Michigan
1-0-0
Alabama-Huntsville
0-3-0
U-M Blows Past Alabama-Huntsville in Season Opener
10/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team blew out the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers by a score of 8-1 in its season opener Friday (Oct. 13) in Yost Ice Arena. Five players produced three points on the night, with T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) leading the way with a pair of goals and a helper. David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) notched a career-high three points with his goal and two assists. In 44:59 of play, Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) stopped 24 of the 25 shots directed his way.
U-M struck early, scoring less than a minute into the game to go up 1-0. Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) scooped up the puck in the neutral zone and tossed a pass over to Rohlfs in traffic. Rohlfs threaded a pass through the defense to Hensick waiting at the blue line. Hensick skated in alone on Marc Narduzzi and flicked a wrist shot between the goalie's glove and the post for his first tally of the season just 50 seconds into the game.
Given its first man-advantage of the night, Michigan capitalized with a power-play goal by Brian Lebler (Penticton, B.C.) at 6:33. Lebler fought off a defender at center ice and grabbed a feed from Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) that he relayed on to Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.). Kolarik moved to the front of the net and nudged the puck over to Lebler, who muscled it past Narduzzi for his first career goal as a Wolverine. The give-and-go play gave the Maize and Blue a 2-0 edge on Alabama-Huntsville and chased Narduzzi in favor of backup netminder Jordan Erickson.
Michigan's first line connected again to put U-M ahead 3-0. Porter's initial pass was received by Rohlfs stationed along the right-side boards. Rohlfs flipped a pass to Hensick, and the alternate captain streaked into the zone with only Erickson to beat. Hensick swept across the front of the crease then wristed a shot that squeaked through the UAH netminder's five-hole at 7:41 of the first frame.
The lead extended when Cogliano lit the lamp for the Wolverines just 52 seconds into the second period. Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) carried the puck into the zone before dishing it to Kolarik along the boards. Kolarik moved the puck over to Cogliano in the right faceoff circle, and Cogliano returned the disk to Kolarik behind the goal line. Kolarik waited until Cogliano was planted at the doorstep of the goal before he laced a pass that Cogliano deposited behind Erickson for the 4-0 lead.
A big rebound in front of the net gave U-M the 5-0 advantage at 3:15. Hensick corralled the puck at mid-ice and tapped the puck up to Brandon Naurato (Livonia, Mich.). Naurato blasted a shot that was initially stopped by Erickson, but the puck squirted out of the Charger's grasp. While Erickson scrambled to cover the puck, the rest of the play caught up with him. With a UAH defenseman riding piggyback, Rohlfs used his 6-3, 239-pound frame and made a heads-up play by backhanding the puck over the sprawling goaltender for the marker.
Alabama-Huntsville finally broke onto the scoreboard on its 14th shot of the night, putting the Chargers behind the Maize and Blue 5-1. Grant Selinger, waiting behind the Michigan net, slipped a pass to Steve Canter, whose one-timer beat Sauer low for the power-play goal at 10:13. David Nimmo also assisted on the play.
The Chargers took two quick penalties at the beginning of the third period to give the Wolverines the 5-on-3 advantage. Michigan capitalized just 27 seconds into the power play to go up 6-1. U-M cycled the puck around the zone before it reached Cogliano's stick. Cogliano moved the puck to Mark Mitera (Livonia, Mich.) just inside the blue line, and he tipped it to Steve Kampfer (Jackson, Mich.) in the slot. The freshman's slap shot fooled Erickson and found the back of the net at 1:38 for his first career goal.
Sauer was replaced by Steve Jakiel (Santa Clarita, Calif.) at 5:01 of the third period.
U-M tallied its third power-play goal of the game at 18:17 of the final frame. Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) took a cross-ice pass that shattered his stick and trickled out of the zone. Johnson snagged the puck and fed it to Kolarik, who from the slot rifled a shot that crossed the goal line for the tally.
Michigan refused to turn off the scoring, adding another marker with 21 seconds left in the game. Following a turnover in the neutral zone, Morgan Ward (West Redding, Conn.) gobbled up the puck and snuck a pass to Johnson. The blueliner weaved through traffic and ripped a shot from above the left faceoff circle that found a home in the top of the net to give the Wolverines the 8-1 lead.
The Wolverines are slated to host the Connecticut Huskies on Saturday (Oct. 14). The puck will drop at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
