Michigan
1-0-0, 1-0-0CCHA
Notre Dame
0-1-0, 0-1-0CCHA
Michigan Icers Hold Off Irish to Win Season Opener
10/7/1999 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
The tone of the game was set just 22 seconds into the first period when Notre Dame's Ryan Clark checked Geoff Koch (Exeter, N.H.) into the Irish bench and then proceeded to push Koch over the boards among his teammates. The Wolverines capitalized on the ensuing power play when Koch lifted the puck over Jeremiah Kimento's glove after Scott Matzka (Port Huron, Mich.) fed him the puck across the crease. The goal at the 2:11 mark of the first was just second shot of the season for the Wolverines.
Michigan (1-0-0, 1-0-0 CCHA) added a second goal when Langfeld scored during a scramble on the left side of the Notre Dame goal following a power play halfway through the period. Michigan managed several more point-blank shots in the opening period, including a shot by Jeff Jillson (North Smithfield, R.I.) which was tipped by Mark Kosick (Victoria, B.C.) and hit the inside of the post before bouncing away.
With just five seconds remaining in the first period, Blackburn picked up the first penalty of his career. After being run down in the crease, he came up wrestling with a Notre Dame player and received a roughing penalty. The call created a 5-on-3 advantage for the Irish, on which they were able to score just 24 seconds into the second period to make the score 2-1.
Four minutes later, Michigan regained a two-goal advantage after freshman John Shouneyia (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) dumped the puck from the baseline boards to the slot, where fellow freshman J.J. Swistak (West Bloomfield, Mich.) grabbed the puck off a defender's stick and drove to the net for his first career goal.
Notre Dame (0-1-0, 0-1-0 CCHA) added another goal, but Michigan countered when Langfeld netted the rebound of a Jillson shot from the point to make it a 4-2 game after two periods.
The Irish cut the lead to one with a short-handed goal when a shot by Jillson hit Connor Dunlap's skates. Dunlap took the puck down the ice and scored with 13 minutes remaining in the game.
Notre Dame pulled its goaltender with 1:20 remaining. Jed Ortmeyer (Omaha, Neb.) missed a chance at scoring an empty-net goal, but Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta) was able to put the game away when he scored in the empty net with 14 seconds remaining. Sophomore Jay Vancik (West Bloomfield, Mich.) earned an assist on the goal, his first career point.
Blackburn earned the first win of the season with 18 saves, while Kimento stopped 22 shots, including 13 in the first period, for Notre Dame.
Michigan returns to the ice tomorrow for its final game against Notre Dame this season. The game is set for 7:05 p.m. CDT at the Joyce Center.
GAME SUMMARY
| Goals By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Michigan | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
1st period
1, MICH, Geoff Koch 1 (Mark Mink, Scott Matzka) 02:11 (pp).
2, MICH, Josh Langfeld 1 (Jeff Jillson, Mike Comrie) 10:38.
2nd period
3, ND, Ben Simon 1 (Michael Chin, Dan Carlson) 00:24 (pp).
4, MICH, J.J. Swistak 1 (John Shouneyia) 03:22.
5, ND, Ryan Dolder 1 (Ryan Clark, Brett Henning) 07:12.
6, MICH, Josh Langfeld 2 (Jeff Jillson, Mark Kosick) 10:13.
3rd period
7, ND, Connor Dunlop 1 (unassisted) 07:35 (sh).
8, MICH, Mike Comrie 1 (Jay Vancik) 19:46 (en).
Shots on goal: MICH 15-9-3-27; ND 5-11-5-21
Power plays: MICH 1 of 7; ND 1 of 7
Penalties: MICH 7 (14 min); ND 7 (14 min)
Goalies: MICH, Josh Blackburn 1-0-0 (60:00 minutes, 21 shots-18 saves); ND, Jeremiah Kimento 0-1-0 (59:02, 26-22) , Team (00:58, 1-0).
Referee: Mike Mondack
Assistant Referees: Brian Hill; Brian Troester
Attendance: 2,235
Time: 2:20
QUOTES
Head Coach Red Berenson
On special teams ... "There were too many penalties for both teams. The type of game it was might have favored our power play, but we still gave up a short-handed goal. You just can't play short-handed for very long against either one of these teams."
On the physical play ... "It was a hard-fought game. Both teams really played hard and played with a lot of intensity."
On the overall play ... "This is a good learning experience for our team and for our younger players to learn what it takes to play in a close game on the road and how to play good Michigan hockey in the third period."
Sophomore Josh Blackburn
On the defense ... "Our guys played unreal. I am really proud of the guys. I let in a couple of weak goals, though. I don't think I played bad as a whole, but on those two goals I don't think I played great."
On the scuffle in front of the net with about 1:20 remaining in the game ... "Everybody was all over the place. One minute you saw [the puck], the next minute there was a body in front of it, they you could see it again and then another body. (Mark) Mink was right in front of it, and I just reached out and grabbed it."
Junior Geoff Koch
On being checked and pushed into the Notre Dame bench on the first shift ... "I was just going up the boards and the guy hit me into the bench. I think he just kept doing it too long and wouldn't stop it, so they called a penalty there."
On the physical play ... "I thought it was a real physical game for the first game of the season. You know, it's a bit of eye opener as far as how all of the CCHA teams play. It's tough, grinding hockey, and they were definitely very physical."
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
