Michigan
6-0-0
Denver
2-2-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Denver | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Michigan Sweeps No. 1 Denver, Starts 6-0 in Back-to-Back Seasons for First Time
10/18/2026 12:21:00 AM | Ice Hockey
» Jayden Perron's second-period goal extended his point and goal streaks.
» Michael Hage had two assists to earn his place in U-M's Century Club with 100 career points.
» The Wolverines have started 6-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
» Michigan improves to 15-14-3 all-time against teams that are ranked No. 1 in the nation.
DENVER, Colo. -- Junior Michael Hage joined the Century Club with a pair of assists in his 78th career game while Jack Ivankovic made 33 saves to propel the second-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team past top-ranked Denver 4-3 in a hotly contested matchup inside Magness Arena on Saturday evening (Oct. 17).
With the win, Michigan advances to 6-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
Sophomore Ivankovic was outstanding between the pipes for the Wolverines all night long. The stalwart withstood high-pressure stretches to lead U-M to a sweep over elite competition, turning aside 33 of 36 shots that the defending champions put on goal.
Denver (2-2-0) opened the scoring at 8:47 with a power-play blast from the slot. It took just 20 seconds with the extra skater to make the Wolverines pay for an early roughing infraction.
Michigan (6-0-0) captain Garrett Schifsky equalized minutes later, capitalizing on an offensive-zone faceoff win to tie the game at 10:57. Sophomore Drew Schock continued his hot start to the season by creating the chance with a shot from long range. Freshman Jack Nesbitt took the first swat at the loose puck, but his attempt clanked off the crossbar and the puck dropped down into the blue paint for Schifsky to finish off as he drove the net. Nesbitt settled for the primary assist with his shot.
With the assist, Schock has now recorded points in each of the first six games.
The Pioneers were penalized for too many men on the ice at 16:05, and it took just seven seconds for the Wolverines to make them pay. Fresh off a clean faceoff win, Adam Valentini settled into open space to clap home his first goal of the season off a perfectly executed passing play. Landon DuPont initially collected the puck near the half wall following the draw and passed it up to Henry Mews at the point. As the forwards got into position, Mews passed the puck back to DuPont, who quickly slipped a touch pass into space for Valentini to drive home and claim a 2-1 Wolverines lead with a one-timer.
After one period, Michigan had built a one-goal lead in addition to a 15-7 advantage in shots on goal and a slight 13-12 edge at the faceoff dot. Each squad netted a power-play marker in the opening frame to boost the offense.
Senior Jayden Perron continued his torrid scoring pace, sauntering into the offensive zone on the right flank and sniping a shot into the tiny window above the goalie's left shoulder to make it a 3-1 contest at 4:10. Will Horcoff and Hage assisted on Perron's ninth of the season, and the veteran winger now has goals in eight straight contests dating back to last season.
A high-sticking call handed DU a power play at 11:10 of the second period. Once again, the home team converted with the extra attacker to make it a 3-2 game with a redirection off a cross-crease pass at 11:45.
Schock was banished at 17:20 for interference after his man went down to the ice. Just eight seconds later, his classmate Cole McKinney joined him in the box when he was whistled for tripping. The penalty-kill unit came up huge for the visitors to dismiss both and return to full strength.
Late in the frame, the Pioneers embarked on yet another two-man advantage. Ivankovic stood on his head, rolling through the blue paint to turn aside a flurry of dangerous looks.
When the buzzer sounded for the second intermission, Michigan headed to the visitors' room with a 3-2 lead. The Pioneers had stormed back to own a narrow 22-21 edge in shots on goal as well as a 29-25 advantage in the dot.
U-M started the third period on a positive note by killing off the remainder of both penalties that had carried over from the previous session. At 1:07, the pendulum swung back in Michigan's favor as a Pioneer was tagged with a minor penalty for holding Hage in the corner of the DU zone. Nothing came from the opportunity, so the teams returned to 5-on-5 action.
Denver's captain netted an equalizer at 5:38 after an initial shot hit Ivankovic in the mask, causing it to begin falling off his head after the puck was already on its way into the net for a goal that made it 3-3.
A long shot from Asher Barnett caromed off the end wall before bouncing off the goaltender and into the net to give Michigan a 4-3 lead with 4:53 left in regulation. It was initially waved off for a high stick, but an immediate U-M challenge proved successful, and the visitors pulled back in front by one. Assists on Barnett's tally went to Nick Moldenhauer and Hage.
Skating in his 78th career contest, Hage's two-assist performance made him the 94th Wolverine to join the program's Century Club of skaters with 100+ points. So far, the center has amassed 29 goals and 71 assists, and he is the 24th skater to join the prestigious group in the 21st century.
Michigan put the finishing touches on a series sweep over Denver to improve to 6-0 on the season and clinch the first two-game road sweep over the Pioneers since November 1976. The Wolverines ended the evening on the wrong side of a 36-25 disparity in shots on goal as well as a narrow 39-36 gap at the faceoff dot, but they came out on top where it mattered most with the one-goal win.
The victory bumps Michigan's record against top-ranked teams to 15-14-3.
Next week, Michigan will play a single game on Friday (Oct. 23) against Western Michigan in what will be another top-five showdown. The game will take place at Yost Ice Arena, and puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live on B1G+.
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