Michigan
13-6-1, 8-3-1CCHA
Alaska-Fairbanks
8-8-3, 4-7-2CCHA
Birthday Blanking: Sauer Records First Career Shutout
1/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman goaltender Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) of the University of Michigan ice hockey team celebrated his 18th birthday by blanking Alaska Fairbanks on Friday night (Jan. 6) at Yost Arena. Sauer faced 26 shots on goal in the Wolverines' 4-0 victory over the Nanooks.
The Wolverines opened the scoring at 4:01 of the first period when a botched clearing attempt left a loose puck. Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Mich.) banked the puck off Kyle Greentree's stick and past Wylie Rogers to give U-M the first tally of the game.
The Nanooks' frustration was evident near the 15-minute mark when Sauer denied a solid effort down low. Freshman Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) led the Wolverines back the other way and walked in on Rogers alone. Rogers read the fake and made the stop to hold the Wolverines to the one-goal lead at the close of first frame.
Jason Bailey (Nepean, Ontario) wasted little time earning his fifth goal of the year at 1:28 to open the second period. He ripped the shot high glove-side, giving the Maize and Blue a two-goal cushion. T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) and Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) earned assists on the play.
The second period quickened as Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) shot the puck wide, missing an open net with Rogers down. Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) would notch the third marker shortly after on the same shift at 10:58. Rogers made the initial two stops, and he was down on his back. The puck trickled out from underneath him, and Kolarik stuffed it home.
Sauer held strong with just over a minute to play in the second period, stoning Kelly Czuy who fired on net from point-blank range. U-M kept a convincing three-goal lead as the second period ticked down.
Porter and Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) capped off the scoring at 9:48 of the third stanza. Porter had a step on his defender and almost broke out alone. Hunwick trailed and took a clean pass from Porter. Hunwick deked on the glove side, Rogers went down, and Hunwick wrapped it back around and tucked it in stick side.
The third frame was laced with penalties as UAF tallying 11 and Michigan earning 10. A skirmish at 19:10 had the crowd roaring and both teams heated, setting the stage for a battle in the second game of the weekend match-up.
Michigan will meet Alaska Fairbanks again tomorrow night (Saturday, Jan. 7) at Yost Arena. The puck will drop at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
