10/22/2026 8:26:00 AM | MGoBlue Podcasts
Brian Boesch • 00:00
We will begin and end with hockey this week on Conqu'ring Heroes. Where else would you start with our weekly recap than what the Wolverines did on the road at Denver, cruising past the Pioneers four to one on Friday, then grinding out a four to three victory on Saturday, thus taking the number one spot from Denver over the weekend. Michael Hage reached one hundred career points while our guest later in the show, Jayden Perron scored in both games. He's got at least one goal and eight straight dating back to last year's NCAA Tournament. Another top five showdown on the this weekend. Western Michigan coming to town for one game Friday night, seven o' clock at Yost to volleyball. What a bounce back for the Wolverines. They fell three sets to one on Friday at Minnesota before arguably the match of the season. In terms of drama, Michigan went to Illinois, eking out a five set thriller.
Brian Boesch • 00:50
They dropped the first set, then Michigan snagged the next two, twenty five twenty three and twenty five twenty. Illinois controlled set four before Michigan won another nail biter fifteen to thirteen in set five with this Wolverine Sydney Schnichels producing a career high eighteen kills and she hit five hundred and nineteen in the victory.
Sydney Schnichels • 01:09
My teammates really helped me get to that point. They gave me a ton of confidence in myself. I think the setters put me in really great positions and I think also just I knew I had great coverage behind me and so that gave me a lot of confidence to just swing aggressively. And you know, I also just kind of felt in rhythm the whole game. Like since the beginning of the game I felt like I I don't know, I just felt in the flow.
Brian Boesch • 01:29
So Michigan volleyball now twelve and seven overall, three and five in the league and the road swing continues coming up Thursday at Northwestern for an eight o' clock Eastern time start, then a matchup with perennial power Wisconsin ranked sixth in the nation that Sunday at one o' clock up in Madison. It'll air on FS one next time Michigan's at home. That's when number one Nebraska comes to Crisler center on october thirtieth. And big news since we last talked it is a sellout at Crisler. It's a maze out too. To soccer. It was a Friday doubleheader split for Michigan soccer as the women blanked Oregon two to nil. Out in Eugene, Malia Zillman's second, second straight shutout, Ella Jablinskey and Lilley Bosley scoring for the Wolverines, who moved to seven, four and three overall. Michigan women's soccer back at home on Thursday night, taking on Maryland at seven o' clock over at the U-M soccer stadium.
Brian Boesch • 02:21
The men dropped the tough one at home against Maryland last time out three to two. Wolverines hitting the road for a Friday night clash with Rutgers at seven o' clock coming up out in New Jersey. Field Hockey Tough road trip for the Wolverines dropping an overtime game at Rutgers on Friday, then losing at Penn State two to one. Still on the road to the Wolverines this weekend, they play Miami University down in Oxford, Ohio on Sunday one o' clock Start Cross country Last Friday the women finished thirteenth out of forty three teams, the men thirty second out of forty four teams at the Pre National Invitational hosted by Indiana State. Both teams will conclude the regular season on Friday at the EMU Fall Classic in Dexter again four thirty on Friday. Golf now the men finishing fourth at the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate down in Texas Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Brian Boesch • 03:13
It was an outstanding finish for the Maize and Blue on Wednesday in the final round, a minus four showing. Mackey Beckett a four under sixty eight. RJ Arone steady per usual a seventy two under for the final round to finish four under for the event as the Wolverines jumped from sixth to fourth with their best showing in a day by nine strokes on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the women finishing sixteenth at the Stanford Intercollegiate last week. Baseball concluded fall ball with a dominant win over Western Michigan twelve two over the weekend and some big news on Wednesday as the program announced a contract extension for head coach Tracy Smith. Smith has guided the Wolverines to one hundred twenty seven wins in his first four seasons in Ann Arbor. He'll be under contract through the twenty thirty one season, which would put him in prime position to surpass one thousand career wins while donning the maze in blue.
