Michigan
29-7-3
Alaska-Fairbanks
15-16-4
Wolverines Down Nanooks, Gain Spot in Super Six Final
3/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated Alaska Fairbanks 3-1 in a CCHA Super Six semifinal game to advance to the tournament championship game for the fifth consecutive season. U-M's opponent will be the winner of the other semifinal bout between Ohio State and Michigan State. Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) and Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) each tallied a goal and an assist on the night, while Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) had 12 saves in the triumph.
The Wolverines carried the play throughout the first five minutes of the game, outshooting the Nanooks 5-1. UAF was forced to ice the puck multiple times just to relieve itself of U-M's offensive pressure. With 11:40 remaining, T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) just missed wide from the right post on a cross-crease pass from Tambellini.
Montoya faced his first true test of the game with 10 minutes left when he saw a flurry of shots from the line of Jordan Emmerson, Troy Newton and Adam Powell. Montoya hugged the right post and ended the chance by covering the puck. After the whistle, Alaska Fairbanks was whistled for a penalty at 10:01, but Michigan could not generate any high-quality scoring chances with the man advantage.
U-M received its second power play of the period with nearly six minutes left in the first frame and was again held without a marker. After 20 minutes of play the shots were 13-6 favoring the Wolverines.
With the teams skating four per side to start the second period, Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) was called for a penalty to give the Nanooks their first power play of the game. However, the final 45 seconds of UAF's advantage were washed out by a penalty.
Tambellini nearly gave U-M the lead at 2:45, when his one-timer setup by Hensick was deflected wide by UAF goaltender Wylie Rogers' trapper. The Wolverines garnered their second power play of the period with 13:10 remaining in the second stanza. The Maize and Blue peppered Rogers with four shots but could not find a way to solve the Nanook netminder.
At 12:13 of the second frame, Kaleniecki broke onto the scoreboard. Tambellini initiated the play, carrying the puck over the blue line and feeding Kaleniecki, who lifted the puck under Rogers' outstretched right arm.
In the waning seconds of the period, the duo of Tambellini and Kaleniecki added another tally for the Maize and Blue. Kaleniecki dug the puck off the boards and dumped it into the Nanook zone from center ice, where Tambellini chased it down and blasted the puck from the right faceoff circle, stunning Rogers and giving U-M a 2-0 lead at 19:41.
Alaska Fairbanks ended Montoya's shutout bid at 2:43 of the third period when Ryan McLeod capitalized on U-M turnover in its own zone. McLeod skated in from the right slot and slid the puck through Montoya's legs.
With a power play four minutes later, Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) reestablished Michigan's two-goal advantage at 6:34. Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N,Y.) fired a pass from the right corner through the UAF crease, where Kolarik was waiting to tip it home.
Michigan held Alaska Fairbanks at bay for the remainder of the third period, allowing the Nanooks to take only four shots in the frame.
With the 3-1 win, Michigan will face the winner of Michigan State and Ohio State in the CCHA Super Six final tomorrow (Saturday, March 19) with a 7:35 p.m. faceoff.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
