by Lance Callihan
12. March 2010 04:40
 | Previous Match-Ups:
Jan. 30: Michigan 5-4
Jan. 29: MSU 3-2
Nov. 14: MSU 3-2
Nov. 13: MSU 2-0 |  |
Best-of-Three CCHA Tournament Playoff Series
When: Friday-Sunday @ 7:05 P.M.
Where: Munn Ice Arena, East Lansing
TV: Fri/Sat – Comcast (Channel 900) … Sun – TBD
U of M Coach Red Berenson (AnnArbor.com): “We have to get off to a good start Friday if we want to put some pressure on them. I think there’s always more pressure on the home team, but if we could go in there and take the first game, the pressure will just multiply. If we could go in there and take away that home ice advantage, that would be huge.”
MSU Coach Rick Cromley (Lansing State Journal): “It'll be a great series, as will all the others in the second round. We usually have a tough time getting big crowds for the playoffs since students are on spring break. But with this series, it should be good.” For the Wolverines’ first round series last weekend against Lake Superior State, Goaltender Shawn Hunwick (Jr.) stepped in for the injured Bryan Hogan (Jr.), groin, admirably. Hunwich stopped 47 of the 49 shots he faced over two games against the CCHA’s 9th Best Offense (2.36 GPG). While the Spartans have only the 7th ranked offense (2.71 GPG), Hunwick won’t have the offensive support he enjoyed last week due to the fact the Spartans defense being far superior to the Lakers (CCHA GAA: MSU 2nd; LSSU 10th).
by Lance Callihan
3. March 2010 17:45
I’ve watched countless videos of hockey players practicing the Michigan Move in their basements or in their driveways. Every time I see the move it reminds me of that moment in the 1996 Tournament when Mike Legg shocked us all with his “Lacrosse”-like goal that propelled U of M past Minnesota and on their way to a NCAA Championship. I believe scoring the goal in a game is akin to bowling a 300 or hitting a grand slam. Here Kevin Mansolill scores the goal for his MJHL team, the Jacksonville Ice Dogs:
Mike Legg’s Goal in the ‘96 Tournament:
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by Lance Callihan
28. January 2010 10:45
David Goricki, Detroit News, reports that a deal has been finalized for the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans to face off at the Big House on December 11 @ 3PM.
The current world record for largest crowd to ever attend a ice hockey game belongs to this rivalry when the two teams faced off in the Cold War at Spartan Stadium in 2001. The game brought in 74,544 fans. Rumors have been circulating for some time that the Philadelphia Flyers & Pittsburgh Penguins had been planning to play a game at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium to break the “Cold War” attendance record. The game this year, on December 11, would push the record beyond any of the current possibilities to oppose it and force two teams to think out of the box to attempt to break it.
From a personal standpoint, this game may be the one reason I want to visit Michigan in December. Since I’ve moved to Atlanta, GA, I told myself I would be visiting in the summer and maybe the fall, but I would avoid the winter (Thus my vacation to FL last month). But I can say it right now, if this game goes through as planned, I’m there.
by Lance Callihan
27. January 2010 07:05
FEATURE
HIGHLIGHTS
QUOTES
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by Lance Callihan
22. January 2010 15:40
In an interview with FrozenRoyalty.net, L.A. Kings GM Dean Lombardi spoke very negatively of Former Wolverine Jack Johnson’s time at U of M:
“This guy has never had any coaching [at the University of Michigan] … Jack just did what he wanted.”
“Michigan is the worst … For hockey people, if you’ve got a choice between a kid—all things being equal—one’s going to Michigan and one’s going to Boston University, you all want your player [going to Boston University]. Michigan’s players—[head coach] Red [Berenson] doesn’t coach. It’s ‘do what you want.’ He gets the best players in the country.”
“At times, he was playing forward at Michigan … You had no idea what position he was playing. But he had always been the star and he always got his numbers. Then he turns pro and for the first time, we’re telling him ‘whoa, just make the first pass and learn to play in your own end.’ How about making a read in your own end about the right guy to pick up? He was awful.”
Johnson replied in the LA Times Today:
“I’m a Michigan man. I’m very proud of it. I wouldn’t have it any other way … Michigan has produced more NHL players than any other school. Even the U.S. development program, people rip that and they just don’t know anything about it and don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“(Red Berenson) is one of the finest coaches and men that I've met. For my general manager to rip (him) as a person and criticize me as a person and as a player and call me an awful hockey player is irresponsible and unprofessional.”
My Opinion: At U of M in the CCHA, Jack Johnson was a man amongst boys. Berenson runs a tight ship, saying the players “do what they want” is laughable! Red put Johnson all over the ice to take advantage of his obvious skill. I view Lombardi’s comments as a way of him trying to stoke a fire in Johnson.
by Lance Callihan
21. January 2010 11:45
- Don Jozwiak of VisitDetroit.com wrote about the Frozen Four coming to Detroit’s Ford Field. Red Berenson
had the following to say:
“The Frozen Four is a lot like basketball’s Final Four. The off-ice stuff is just as much a part of it as the games themselves. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the players and for a lot of the fans. I know Detroit’s going to do a great job as the host, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a magical weekend for the game. You can’t beat Detroit as a sports town, especially when it comes to hockey.”
