MiHockey’s Michi-gamer!
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 day, 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.
OCTOBER 25 – RYAN KESLER
Ryan Kesler picked the right time to be crashing the net last night. With his Canucks club fresh off giving up an early first-period goal to the Devils, Kesler teamed up with Henrik Sedin to even things back up. Capitalizing on a poor exchange between Cory Schneider and Michigan native Andy Greene, Sedin sent a cross-crease pass to Kesler, who roofed a quick snap shot over the Devils’ netminder. It was the fifth goal of the season for Kesler, a native of Livonia, and it was a big one for the Canucks, who would end up beating the Devils in a shootout. Kesler’s five tallies are good for 14th in the NHL, while the Canucks have to be thrilled that their star forward is healthy and not missing any time.
More MiHockey articles on Kesler:
Ryan Kesler talks about his upcoming season
Red Wings return to Joe Louis Arena for informal training sessions
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Oct. 14)
OCTOBER 24 – TOREY KRUG
Torey Krug is just starting his first full NHL season, but he’s not having any problems finding the scoresheet. Last night, the Livonia native scored twice for the Boston Bruins, helping the Original Six club to a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Both of the former Michigan State captain’s goals came in the third period, sealing the win for his team. At the 4:17 mark of the third, Krug muscled his way to the front of the Buffalo net and slipped a shot through fellow Michigan State alum Ryan Miller. Then, five minutes later, he fired a snapshot that beat Miller to the far post, giving the Bruins a commanding 5-2 lead in the process. They were Krug’s second and third goals of the season, adding to his two assists to give him five points in eight games.
More MiHockey articles on Krug:
Torey Krug talks first playoffs experience, #LegendOfKrug and more
Special DElivery: The game’s changes are in the spotlight this postseason
Photo gallery: MSU’s annual pro camp
OCTOBER 23 – JAMES WISNIEWSKI
Canton native James Wisniewski had quite a night for the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday. The 29-year-old defenseman had a goal and two assists, leading his NHL club to a win over the New Jersey Devils. His goal, a third-period wrister from the blue line, gave CBJ a 3-1 lead and served as the final nail in the coffin for the Devils. Wisniewski, who helped set up Brandon Dubinsky’s goal in the second period, and Marian Gaborik’s empty-netter late in the third, was named third star of the night in Columbus. The Plymouth Whalers alum finished with three points, a +2 rating, three shots and one hit on 19:08 worth of ice time. Wisniewski now has one goal and six assists in nine games; last year, he recorded five goals and nine assists over 30 games.
More MiHockey articles on Wisniewski:
Wisniewski, Jackets top Red Wings at JLA
OCTOBER 22 – ANDREW ROWE
With not much hockey to pick from last night, we searched through the scoresheets from the weekend once again, and we landed on Andrew Rowe’s name. The Muskegon native had been held scoreless in his first ECHL game of the season, but on Friday night, he changed all that. Rowe, a Michigan State product (2007-10), posted a hat trick in his Greenville Road Warriors’ 5-3 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators. Rowe, who played for Muskegon Mona Shores High School before spending two seasons in the USHL, also picked up an assist in the afternoon contest, and finished with a +4 rating. Last season, Rowe recorded 29 goals and 43 assists in 66 games with the Elmira Jackals. That performance led to Rowe being recalled by the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack yesterday.
More MiHockey articles on Rowe:
Photo gallery: MSU’s annual pro camp
OCTOBER 21 – JUSTIN WILLIAMS
Justin Williams had a good weekend. The Plymouth Whalers alum scored twice in the first period Saturday night, erasing an early deficit for his Los Angeles Kings and guiding them to a 5-3 lead. Williams, 32, also picked up an assist on Drew Doughty’s third-period goal. The former Plymouth Whalers star now has four goals and an assist on the season; last year he recorded 11 in the shortened NHL campaign. In his final season with Plymouth – the 1999-2000 campaign – Williams racked up 37 goals and 46 assists in 68 games.
More MiHockey articles on Williams:
Our list of Michigan names on NHL opening night rosters
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of June 3)
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of May 27)
To see last week’s Michi-gamer selections, click here. This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Michael Caples.