Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of March 3, 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 morning, we pick one Michi-gamer from the previous night’s slate of games across all professional levels of hockey – one Michigan player who stood out above the rest.
MARCH 4 – AARON PALUSHAJ
Without many games to pick from yesterday, we took one more tour through the scoresheets over the weekend. There, we found that on Sunday evening, Aaron Palushaj earned himself a playmaker patch (we’re putting one in the mail for him). The Livonia native picked up three assists in his Charlotte Checkers’ 6-3 win over the Hershey Bears. Palushaj, a Michigan Wolverines product, set up the game’s opening goal, then picked up assists on the Checkers’ first two-goals of the third period, helping the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate take commanding control of the contest. Palushaj, who played for both Compuware and Honeybaked during his AAA days before moving on to the USHL, now ranks 16th in the AHL with 47 points in 55 games.
More MiHockey articles on Palushaj:
Trouba, Palushaj join Team USA for World Championship
MARCH 3 – MAX PACIORETTY
Doesn’t look the trip to Sochi wore out Max Pacioretty. The University of Michigan alum scored twice for his Montreal Canadiens Saturday night in a grudge match with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Pacioretty, who recorded two points for Team USA in the Olympic Winter Games, scored in the first period for the Habs on a backhand, which gave them a 2-0 lead. That lead wouldn’t last, as the two squads eventually played into overtime. Pacioretty took advantage of the opportunity, however, scoring the game-winning goal in the extra frame. The Wolverines product took a feed from Andrei Markov in the slot and rifled a shot past Jonathan Bernier for the game’s biggest goal.
See the goals right here:
More MiHockey articles on Pacioretty:
Sochi Watch: How Michigan’s players fared at the Winter Games
Fowler, Kesler, Miller, Howard selected for U.S. Olympic team
Our list of Michigan names on NHL opening night rosters
This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Michael Caples.