Michigan
16-7-1, 11-4-1
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Western Michigan
13-11-3, 9-8-2
Hensick, Gajic Help U-M Sweep Broncos With Shutout
1/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman forward T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) recorded a four-point night with two goals and two assists to lead the No. 4 University of Michigan ice hockey team to a weekend sweep of Central Collegiate Hockey Association foe Western Michigan with a 7-0 win on Saturday night (Jan. 24) in Yost Ice Arena. Hensick's linemates also got in on the scoring, with junior forward Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) adding four assists and sophomore forward Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) netting two goals and an assist.
| | Hensick had a hand in four of Michigan's seven goals with two markers and two assists. |
Kaleniecki opened the scoring for the Wolverines at 9:31 of the first period with his ninth goal of the season. After a scrum in the right corner of the Michigan zone, Gajic broke the puck loose and skated into the Bronco zone before being stripped just outside of the Western Michigan crease. Hensick picked up the loose puck behind the Bronco net, skated into the left faceoff circle and found Kaleniecki on the back post with a cross-ice pass. Kaleniecki's one-time shot beat Bronco netminder Scott Foster on the near side to give Michigan an early 1-0 lead.
At 13:49 of the first period Brown took advantage of a Bronco miscue to stretch the Wolverine lead to 2-0 with an unassisted tally. Brown intercepted a failed Western clearing attempt just inside the blue line and broke in on Foster down the left side of the Bronco zone. With a defender converging on him, Brown quickly switched the puck to his forehand and flicked a shot over Foster's right shoulder.
Just over two minutes later, Hensick continued the first-period offensive surge for the Wolverines with a highlight-reel goal. Hensick received a pass from senior Andy Burnes (Battle Creek, Mich.) just outside of the Michigan zone and streaked across mid-ice into the Western zone. As Hensick crossed the Western blue line, he stickhandled past Bronco defender Mike Jarmuth and broke in on Foster. With Western defenders converging from each side, Hensick faked to the left, brought the puck back to his forehand and beat Foster low to the near post to give Michigan a three-goal lead.
Just over two minutes into the second period, Kaleniecki netted his second goal of the night, beating Foster high to the glove side to put U-M ahead 4-0. Hensick initiated the play as he received a pass from Gajic, carried the puck down the left side of the Bronco zone and dropped the puck to Kaleniecki just outside the left faceoff circle. Kaleniecki received the puck and sent a one-time snap shot into the upper right corner of the Western goal.
With 10 minutes remaining in the second period, the Broncos nearly pulled a goal back but senior Dana Lattery was unable to capitalize on an open-net opportunity. The play started as Jeremy Cheyne gathered the puck just inside the Michigan zone and skated in alone on Montoya. As Cheyne pushed the puck out in front of him outside of the right faceoff circle, Montoya came charging out to poke check the puck away. Montoya was able to strip Cheyne, but the loose puck came out the Lattery, who fired a slap shot wide of the Michigan net.
Michigan quickly regrouped from their defensive miscue as Brown netted a shorthanded marker at 11:25 to give the Wolverines a commanding 5-0 lead. Ebbett found Brown with a quick outlet pass and Brown streaked into the Western zone with a Bronco defender in pursuit. As Brown approached the right faceoff circle he fired a slap shot over Foster's left shoulder for his second goal of the night.
Ebbett continued the offensive onslaught with just under three minutes remaining in the second period with an even-strength marker. After receiving a pass from junior David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) just outside of the right faceoff circle, Ebbett faked a pass, deked past a Western defender and skated into the slot. Ebbett then sent a backhanded shot through the legs of Foster to give the Wolverines a 6-0 lead.
After giving up six goals through the first two periods, Foster was relieved by Eric Marvin in the Bronco net to start the third. Marvin was tested only 1:30 into the period as he got enough of a close-range shot by Moss to keep the puck from crossing the goal line and allow a Western defender swipe the puck away.
With 1:51 remaining in the game, Hensick netted a power-play goal to put the Wolverines on top 7-0. Hensick received a pass from Gajic in the right corner, skated behind the net and slid a wraparound shot past Mantua for his second marker of the night.
Fifty seconds after Michigan's seventh and final goal, tensions reached a boiling point as a brawl broke out after the whistle. All five players on the ice for both teams got involved in the action as Brown and junior Michael Woodford Jr. (Westford, Mass.), along with Western defenders Matt Ponto and Kyle Bushee, received game disqualifications for their extracurricular activity.
The Wolverines resume CCHA play when they take on Lake Superior State next Friday and Saturday (Jan. 30-31) at Yost Ice Arena. Both games of the weekend series are slated for 7:35 p.m. opening faceoffs.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
