Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Jan. 20, 2014)
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.
JANUARY 24 – CHRIS KUNITZ
When the Penguins needed somebody to give them a jump to get the engine going last night, Chris Kunitz delivered. The former Ferris State Bulldogs star might not have scored the most glamorous goal of his career – he sent the puck towards the Islanders goal from behind the net and somehow it bounced in – yet it erased a 2-0 deficit for his club. Kunitz’s goal – his 25th of the season – was the first of four in a row for Pittsburgh. And the Bulldogs alum ended up adding two assists in the 6-4 Penguins win, as well. Another impressive night for Kunitz, who ranks second in the NHL with a +25 on the season, and sixth in the league in points, with 53.
Here are the highlights with Kunitz’s three points:
More MiHockey articles on Kunitz:
Michigan connections on Olympic rosters for Sochi
Penguins beat Red Wings Saturday night at The Joe
JANUARY 23 – NATHAN GERBE
Hello, goal of the year candidate. Last night, Nathan Gerbe pulled off a move that will be in the hockey highlight reels for the foreseeable future. After beating both Flyers defensemen in a footrace to the puck, the Oxford native was flying towards the Philly net when he went between-the-legs to fool Steve Mason. It was the Gerbe’s 10th goal of the season – his first year as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes – and it was one that, as the kids say, was absolutely filthy. Gerbe, an NTDP and Boston College alum, is closing in on his career-high 16 goals that he set in 2010-11. And, as last night showed, Gerbe can certainly put the puck in the net.
The highlight-reel goal is right here:
More MiHockey articles on Gerbe:
Our list of Michigan names on NHL opening night rosters
Skating with Red Wings gives Nathan Gerbe a rare home visit
JANUARY 22 – CAM FOWLER
The Anaheim Ducks may not have picked up the win last night, but it wasn’t because of Cam Fowler. The Farmington Hills native scored his sixth goal of the season just four minutes into the contest to give his team a 1-0 lead. With a rocket from just inside the blue line, Fowler – a Honeybaked and NTDP alum – fired the puck through goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. Unfortunately for Fowler, the lead wouldn’t hold, and his Ducks would end up losing to the Jets by a score of 3-2. Fowler had a big jump in points this season; he’s already at 29 after recording only 11 last year. In his rookie season (2010-11), Fowler racked up 40 points in 76 games, yet he was -25. This year, he’s already at 29 points through 52 games, and he’s +11.
Here’s the goal:
More MiHockey articles on Fowler:
Michigan connections on Olympic rosters for Sochi
Fowler, Kesler, Miller, Howard selected for U.S. Olympic team
U.S. Olympic camp: Players, management talk about hockey in Michigan
JANUARY 21 – TOREY KRUG
The points, they just keep on coming for Torey Krug. Last night, the Livonia native scored his 11th goal of the season, firing a slap shot off the right post and past Jonathan Quick, to give his Bruins a 2-0 lead over the Kings. Krug, former captain of Michigan State, now has 25 points in his first full NHL season – tops amongst all freshman defenseman. He’s no stranger to the scoresheet, of course, after he led all of the CCHA in scoring during the 2011-12 season.
Here’s the goal:
More MiHockey articles on Krug:
Torey Krug’s return home spoiled by one-sided affair
Torey Krug talks first playoffs experience, #LegendOfKrug and more
Special DElivery: The game’s changes are in the spotlight this postseason
The Top 10 Moments From 2012: College Hockey (In Michigan)
JANUARY 20 – JACOB TROUBA
We picked him on Friday, and now he’s making us pick him again on Monday. On Saturday night, Jacob Trouba was Mr. Clutch for the Winnipeg Jets, scoring a pair of goals to lead his team to a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers – the latter of which being the overtime game-winner. In the third period with his team trailing 1-0, the Rochester native crashed the net on a shorthanded rush for his club, and fired a one-timer past Ilya Bryzgalov for his sixth goal of the season. Then, 1:10 into overtime, Trouba scored from the same exact spot with the same exact shot to give his Jets a 3-2 win. The Jets’ first-round pick in 2012, who played one season for the Michigan Wolverines before turning pro last spring, now has seven goals and nine assists in his freshman season as a pro.
See both of the goals here:
More MiHockey articles on Trouba:
Our list of Michigan names on NHL opening night rosters
U.S. Olympic camp: Players, management talk about hockey in Michigan
Trouba, Palushaj join Team USA for World Championship
Trouba, Czarnik, DeKeyser named All-Americans
Winnipeg Jets officially announce the signing of Jacob Trouba
This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Michael Caples.