Michigan Defeats U.S. NTDP in Exhibition Contest

Tuesday, January 8

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:35 PM

Michigan

U.S. NTDP U-18 Team (ex)

1/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #1 Michigan 5, U.S. NTDP Under-18 1
Records: U-M (18-2-0, 11-1-0 CCHA), U.S. NTDP U-18 (14-13-1-1, 6-8-1 NCAA)
Attendance: 4,966
Next U-M Event: Friday, Jan. 11 -- vs. Western Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 7:35 p.m.

Boxscore | Photo Gallery

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan hockey team defeated the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 squad 5-1 in an exhibition contest held at Yost Ice Arena on Tuesday night (Jan. 8). The Wolverines' offensive output was led by Brandon Naurato(Livonia, Mich.) and Max Pacioretty(New Canaan, Conn.), who each tallied one goal and one assist on the night.

Michigan opened the contest's scoring at 8:04 of the first period on a Naurato goal. Behind the goal, Anthony Ciraulo(Clinton Township, Mich.) picked up a feed from Danny Fardig(Ann Arbor, Mich.) and shoveled the puck in front of the net. Naurato deposited the puck in the back of the net to give U-M the 1-0 edge.

The teams traded scoring chances throughout the period, with the Maize and Blue out-shooting Team USA 9-7 through 20 minutes of play.

The Wolverines extended their lead to a pair of goals of the middle stanza. In the left faceoff circle, Kevin Quick(Buffalo, N.Y.) grabbed a pass from Louie Caporusso(Woodbridge, Ontario). Quick flipped a pass to Brian Lebler(Penticton, B.C.), who snapped a quick shot that lit the lamp at 6:28.

A series of rapid-fire passes allowed U-M to push the advantage to 3-0 at 8:37. Caporusso dumped the puck down to Naurato at the red line, who relayed a cross-ice pass to Ben Winnett(New Westminster, B.C.) stationed outside of the crease. Winnett one-timed a high shot that went over Joe Cannata's shoulder for the power-play tally.

Chad Kolarik(Abington, Pa.) tacked on Michigan's fourth goal of the game at 12:05. Pacioretty hit Kolarik in stride, and the alternate captain wristed a shot that beat the USA netminder glove side for the 4-0 lead. Tristin Llewellyn(Ann Arbor, Mich.) picked up an assist on the play as well.

In the third period, Michigan made a lineup change, putting Shawn Hunwick(Sterling Heights, Mich.) in the cage to replace Bryan Hogan(Highland, Mich.). It was the rookie's first time seeing game action this season.

The Maize and Blue garnered another tally at 7:24 to increase its lead 5-0. The goal was scored by Pacioretty, and the helpers came from Steve Kampfer(Jackson, Mich.) and Matt Rust(Bloomfield Hills, Mich.). After receiving the puck, Pacioretty skated through the slot and shoveled the disc into the back of the net.

At 13:52, the U.S. NTDP put its only mark on the board, with a score from Michigan recruit Robbie Czarnik. Assists came from David Wohlberg -- another U-M commitment -- and Kevin McCarey. Czarnik's goal capped the scoring at 5-1.

This weekend the Wolverines will face in-state foe Western Michigan in a split home-and-home series. On Friday (Jan. 11), U-M will host the Broncos at 7:35 at Yost Ice Arena. The following evening, Michigan will travel to Kalamazoo to complete the series. Saturday's puck is slated to drop at 8:05 p.m.

N O T E S

Team USA forwards Robbie Czarnik and David Wohlberg have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Michigan in the fall of 2008.

Nineteen U.S. NTDP alumni have gone on to skate for the University of Michigan. For the 2007-08 season, six former players from Team USA are on U-M's roster -- freshman Matt Rust, sophomore Chris Summers, juniors Mark Mitera and Danny Fardig and seniors Chad Kolarik and Kevin Porter.

Three U.S. NTDP alumni have gone on to captain the Wolverines -- Eric Nystrom (2004-05), Matt Hunwick (2006-07) and Porter (2007-08).

Q U O T E S

Michigan Senior Forward Chad Kolarik
On what this game meant to him four years ago when he played for Team USA ... "I remember that game for sure. I circled that game on the calendar my U-18 year. I was committed to Michigan and I really wanted to play at Yost. It was unbelievable. I remember the butterflies I had before that game, and then I had a pretty good game. It was real exciting."

Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On tonight's game.... "It was good to get back into a game. It was good to get back some of our players. I thought we got off to a good start; I thought we had a good second period, and then the game kind of deteriorated a little bit, but it is good to get some players more ice time. We did not play (Kevin) Porter's line or (Mark) Mitera much in the third period. We got (goalie Shawn) Hunwick some game time. I hoped to come out of this game seeing some good things and avoiding injuries, and that is what we did. Overall, I would say it was what we expected."

Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423