College hockey recap (week of Oct. 6-9)
By Jonathan Cochran –
The college hockey season is underway, and here’s how the Michigan schools fared this past week.
Note: Michigan State and Lake Superior State start their 2016-2017 seasons at Lake Superior State on Thursday.
Michigan Blanks Union to earn split
Friday night saw the Wolverines open their 2016-17 campaign at Yost Ice Arena with a late defeat, as Michigan relinquished two goals in the final five minutes to fall to Union, 4-3.
Freshman forward and USA Hockey’s NTDP alum Will Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills) scored in his collegiate debut, while Sam Piazza and Tony Calderone (Trenton) potted the others.
Saturday was a different story, as Hayden Lavigne was stalwart between the pipes for the Wolverines, earning a shutout against Union in his collegiate debut.
The perfect 4-0 victory didn’t come easy for the freshman, who had to make 31 saves, including on several point-blank shots midway through the second period.
Fellow freshman and NTDP alum James Sanchez scored twice for the Wolverines, adding onto goals from Niko Porikos (Ann Arbor) and Piazza.
Huskies swept by Mavericks
Michigan Tech’s disappointing start continues as a weekend road sweep at the hands of Minnesota State has the Huskies out to an 0-4 start.
Shane Hanna was the only one to find the back of the net for MTU Friday night in a 3-1 loss. The Huskies then dropped a 4-0 decision on Saturday.
Cole Huggins earned the shutout for the Mavericks, stopping all 25 shots he faced. Goals came from teammates Zeb Knutson, Daniel Brickley, Marc Michaelis, and C.J. Franklin.
The power play was key to the Mavericks’ victory, earning them three of their four goals. They got plenty of opportunities, as Tech was called for 13 penalties.
Broncos sweep Bulldogs in home-and-home set
Thursday saw the Broncos open their season in Big Rapids with a 5-3 win in the first game in their home-and-home series with Ferris State.
WMU freshman forward Lawton Courtnall – son of former NHLer Russ Courtnall – broke a 3-3 tie at 11:31 of the third period before captain Sheldon Dries (Macomb) added one more in the final minutes.
Western Michigan completed their weekend sweep of Ferris State on Friday at home, winning the game 2-1.
Freshman Ben Blacker made 17 saves for the Broncos while Matheson Iacopelli and Scott Moldenhauer each scored a goal, both assisted by Aiden Muir.
Western had to kill two Bulldog powerplays in the third period to maintain their lead.
The Broncos badly outshot the Bulldogs, recording 41 shots to Ferris State’s 18.
Payne’s efforts not enough to help Wildcats
The Wildcats officially opened their season in Green Bay, Wis. with a 3-2 victory over the Badgers.
Gerard Hanson potted a goal and an assist, while Gaylord native Robbie Payne recorded a power-play goal. Atte Tolvanen stopped 27 of 29 shots in the win.
Northern Michigan then lost a close game 6-5 to Wisconsin on Saturday at the Resch Center.
Payne recorded five points on the night, making him the first Wildcat to do so in 10 years. Two points came from two shorthanded goals, the rest were assists.
The teams were tied at four a piece entering the third period. Darien Craighead scored his second of the night just over two minutes in to put Northern on top, but Wisconsin responded with two unanswered goals of their own to secure the win.