Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Nov. 24, 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.
NOVEMBER 26 – JACOB TROUBA
Rochester native Jacob Trouba dished out two assists while playing a team-high 24:11 as the Winnipeg Jets notched a road victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 on Tuesday night. Late in the second period with the score locked at 1-1, Trouba tallied an assist on the power play as his pass from the point to Dustin Byfuglien led to a tap-in by Evander Kane to put Winnipeg on top 2-1. The young defenseman recorded his second assist on the night as he fired a cross-ice pass to an open Kane, who iced the game with an empty-netter. Trouba, 20, is now in his second season in the NHL. The former NTDP and University of Michigan product has six points (two goals, four assists) through 23 games this season.
Highlights:
NOVEMBER 25 – STEPHEN WEISS
After signing a five-year, $24.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings in the summer of 2013, injuries and inconsistency limited Stephen Weiss, a former 60-point scorer, to two goals last season. The former Plymouth Whalers star matched that total on Monday night. In just his second game of the 2014-15 campaign, Weiss registered two goals to lift the Red Wings over the Ottawa Senators 4-3 at Joe Louis Arena. Weiss – plagued by groin issues through the first two months of the season – buried his first goal since Oct. 14, 2013 as he put home a loose puck in front to give the Red Wings a 3-1 lead in the second period. Less than five minutes later, Weiss grabbed another goal on a backhand to give him point No. 400 on his career. The 31-year-old forward looks to keep the momentum going Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Highlights:
NOVEMBER 24 – ZACH REDMOND
Zach Redmond buried the game-winning goal for the Colorado Avalanche as they overcame a two-goal deficit to come back and defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Saturday night. Redmond – a Traverse City native and Ferris State alum – also netted a goal in the first period as he finished with two goals and a game-high plus-3 on the night. With the game knotted at 3-3 in the final two minutes, Jarome Iginla fed a pass from the side of the net to Redmond, who one-timed it home from the right circle for a 4-3 lead and the win. Redmond’s first goal was a centering pass that deflected in off the skate of a Hurricanes defenseman in the first period. The former Ferris State star now has six points (three goals, three assists) in 10 games this season.
Highlights:
Michi-gamer features compiled by MiHockey’s Josh Paulisin and Michael Caples. Click here to see last week’s Michi-gamer picks.