Michigan
21-7-1, 16-5-1CCHA
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Western Michigan
9-15-3, 8-12-3CCHA
Wolverine Offense Explodes in 9-3 Win Over Broncos
2/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
In a special teams affair, Michigan scored four power-play goals and one short-handed goal in a game that featured 13 different Wolverines with at least one point. Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta) and Andy Hilbert (Howell, Mich.) led all scorers with three points apiece.
Hilbert picked up a goal and two assists, extending his scoring streak to 11 games (11-7-18). Hilbert's streak is the longest since Bill Muckalt had an 11-game scoring streak during the 1997-98 season. Comrie's two goals and an assist give him a team-high 12 multi-point games this season.
Michigan (22-7-1, 17-5-1 CCHA) also got a solid contribution from its second line. Mark Mink (Livonia, Mich.), Mark Kosick (Victoria, B.C.) and Geoff Koch (Exeter, N.H.) combined for three goals and an assist. Kosick has now scored 10 points (5-5-10) in eight career games against the Broncos (9-16-3, 8-13-3 CCHA).
Comrie's first goal gave Michigan a 1-0 lead just over 12 minutes into the game. Each team scored three times during the second period, with Western Michigan scoring all three goals on the power play. Jed Ortmeyer (Omaha, Neb.) netted Michigan's 11th short-handed goal with his unassisted effort halfway through the period.
With a 4-3 lead after two periods, Michigan ignited for five unanswered goals in the third to finish out the scoring. Sean Peach (Langley, B.C.), Kosick and Comrie gave Michigan a 7-3 lead before Bill Trainor (Canton, Mich.) and Hilbert each scored in the final 1:30 of the game to round out the scoring.
The nine-goal output is a new season high. The last time Michigan scored nine goals in a game was a 9-3 win on March 13, 1999, against Bowling Green in the first round of the CCHA Tournament.
Michigan's Josh Blackburn (Choctaw, Okla.) made 17 saves and improved his record to 9-1-1. Western Michigan's Jeff Reynaert stopped 35 shots in the defeat.
Next weekend the Wolverines travel to Marquette, Mich., to take on the Northern Michigan Wildcats. Faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday (Feb. 18-19).
N O T E S
-- Michigan's weekend sweep helped put some distance between the Wolverines and their closest pursuers in the CCHA standings. U-M (35 points) is four points ahead of second-place Michigan State (31) and five in front of Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State (30). The Wolverines entered the weekend with 31 points, leading NMU (30) by one and MSU and LSSU (27) by four.
-- Josh Langfeld (Coon Rapids, Minn.) returned to action after missing two games due to a sprained ankle suffered last Friday (Feb. 4) at Ferris State.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Red Berenson
On the importance of tonight's win ... "I think it helps our team. We knew we needed to have a good weekend, but I think if the weekend would have ended on last night's game, we probably would have felt more vulnerable. I think a lot of players on our team got more confidence tonight, not just offensively, but in terms of our team confidence. This should help us in terms of the remaining games."
On the play of Jed Ortmeyer ... "I thought he was outstanding. First of all, we asked him to play out of position this weekend; we put him on left wing on our top line. Then, he has big responsibilities on that No. 1 unit on the power play, and playing as a penalty-killer. He couldn't have played any harder or any better than he did tonight. You saw second-effort hockey from him every shift he was out there."
On the return of Josh Langfeld ... "I thought Josh Langfeld added a lot to our team. His presence on that line seemed to make that line a whole different line. I like that."
Sophomore Center Mike Comrie
On tonight's win ... "It was important because we came together as a team. I don't think the score really matters, but I think we played well as a team. We did our job, and we did it well."
On scoring two goals ... "It felt pretty good. Anytime you play with guys like [Jed Ortmeyer and Andy Hilbert] on your line, it feels good to contribute, and it feels good to get a win and bury them when we got a chance to."
Freshman Forward Andy Hilbert
On his 11-game scoring streak ... "I haven't really thought about it too much. It's not very hard to get a few points when you have guys like [Jed Ortmeyer and Mike Comrie] playing on your line. I just give them the puck and let them wheel around everybody and find the back of the net."
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
