Michigan Wolverine Hockey: Ferris State — Preview
Posted at 8:00am — 10/4/2014
Michigan Wolverine Hockey: Ferris State — Preview
Wolverines Hockey Opens Their 93rd Season At Ferris State
What: #8 Michigan vs. #9 Ferris State, Ewigleben Arena, Big Rapids, Michigan Saturday, October 4th, 7:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: Comcast 900 (local) / WTKA 1050 a.m. following Michigan football. www.mgoblue.com
Fast Facts:
Michigan and Ferris State have met every year since the 1981-82 season.
The Wolverines lead the all time series 68-29-4, including a 24-19-4 record at FSU.
Michigan is 0-1-1 in their last two games in Big Rapids with their last win coming in January, 2011 (6-1.)
The Maize and Blue are 21-5-4 in Red Berenson openers and play on the road to open the season for the first time since 2001.
Michigan is picked to finish 2nd in the Big Ten while Ferris is picked to finish 2nd in the WCHA
Michigan forwards Andrew Copp and JT Compher is on the Big Ten Player Watch list.
The Wolverines and Bulldogs fought to a 2-2 draw at Yost last season with Michigan winning an exhibition shootout.
There is good news and bad news in Big Rapids these days. The good news is that Bob Daniels has gotten his program on wheels and has enjoyed a solid string of success the past few seasons. Ewigleben arena is jammed and prospects for another good season are high. The bad news is, the expectations have climbed for a program that was often maligned by their own fanbase. Ferris State reached two straight Frozen Fours and is two years removed from a magical run that saw them compete hard but lose in the National Championship game. It vindicated the downtrodden CCHA, which had seen several of its programs get to the same level in the recent past (Notre Dame, MSU, Miami, Michigan, with BGSU and LSSU winning championships in the 1980’s-90’s.) The secret to FSU’s success was strong defense and goaltending with the occasional timely goal. Last season, Ferris dropped a tough overtime game in the Midwest regional final to North Dakota after winning their conference in their first season in the revamped WCHA.
FSU lost some quality talent from their 2013-14 team but still return five of their six starting defensemen (three of which are seniors) as well as their All-conference senior goaltender CJ Motte. Gone from last season are forwards Garrett Thompson, Corey Kane, Andy Huff and Justin DeMartino. The lone defender that moved on was an anchor- Scott Czarnowczan. Overall, this was combined total of 133 points that the Bulldogs will have to make up.
The bulk of the offense now falls on a small group of forwards led by senior Justin Buzzeo who tallied 14-18-32 last season. Juniors Matt Robertson (12-7-19) and Kenny Babinski (9-10-19), sophomores Kyle Schempp (10-15-25), Gerald Mayhew (8-12-20) and Chad McDonald (9-11-20) will also be expected to chip in again. The freshmen class features five forwards, including rugged winger Tyler Andrew (6’5”, 208 lbs.).
The defensive corps will be the strength of the team, with edgy junior Brandon Anselmini (5-11-16, 59 PIMs), junior Sean O’Rourke (0-1-1) and junior Zach Dorer (2-2-4) joining seniors Jason Binkley (3-21-24), Simon Denis and Travis White (3-5-8). Sophomore Ryan Lowney (1-13-14) provides depth along with two freshmen defenders.
CJ Motte, brother of Michigan’s Tyler, has been a mainstay in between the pipes for the Bulldogs the last three seasons. His 28-9-3 record was one of the best in the NCAA last season which was complimented by his 2.17 GAA and .928 save %. He was a Hobey Baker Finalist. Junior netminder Charles Williams is his backup along with sophomore Trace Pennock.
The Bulldogs are expected to battle with the Minnesota State Mavericks for WCHA supremacy this season and will certainly provide an opening night challenge for the Maize & Blue. The two teams may also meet during the GLI.
Wolverine Notes:
-Freshman Alex Talcott is out indefinitely with a dislocated shoulder which occurred in practice.
-The starting units (reserves) for the Wolverines are projected to be: Compher-Copp-Allen, Hyman-Motte-Calderone, Selman-Nieves-Lynch, Dancs-Larkin-Kile (Shuart, Talcott) Downing- Serville Werenski-Lohan Sinelli-DeJong (Martin, Porikos, Piazza, Chiasson) Nagelvoort (Racine, Dwyer)
-Red Berenson is 12 wins shy of 800- a feat only 3 other coaches have accomplished.
-Michigan will take on the USNDT (under-18) on Monday at Yost, followed by an exhibition game versus Canadian university team, Wilfrid Laurier next Thursday at Yost.
-Michigan freshman Zach Werenski played last season with the USNDT (under-17) and is one of the youngest players to join U-M’s roster. The seventeen year old joins former Michigan greats Mike Cammalleri and Jason Botterill as the youngest players to jump onto the roster as freshmen.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Yostmeister
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