Michigan to Host Thursday-Friday Series Against Robert Morris

Promotions

Oct. 17
• NHL Michigan Alumni Recognition -- Join Michigan Hockey in recognizing former NHL and Michigan alumni Matt Herr, Jon Merrill and Al Montoya during pregame.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (4-0) hosts Robert Morris (0-0) in a rare Thursday-Friday (Oct. 16-17) series at Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m., and will be streamed live on B1G+.

Notes

• Michigan jumped to No. 4 in this week's USCHO national poll, up from No. 9 after a sweep of then-ranked No. 7 Providence last weekend on the road to improve to 4-0.

• Sophomore Michael Hage leads the team in scoring with nine points on four goals and five assists. He scored twice on Friday night (Oct. 10) against the Friars after a seven-point performance during the season opener that saw him earn Big Ten Second Star of the Week.

• Three other players are averaging more than a point per game, including Will Horcoff with six points -- including a team-best five goals -- and freshman Malcolm Spence, who has three goals and three assists. T.J. Hughes, who entered the season as the nation's active scoring leader, adds five points in his first four games.

• Jack Ivankovic was named the Big Ten Third Star of the Week on Tuesday (Oct. 14) after 43 saves and two goals allowed at Providence. He is 4-0 with a 0.75 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage -- both best in the nation among goalies who have played at least four games.

• Michigan leads the nation in scoring offense, averaging 6.50 goals per game. Thirteen different Wolverines have scored goals and six additional players have chipped in with assists for 19 total skaters finding the scoresheet.

• Defensively, Michigan has allowed just three goals in its first four games. It is the fewest goals allowed through four games to start a season since 1925-26. At 0.75, the Wolverines boast the third-best scoring defense.

• Michigan and Robert Morris have played just one prior series at Yost in 2015. The teams split with Michigan taking game one 5-3 before the Colonials won 4-0 in game two. The school added hockey as a Division-I sport in 2004-05.

• Michigan has been solid at the faceoff dot, winning 53.5 percent (138-120) through four games. Hughes leads the way at 59.4 percent (38-26), followed by Hage at 59 percent (23-26) and Cole McKinney at 52.7 percent (29-26). McKinney impressively went 14-for-14 at the dot against the Friars on Friday night.

• The Wolverines have scored three shorthanded goals this season -- matching last season's total. The Michigan record stands at 22 from the 1996-97 season. John Madden holds the NCAA record for most shorties in a season with 10 (1995-96) and in a career with 23 (1994-97).

• The power-play unit has converted on half of its 16 opportunities to sit in second place nationally at 50 percent. Only North Dakota has converted at a better clip (66.7 percent), but with only six chances. The penalty kill ranks 14th at 91.7 percent -- and has three shorthanded goals.