Michigan
5-1-0, 3-1-0CCHA
Alaska-Fairbanks
3-3-0, 2-2-0CCHA
Wolverines Split Series with 4-1 Win over Nanooks
10/23/1999 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
The No. 3-ranked Wolverines (5-1-0, 3-1-0 CCHA), who have now outscored their opposition 13-4 in the final period of play this season, started the barrage with a power-play goal by Mark Kosick (Victoria, B.C.) 1:31 into the period. Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta) extended his six-game scoring streak with an assist on the play as he fired the initial shot on goal, which created the rebound that Kosick knocked in the net.
On the next power play of the period, sophomore Jay Vancik (West Bloomfield, Mich.) scored the first goal of his career when Scott Matzka (Port Huron, Mich.) fed him the puck from behind the net and Vancik netted his shot from the high slot.
Michigan put the game away when freshman Jed Ortmeyer (Omaha, Neb.) made a great play with his skate to intercept a UAF pass deep in the Nanooks' zone and then circled around before passing to Geoff Koch (Exeter, N.H.) for the goal.
Michigan found the net first with a goal which deflected off a Fairbanks player and past goaltender Lance Mayes. Almost nine minutes into the first period, Koch grabbed the puck at the blue line and circled it around behind the Nanooks' net before dumping it off to Sean Peach (Langley, B.C.) at the top of the left face-off circle. After coming in a few feet, Peach fired a shot to the front of the crease which hit UAF's Pat Hallett's shoulder and deflected into the net over Mayes' shoulder.
After a penalty-filled first period, the second went without much incident until the 8:03 mark, when Andy Hilbert (Howell, Mich.) was sent to the locker room after receiving a five-minute major and a game disqualification for spearing. J.J. Swistak (West Bloomfield, Mich.) had entered the penalty box just prior to Hilbert's infraction, creating a 5-on-3 situation for the Nanooks. Despite UAF's two-person advantage, Michigan killed the penalties without incident. Due to the game disqualification, Hilbert must sit out the next game, Saturday (Oct. 30) at home against Yale.
Later in the period, Michigan's Kevin Magnuson (Arlington Hieghts, Ill.) suffered a strong check from behind into the boards by Fairbanks' Efren Larranaga. The hit occurred just after Magnuson fired the puck around the boards and led to Larranaga receiving a five-minute major and a game disqualification because of the severity of the hit.
Despite Michigan's getting several shots on net during the ensuing power play, it was the Nanooks who took advantage of the situation. Just 34 seconds into the penalty, Fairbanks' Bobby Andrews took the puck down the left side and fired a wrist shot past Michigan netminder Kevin O'Malley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) for a short-handed goal to tie the game at 1-1.
The Nanooks (3-3-0, 2-2-0 CCHA) nearly added another goal when Pat Hallett found himself in a one-on-none situation, but O'Malley was able to deflect the shot above the cross bar. For the game, O'Malley made 29 saves and allowed just one goal. Fairbanks' Mayes stopped 40 of Michigan's 44 shots and allowed four goals.
The Wolverines return to the ice Saturday (Oct. 30) with a non-conference game against Yale at Yost Ice Arena. It is the only game scheduled for the weekend and is set to begin at 7:05 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| Goals By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Alaska Fairbanks | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
1st period
1, MICH, Sean Peach 2 (Geoff Koch) 08:43.
2nd period
2, UAF, Bobby Andrews 2 14:42 (sh).
3rd period
3, MICH, Mark Kosick 2 (Mike Comrie, Jeff Jillson) 01:31 (pp).
4, MICH, Jay Vancik 1 (Scott Matzka, Geoff Koch) 07:10 (pp).
5, MICH, Geoff Koch 4 (Jed Ortmeyer) 15:15.
Shots on goal: MICH 44; UAF 30.
Power plays: MICH 2 of 10; UAF 0 of 9.
Penalties: MICH 11 (33 min.); UAF 11 (33 min.).
Goalies: MICH, Kevin O'Malley 3-1-0 (60:00 minutes, 30 shots-29 saves); UAF, Lance Mayes (59:18, 44-40) , EMPTY NET (00:42, 0-0).
Attendance: 3,938
Time: 2:20
NOTES
-- Coach Red Berenson's next win will be the 400th of his career at Michigan. He is currently 399-198-36 in his 16th season as the Wolverines' head coach.
-- Mike Comrie has now earned a point in each game this season, going 8-4-12 in six games.
-- Michigan has scored first in each game so far this season.
QUOTES
Head Coach Red Berenson
On the weekend series ... "This was a great weekend of college hockey for these [fans]. I hope they appreciate it because it was two good games -- hard fought, well played and could have gone either way."
On the difference from Friday's game ... "We didn't give them any unearned goals, although they did score a short-handed goal on us. I thought defensively we were a little better. They didn't get as many shots on (Kevin) O'Malley, but O'Malley had a better game."
On the special teams play in the series ... "Our power play finally clicked for a couple of key goals. Both teams' penalty killing was very, very good, and it made the power plays look pretty average. Our power play in particular, which had been playing well, really didn't have a good weekend."
On the Nanooks ... "You have to give their team marks. They played with a lot of enthusiasm and were well prepared for the weekend."
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