Brian Boesch • 04:06
Smith right now at nine hundred thirty two victories, thirteenth most among active head coaches in college baseball. But our focus here for our interview, Jayden Perron sat down with us for a few minutes to recap an outstanding weekend for the now six zero number one ranked one Wolverines. Jayden Perron is our guest. Michigan Hockey Spotlight this week on Conqu'ring Heroes.
Jeff Laurence • 04:33
Welcome to your One Stop podcast for all things Michigan athletics. Updates on every team on campus and interviews with players and coaches are all on the way. This is Conqu'ring Heroes. Here's your host, Brian Busch.
Brian Boesch • 04:47
Great to visit with Jayden Perron from the Michigan hockey team.
Brian Boesch • 04:50
Heck of a weekend at Denver. What was the reaction after you guys pulled off that sweep.
Jayden Perron • 04:55
Yeah, it was great. I mean that's obviously the goal going into any weekend is to get both wins and obviously playing at the time the number one ranked team is obviously a big task and they were a great team. But yeah, it felt really good.
Brian Boesch • 05:08
The fact that you guys were able to have a fairly in command effort on Friday and a real dog fight on Saturday. Did you feel a difference Friday to Saturday night?
Jayden Perron • 05:17
Yeah, absolutely. I, I think anytime you beat a team on Friday, they're, you know, they're going to come that much harder on Saturday and you know, especially them, they play so, so hard and they're such a well coached team that you know, it's, it's never going to be an easy game against them.
Brian Boesch • 05:30
What has worked for you? Six straight games with a goal?
Brian Boesch • 05:33
Eight, if you go back to last season, how has your game evolved?
Jayden Perron • 05:36
Yeah, I think just kind of focus on getting better every single day is something I like to do. And you know, obviously playing with amazing players helps a lot too.
Brian Boesch • 05:44
For you, how easy was the decision to come back? You obviously had plenty of options on the table but. But what went into that process?
Jayden Perron • 05:51
Yeah, there, there was never really a thought. I mean I love it here and especially seeing some of these guys coming back, it was a no brainer and yeah, obviously I'm glad with my decision.
Brian Boesch • 06:01
Were you surprised at how many accompanied you on that with options but decided to rejoin Michigan?
Jayden Perron • 06:07
Yes and no. I mean like, you know, you have a good year, you're not expected to move on. But I think that's kind of the culture we have here is, you know, no one was satisfied with, with last year and obviously it was a, it was a great year all around. But I mean we all want to win and that's kind of the main decision coming back.
Brian Boesch • 06:23
I'm sure that was a big motivational factor in the off season. Now that you're into games, is that much of a talking point anymore or is it now on the task at hand, next game, next series?
Jayden Perron • 06:34
Yeah, I think always just taking one game at a time. I mean, you know, we all know the end goal, but yeah, it's exactly that. It's just one game at a time.
Brian Boesch • 06:42
Who stood out to you?
Brian Boesch • 06:43
Somebody maybe not as much on the radar.
Brian Boesch • 06:45
There's a lot of guys on the
Brian Boesch • 06:46
radar on this team but, but who's really taken strides. Maybe that has been unexpected to fans guys saw coming.
Jayden Perron • 06:52
Yeah, I think, you know there's, there's tons of different guys. I think that second line with Moldy, Spenner, McKinney have been unbelievable. I think they can play in all situations and you know, I think they're, they're a big part with our success so far.
Brian Boesch • 07:04
Jack Ivankovic, how does he make everybody else better around him?
Jayden Perron • 07:10
Yeah, it's exactly that. I think just kind of having that confidence that with him, you know, we can win any game in any situation. And yeah, I think we're just so confident with, with him in the, in the net and you know, it kind of just shows when, when we're out there.
Brian Boesch • 07:23
Six, zero, number one in the nation. But I know you guys are perfectionists. You want to keep getting better.
