Michigan Wolverine Hockey: GLI -- Preview

Posted at 6:00am — 12/28/2014

Michigan Wolverine Hockey: GLI — Preview

Wolverines Lick Wounds after BC Drubbing, Move On To the 50th Annual GLI
What: Michigan (8-7-0) vs. Michigan Tech (13-3-0) Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Mi.
Sunday, December 28, 3:30 p.m. / Monday, December 29, 3:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSD+ / WTKA 1050 a.m. with Al Randall & Bill Trainor. www.mgoblue.com

Rewinding Michigan’s Last Action:

Michigan completed a rather successful 6-1 home stand at Yost arena, but quickly found out that their magic was left in Ann Arbor on December 13th. The Maize & Blue traveled back east for the second time this season and got manhandled by an equally puzzling Boston College Eagle team, 5-1.

The Wolverines surrendered two goals in the first ten minutes and a third before the period was over and could not recover. They played better over the next thirty minutes drawing closer at 3-1 on a Dylan Larkin PPG early in the third period, but succumbed to a backbreaking goal midway through the period and a late BC empty net goal while playing 4×4.

Michigan outshot BC 41-28, but was never really a factor. Zach Nagelvoort, the apparent #1 netminder, was nominal in the loss. BC netminder and probable World Junior Tournament goaltender for Team USA, Thatcher Demko, stopped 15 shots in the first period to stymie the Wolverines and set the tone.

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Profiling The Field:

The Wolverines enter the second half of the season staring at deep hole they need to dig out of. Unless a miracle turnaround occurs defensively, Michigan will again sit out the NCAA tournament come March. They are one of the top offensive teams in the country- averaging a little under four goals per game- thanks in part to a robust home outburst-but give up an equal amount of goals and are one of the worst defensive teams in the country.

The task does not get easier as they take on Michigan Tech in the semi-final next Sunday afternoon. Tech has had a breakout year depending on a senior laden roster and a solid two way system strongly influenced by Mel Pearson. Michigan will also have to face an unbalanced schedule of road games in the second half (12 away or neutral games vs. 8 home games) including conference visits to Minnesota, Penn State, MSU and OSU.

Michigan Tech smothered the Wolverines earlier in the season in Houghton, 4-1 & 6-2. Compounding Michigan’s troubles will be the departures of several Wolverines to the Team USA WJT roster. (At this time JT Compher, Tyler Motte, Dylan Larkin and defenseman Zach Werenski were still on the roster pending final cuts.)

The Wolverines are led on offense by senior Zach Hyman (7-10-17), Larkin (3-13-16), sophomore Alex Kile (9-6-15), Motte (5-9-14), Captain Andrew Copp (7-6-13), Boo Nieves (4-8-12) as well as Werenski (3-9-12) and Compher (3-8-11.) Sophomore Mike Downing (3-4-7) was an early cut by the USA team- no surprise considering his porous defensive play and penchant for dumb penalties. He is going to have to mature quickly and turn around his play to help the defense in the second half. Zach Nagelvoort (6-6-0, 2.78 GAA, .904 Save %) has started the last ten outings in goal and will remain the best option at this point.

Michigan Wolverines /

Michigan Wolverines

#5 Michigan Tech is battling with both #3 Minnesota State and unranked Ferris State for the WCHA title. The Huskies enter play with their best record at the break in thirty years and are a legitimate national championship contender, albeit still a long shot compared to BU and North Dakota. Their three losses were a result of a home sweep to Minnesota State and a home loss to Minnesota-Duluth. They do have an impressive sweeps at Ferris State, LSSU and Bemidji State. Senior Tanner Kero (5-13-16) leads the offense followed by juniors Alex Petan (8-7-15) and Malcolm Gould (5-7-12). Seniors Blake Pietila (4-5-9) and David Johnstone (3-6-9) are Wolverine killers. The

Huskies blend of speed and defensive awareness make them as comfortable in a 1-1 game as much as they are in a wide open affair. The blueline is unheralded and doesn’t add much offense, but is dependable. Junior goaltender Jamie Phillips (13-3-0, 1.69 GAA, .939 Save %) has started every game and has been beyond steady- and is considered one of the better netminders in the country.

Ferris State (9-7-1) had better visions of grandeur after a solid run to the NC game a few years back and good results in the NCAA tournament since then. But, the roster is recovering from a loss in offensive talent. They are a young group featuring seven seniors including defenders Jason Binkley (1-7-8) and Simon Denis (0-5-5) as well as uber-goalie CJ Motte (9-7-1, 1.72 GAA, .939 Save % with 4 shutouts.) The offense is top-heavy led by junior Matt

Robertson (4-13-17) and sophomores Chad McDonald (8-4-12) and Gerald Mayhew (6-6-12). The Bulldogs opened the season with a 4-3 home victory against Michigan, but was humiliated in two tight home losses to Michigan Tech. The Bulldogs also split on the road at tourney participant MSU. Overall, it is a rebuilding season in Big Rapids although losing Motte next season will be tough to replace. He can and will steal games by himself.

Michigan State (6-9-1) enters the GLI feeling better about their program than is recent years past. Although still not considered a threat to win the Big Ten, the Spartans are capable of putting together solid outings at both ends of the ice. The Spartans have played a demanding schedule, splitting with U-Mass and Ferris at home, dropping one goal games at highly ranked BU, U-Mass Lowell and at home to BC as well as road splits with Princeton and UNH. In Big ten action, the Spartans split in Columbus and stole two points from Minnesota, tying the Gophers before winning a shootout. MSU’s most recent outing was a highly entertaining 6-4 home win over Clarkson on December 14th. The Spartans are experienced (16 upperclassmen) as junior Michael Ferrantino (8-6-14), senior

Matt Berry (7-6-13), sophomore Mackenzie MacEachern (5-5-10) and junior defenseman Travis Walsh (2-8-10) pace the offense. Junior Jake Hildebrand (6-9-1, 2.71 GAA, .902 Save %) has started every game for the Spartans and has proven that he can keep his team in big games- especially the GLI tournament.

Look for Michigan Tech to overtake the Wolverines, especially if they are hampered by the roster depletion and move on against either FSU or MSU. At this point the x-factor will be the goaltending where any of the four netminders could help their team win the tournament. My favorite: Michigan Tech, remaining perfect on the road this season.

Wolverine Notes:

– The Wolverines open up the 2015 portion of their schedule at home on January 9-10 versus Minnesota.
– Red Berenson stands four victories short of his 800th career coaching win.
– This year’s World Junior Tournament will be held in Montreal, Canada.
– Michigan is seeking its 16th overall GLI tourney championship and has not won the tournament since 2011.

MSU is seeking their 13th title and has not won the title since 2009. Michigan Tech is seeking their 11th title, and second in three seasons after winning the championship in 2012. Last season Western Michigan defeated the Huskies 1-0 in OT to secure their second title. Ferris State is seeking their first ever GLI Championship.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a joyful New Year to all of our fine readers and posters at GBMWolverine.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Yostmeister

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