Michigan
3-1-0
Merrimack
0-2-1
Numerous Player Firsts Help Michigan Sweep Merrimack
10/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team earned its first sweep of the 2002-03 season by beating Merrimack 5-1 on Saturday (Oct. 19) at Yost Ice Arena. Both Merrimack and Michigan took numerous penalties, racking up 26 and 20 minutes, respectively. The Wolverines went two for nine on the power play and received a two-point efforts from freshman forward Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.), sophomore forward David Moss (Dearborn, Mich.), freshman defenseman Danny Richmond (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) and sophomore defenseman Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) in the win.
| | Kaleniecki first U-M points came on a pair of goals. |
The Wolverines added another goal at 13:15 on Kaleniecki's first career goal. Moss created the scoring chance when he made a move on a faceoff to the right of the goal. Moss tapped the puck through the opposing center man's legs, reached around him to gain control of the puck and slid it across the crease to an open Kaleniecki for the tap-in to make the count 2-0 after the first period of play.
Again in the second period the Maize and Blue struck early and then continued its offensive production as it took a 5-0 lead just 6:40 into the stanza. Kaleniecki scored his second goal of the game while on the power play at 1:41 when Moss found him alone on the doorstep after streaking down the left side. Richmond scored his first career tally at 4:05 with U-M again on a power play when his crossing pass on three-on-one tipped off a Merrimack defender and through the goalie's five-hole.
The offensive flurry ended with another first career goal, this time from forward Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C). After winning the faceoff to the right of the goal, Ebbett took control of the puck at the right point, circled high in the offensive zone and slapped the shot high over Exter's left shoulder after a Warriors defender tipped the puck.
Merrimack ended freshman goalie Al Montoya's (Glenview Ill.) shutout bid at 6:35 of the third period when Derek Kilduff snapped a wrist shot across the grain past Montoya as he skated into the Michigan zone from right to left. Shortly after, freshman goalie Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) checked into the game to receive his first action as a Wolverine netminder. U-M limited Merrimack to very few scoring opportunities the remainder of the game.
Michigan will open CCHA play next Friday and Saturday (Oct. 25-26) as it hosts Alaska Fairbanks at Yost Ice Arena. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:35 p.m.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Red Berenson
On the team's play tonight ... "We got better as the game wore on. We made a couple of changes and obviously we're experimenting still. We had (Dwight) Helminen on the point this weekend -- he really hasn't played the point much -- and we put (Jed) Ortmeyer on the point tonight. Last night we switched some sides. Without Johnny Shouneyia, he's our quarterback on the power play and so that makes a big difference. We got a lot of guys some power play time tonight and it will get better. We will get better, that's a part of the game that isn't necessarily a strength but it was better than last night even if we didn't have a lot to show for it."
On the play of the freshmen ... "We just had the song ("The Victors") and I had the freshman class lead the song because I think that they are adding a lot to this team and good for them. They are getting some confidence and are obviously getting accepted by their team as important players and it's great to see them score some goals and get that feeling, particularly at home They're finding good roles on the team so it's good and it's good to get Noah (Ruden) in tonight and get him a few minutes. He faced some good shots and did a good job so it's a good feeling as well."
On the play of Brandon Kaleniecki, David Moss and Michael Woodford ... "Kaleniecki, I said before, he's going to be a goal scorer. I think he'll score a lot of goals at this level and he didn't play his best last night but tonight he came up with a better game, like a lot of our players. That's why I was disappointed in last night's game. I thought to a man we had to play better, harder, smarter and I thought for the most part we did that tonight. But Kaleniecki, anyone you throw on the left side (of Moss and Woodford) right now is going to pick up something. The line is playing a lot in the offensive zone, Woodford is making a lot happen, and he and Moss are playing of off each other pretty well so that makes it a lot easier for the third guy."
Freshman Defenseman Danny Richmond
On scoring his first collegiate goal ... "The first goal is the hardest to get and now you don't have to grip your stick hard to get your first goal. You can just play your game and not worry about your first goal. It's good to get it out of the way."
On the two power-play goals in the second period ... "Last year I played on the power play and that's where I got all of my points and hopefully it will continue this year. Mostly last year a lot of my points came off just setting up on the point, and skating across the middle and reading the play, taking a shot, making a pass. I'm not afraid to rush the puck, that's why I'm here, to play offensive hockey and join the rush and every once in a while lead the rush. Any way you can get a point and help the team out, it doesn't matter."
Freshman Forward Andrew Ebbett
On his goal ... "We've been working all week on getting the puck to the net, it doesn't matter how hard [the shot] is and we just wanted to make sure that we had two guys in front of the net. I tried to do that the whole game. I tried a couple of times, in the first period, and it got blocked but get it at the net and it creates a lot of opportunities."
N O T E S
The Maize and Blue stretched its home non-conference sweep streak to three straight series (St. Lawrence in 2000-01 and UMass-Lowell in 1999-2000).
Jeff Tambellini extended his point-scoring streak to four games to start the season as he earned his first career assist. His line over the span is 4-1-5.
Brandon Kaleniecki picked up his first point, goal and multi-goal game. He had Michigan's second and third tallies of the game.
Danny Richmond recorded his first career point with an assist and added his first career goal later in the game to give him his first multi-point effort.
Andrew Ebbett notched his first career goal and point.
David Moss tied his career high for assists (2) and points (0-2-2) in a game (3/8/02).
Dwight Helminen scored his first goal of the season and pushed his point streak to three games. He has a 1-2-3 line in the trio of games.
Noah Ruden earned his first play in the Michigan net, stopping all eight shots he faced after being inserted partway through the third period.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
