Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Oct. 7)
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 9 – ERIC NYSTROM
Eric Nystrom picked a pretty good time to score his first goal as a member of the Nashville Predators. The 30-year-old Wolverines alum earned a penalty shot in Nashville’s game against the Wild last night, after taking advantage of a turnover at the Predators’ blue line and getting hauled down just in front of the Minnesota goal. On said penalty shot, Nystrom skated to goaltender Josh Harding’s left, and while cutting back to the center ice, fired a quick wrist shot past Harding from the slot. It was the 47th NHL goal for Nystrom, and it was a big one, because it turned out to be the game-winner for his new club. Nystrom, also a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, is with his fourth professional team, after being drafted by the Flames in the first round of the 2002 NHL Draft. Nystrom spent a season with the Wild and two seasons with the Stars before signing with Nashville this summer.
More MiHockey articles on Nystrom:
Six different decades of Wolverines hockey alums gather for annual alumni game
Photo gallery: Former stars gather for Wolverines’ annual alumni game
OCTOBER 8 – J.T. MILLER
J.T. Miller didn’t waste any time getting going. In his first AHL game of the 2013-14 season, the NTDP and Plymouth Whalers alum scored twice and added an assist to lead his Hartford Wolf Pack to a 4-3 win over the Albany Devils. Miller, a native of East Palestine, Ohio, finished with a +2 rating and six shots on goal in the Sunday win. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come; Miller recorded 23 points in 42 AHL games last year. If he can produce at a point-per-game pace with the Wolfpack, he will make it hard for his parent club – the New York Rangers – to keep him with their AHL affiliate. Miller played in 26 NHL games in 2012-13, but was sent down to the minors after only one game with the Blueshirts this season.
More MiHockey articles on Miller:
Team USA captures gold at World Juniors
OCTOBER 7 – CHRIS CONNER
Westland native Chris Conner had to start the season in the American Hockey League, but apparently he’s going to be putting some heat on the Penguins’ management to call him back up to the big club. Conner, who signed with the Penguins over the summer, scored twice in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ season opener, leading them to a 5-2 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Conner, who played NAHL hockey for the Chicago Freeze and Compuware Ambassadors before a four-year career at Michigan Tech, also recorded seven shots on goal in his first game. It’s his second stint with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; Conner spent two seasons in the Penguins’ organization before spending a year in the Red Wings’ organization. Last year, Conner split time with the Phoenix Coyotes and their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, recording 40 points in 60 AHL games.
More MiHockey articles on Conner:
Chris Conner – Made in Michigan
This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Michael Caples.