- Former Wolverine Carson Butler has signed on to play with the New York Giants in 2010. Here’s to hoping he can stick with a NFL squad next season.
- Baseball Head Coach Rich Maloney announced that the team’s sixth annual “Meet The Wolverines Night” will be February 10 @ Junge Family Champions Center (betw. Crisler & Michigan Stadium).
- AnnArbor.com has reported that Boubacar Cissoko was arrested in Ypsilanti for possession of marijuana last Friday after and later admitted intent to sell it.
- LostLettermen.com has a special on the Big Ten’s B-ball coaches before they were coaches including a piece on John Beilein leading his high school team to a then-record 23 wins.
- 2010 Michigan Hockey Commit Mac Bennett has been named to the USHL All-Star Gamenext Tuesday at the Pepsi Center in Indianapolis, IN.
- Greg from MVictors.com has Part One of his interview up of his interview with Scout’s (WTKA Personality) Sam Webb.
- New Michigan AD David Brandon compared Michigan to Pizza in an interview with ESPN The Magazine:
“We're talking about a business as well as a school. Of course, I need to be mindful of the most popular offering. At Michigan, football is the classic-crust pepperoni pizza. So I understand the need for a successful football team. But I want to be sure I represent all the sports. We're not just making pepperoni. We're going to make a variety of pizzas, and ensure each one is baked just right.”
by Lance Callihan
21. January 2010 03:10
QUOTES:
On beating Russia in the U-18 Gold Medal Game: “I thought it was going to be 2-1 or something like that. But, after we got up in that first period, we just wanted to make sure we kept going and didn't let up because that's what happened in that pool-play game. The penalties in that game were outrageous, like 13-2, and they had a penalty shot. One of our kids got hit at the end of that game, so we all just jumped out. ... It's funny, that was our very first tournament, and now we've ended our last year at worlds actually beating them in the finals.”
Merrill on Himself: “I’m a simple, steady, stay-at-home defenseman. I want to play mistake-free, never-get-beat hockey”
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by Lance Callihan
14. January 2010 15:45
INTERVIEW
QUOTES
When he started playing hockey: “I started skating when I was four. My dad played college hockey and really loves the game. I really started liking it when I played in mites. But the house league was my first organized league.”
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by Lance Callihan
3. November 2009 00:00
QUOTES:
On going to U of M over playing for the Brampton Battalion (USHL):"Lots of people told me (NCAA teams) don't really like to commit to younger guys. It was nothing against Brampton (Battalion), but education is important for me and my family. I've turned a completely different direction to what I was doing before. There's no way I was getting a better offer. I just wanted to get it done to take the pressure off and enjoy hockey for next year. Brampton wasn't the same big atmosphere."
On his development as a player: "I got thrown in with a couple of veterans. At first, it was a bit of a struggle just to keep up. Last season turned it around. They told me to work harder on my own, not just at practice. Just playing shinny, it's hard to believe how much my hands got better."
On going to U of M: "Michigan is one of the best schools around for hockey. I never would have dreamt I'd be playing for them."
Mel Pearson, U of M, on Guptill: "We have to stay mum until November. All we can say is we are recruiting him."
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by Lance Callihan
27. October 2009 06:15
HIGHLIGHTS
QUOTES
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by Lance Callihan
23. October 2009 01:45
Saturday Night, right after Michigan battles Penn State at the Big House, the Wolverines will taking on the 3rd ranked Terriers of Boston University at Agganis Arena in Boston, MA.
InsideCollegeHockey.com say of the match-up: “Offense shouldn’t be a problem for these teams, but it has thus far. The Terriers, a few days removed from being shut out by Notre Dame, have two goals in two games. The Wolverines, meanwhile, have nine goals in three games. Keep an eye on a pair of talented forwards who’ve yet to get untracked-or is it on track? Because untracked would seem to indicate derailment, and that ain’t good. Semantics aside, Michigan’s Louie Caporusso, who scored 24 goals and 49 points last season, has bagels thus far. BU’s Nick Bonino scored 50 points as a rookie; he, too, is scoreless.”
by Lance Callihan
20. October 2009 01:52
John Sherf is known for being one of the first U.S. Citizens to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. He won the Cup
twice while playing for the Detroit Red Wings in 1936 and ‘37. Although he ended up only playing 27 total games with Detroit, he won the NHL Skills Competition for the fastest skater in 1937.
After playing four years for his hometown Calumet High School Hockey Team, he went on to play for the University of Michigan for three more years. While at Michigan, he set the league scoring record and helped the Wolverines win the Western Conference Championship in 1934-35. Also in 1934-35, he scored 33 goals in 17 games while Michigan only allowed 30 to the opposition.
Sherf had a decorated career in the AHL playing for the Detroit Olympics, Pittsburgh Hornets & the Philadelphia Ramblers. The year after his most productive season in 1941-42, he was called away for military service. After serving for the military he would return and play 8 games for the Red Wings before retiring.
John Sherf was selected to Michigan’s Hall of Honor in 1981. Sherf died on August 19, 1991, in Dearborn, Michigan, at the age of 78.
Past Alumni’s of the Week:
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