Brian Boesch • 07:28
What are some of the areas of
Brian Boesch • 07:30
most urgent improvement or desired? Most urgent improvement right now?
Jayden Perron • 07:34
Yeah, I, I think exactly that we're, we're, we're never satisfied with, with anything and I think all, all aspects. But I mean, right now I think, you know, we're hoping our power play can start clicking is, is the main focus and you know, I think it will come with obviously NAR and the talent that we have with both units. But yeah, I think that's a main focus and obviously everything else around it too.
Brian Boesch • 07:55
To Western Michigan coming up this weekend. Obviously a team that has been to
Brian Boesch • 07:59
the Frozen Four recently.
Brian Boesch • 08:00
What stands out as you look at the Broncos?
Jayden Perron • 08:02
Yeah, I think they're exactly, I mean, pretty similar to Denver with, you know, just a well coached team and you know, they're going to come out hard no matter who they're playing against. And especially us, I think, I mean, I think that goes with everyone that they want to beat us and obviously that we know that and going into it. But yeah, Western will be a good team.
Brian Boesch • 08:18
How do you describe playing at Yost and competing in this environment?
Jayden Perron • 08:22
Yeah, it's, it's obviously a lot of fun. I mean, I think no matter who we're playing against, the fans and the children, they, they bring the energy, that's for sure.
Brian Boesch • 08:31
Do you feel it? I mean, when you're playing, do you sense it?
Jayden Perron • 08:34
Yeah, absolutely. I think definitely different moments in the game, you can, you can feel it more than others. And yeah, I think that's a, it's such an advantage to have those, the fans behind us.
Brian Boesch • 08:43
What do you prefer more celebrating with the fans at Yost, getting them loud or what you guys did this past weekend, silencing a hostile environment?
Jayden Perron • 08:52
I mean, both are pretty good, but it's, it's. Yeah, it's got to be at home with, with the, the fans at Yoast. I think that's a, an easy decision, but I mean, yeah, obviously winning on the road feels pretty good too.
Brian Boesch • 09:02
Along those lines, obviously you'll face Western at Waldo, their football stadium. A Little bit later on in the year, you'll get to go to Lambeau excitement level for those opportunities.
Brian Boesch • 09:12
I know it's a little off in
Brian Boesch • 09:13
advance, but excitement for that.
Jayden Perron • 09:14
Yeah, definitely. I think we're, we're all very excited for that. I mean, getting a chance to play some outdoor games will be a first for a few of us. And yeah, just from the guys who have done it before at Wrigley in different places, I mean we're all, we're all pretty fired up for that.
Brian Boesch • 09:28
Have you ever, you've never played, ever, outdoors?
Jayden Perron • 09:31
No. First time even back at in the day. No kidding. Just messing around on the outdoor ranks. But no, no real games with. With fans. So that's awesome.
Brian Boesch • 09:41
Lastly, areas you're trying to improve on here in the short term.
Jayden Perron • 09:44
Yeah, I think all aspects, I mean, you know, kind of exactly what I said. Just, you know, trying to get better every single day and I think the, you know, those improvements will, will show.
Brian Boesch • 09:55
Jayden, appreciate it, man. Good luck.
Jayden Perron • 09:56
Awesome. Thank you.
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Brian Boesch • 10:04
Thanks to Jayden Perron for his time. Thanks to Kristy McNeil and Evan Hall for their assistance and support as well. Over with Michigan Hockey. Thanks to all of you. We'll start or restart, I should say after we had John Beilein back in September. Our hall of Honor interviews over the next few weeks, they'll update you on what's going on around Michigan athletics during a busy time of year. So for everybody a part of Conqu'ring Heroes, including our guest, Jayden Perron. I'm Brian Boesch. Thanks for listening and go Blue.
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Jeff Laurence • 10:32
Thanks for listening to Conqu'ring Heroes, part of our Michigan Athletics Podcast network, MGO Blue Podcasts. The preceding is better. A Learfield presentation of the Michigan Sports Network.
