Michigan
3-0-0 (2-0-0CCHA)
Massachusetts-Lowell
0-1-0 (0-0-0HE)
Power Play Ignites in 8-1 Win Over UMass-Lowell
10/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
In addition to special teams success, the Wolverine freshmen made key contributions. Freshman Jed Ortmeyer (Omaha, Neb.) opened the scoring on the only even-strength goal of the night just 1:38 into the contest off an assist from freshman Andy Hilbert (Howell, Mich). Freshmen John Shouneyia (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and Mike Cammalleri (Richmond Hill, Ontario) each picked up one assist.
Geoff Koch (Exeter, N.H.) scored a power-play goal to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead before Jeremy Kyte scored the only River Hawks goal. Kyte's goal deflected off his own leg and past O'Malley, who never saw the puck, to make the game 2-1 at the end of the first period.
In the second period, the Wolverines opened up the game as Jeff Jillson (North Smithfield, R.I.) and Sean Peach (Langley, B.C.) each scored within 45 seconds to give Michigan a commanding 4-1 lead. Peach's goal was the result of a fortuitous bounce when, on a routine dump-in, the puck struck a partition in the glass and angled towards the net, surprising River Hawk goaltender Jimi St. John. Mark Kosick (Victoria, B.C.) scored his second goal of the season, while Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta), coming off CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors, added his fifth and sixth goals of the season. Kosick's goal and the first of Comrie's pair were both scored after Craig Brown was issued a five-minute major and a game misconduct for hitting from behind.
With Michigan leading 7-1 after two periods, junior transfer L.J. Scarpace (Dearborn, Mich.) made his first appearance as a Wolverine. Scarpace stopped six shots without allowing a goal in his first collegiate game in over a year.
Mark Mink (Livonia, Mich.) rounded out the scoring, picking up his second goal of the season. Dave Hutzicker (Ann Arbor, Mich.) notched his fourth assist of the game on Mink's goal. Jillson, with one goal and three assists, also picked up four points on the evening.
With the win, Michigan improved its impressive home opener mark to 59-16-3, including 25-1-1 at Yost. The Wolverines and River Hawks will finish off the series Saturday night at Yost Ice Arena starting at 7:05 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| Goals By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Massachusetts-Lowell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Michigan | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
1st period
1, MICH, Jed Ortmeyer 1 (Andy Hilbert, John Shouneyia) 01:38.
2, MICH, Geoff Koch 2 (Dave Huntzicker, Jeff Jillson) 04:00 (pp).
3, UMASS, Jeremy Kyte 1 (Josh Reed) 08:52 (pp).
PENALTIES - Dan Fontas, UMASS (OBSTRUCTION-HOOKING) 02:13; Ron Hainsey, UMASS (HOOKING) 05:22; Bob Gassoff, MICH (HOLDING THE STICK) 07:47; Scott Matzka, MICH (CROSS-CHECKING) 13:23; Josh Allison, UMASS (CROSS-CHECKING) 13:23; John Campbell, UMASS (INTERFERENCE) 15:30; Kevin Kotyluk, UMASS (ROUGHING) 16:52; Josh Langfeld, MICH (ROUGHING) 16:52; Tom Rouleau, UMASS (ROUGHING) 20:00; Josh Langfeld, MICH (ROUGHING) 20:00.
2nd period
4, MICH, Jeff Jillson 1 (Mark Kosick, Dave Huntzicker) 04:14 (pp).
5, MICH, Sean Peach 1 (Andy Hilbert) 04:59 (pp).
6, MICH, Mark Kosick 3 (Josh Langfeld, Mike Comrie) 12:04 (pp).
7, MICH, Mike Comrie 5 (Jeff Jillson) 13:02 (pp).
8, MICH, Mike Comrie 6 (Dave Huntzicker, Jeff Jillson) 16:15 (pp).
PENALTIES - Sean Peach, MICH (HOOKING) 00:50; Dave Huntzicker, MICH (HOOKING) 01:22; Kevin Kotyluk, UMASS (OBSTRUCTION-HOOKING) 03:08; Craig Brown, UMASS (CHARGING) 03:49; Dave Huntzicker, MICH (SLASHING) 06:10; Josh Allison, UMASS (HOOKING) 06:29; Mike Cammalleri, MICH (ROUGHING) 07:08; Kevin Kotyluk, UMASS (ROUGHING) 07:08; Craig Brown, UMASS (Hitting from Behind) 10:28; Craig Brown, UMASS (GAME MISCONDUCT) 10:28; Kyle Kidney, UMASS (HIGH STICKING) 15:16; Kyle Kidney, UMASS (BOARDING) 19:48.
3rd period
9, MICH, Mark Mink 2 (Dave Huntzicker) 06:51 (pp).
PENALTIES - Josh Allison, UMASS (SLASHING) 05:09; Jay Vancik, MICH (INTERFERENCE) 08:41; Bob Gassoff, MICH (SLASHING) 14:53; Jeff Boulanger, UMASS (ROUGHING) 19:54; Mike Comrie, MICH (ROUGHING) 19:54.
Shots on goal: UMASS 6-6-6-18; MICH 14-11-14-39.
Power plays: UMASS 1 of 6; MICH 7 of 12.
Goalies: UMASS, Jimi St. John 0-1-0 (25 shots-18 saves) , Cam McCormick (00:00 3rd, 14-13); MICH, Kevin O'Malley 1-0-0 (12-11) , L.J. Scarpace (00:00 3rd, 6-6).
Referee: Steve Piotrowski
Assistant Referees: Brent Gawlik, Butch Friedman
Attendance: 6,078
Time: 2:32
QUOTES
Head Coach Red Berenson
On the power play ... "It was a closer game than the score. I think the difference was the special teams. They took three penalties in a row that cost them because we were able to capitalize and kill off their 5-on-3 advantage. That sequence in the second period may have been the turning point in the game."
On the goaltending ... "It was a good game for both our goalies. (Kevin) O'Malley played well. All you have to do as a goalie is not give up bad goals, goals you should have been able to save. It was good to get (L.J.) Scarpace in. He didn't even practice with us last year so it's been well over a year since he played. It was good to get them both in; they didn't look out of place."
Center Mike Comrie
On the success of the power play ... "We were patient. We just moved the puck around and got our shots through and that's what counted. We all crashed the net and things happened."
On the goaltending situation ... "We knew as a team that Kevin (O'Malley) and L.J. (Scarpace) could do it. We have confidence in them, just like we have confidence in (Josh) Blackburn. We probably have the best three-goalie combination in the nation."
Goaltender Kevin O'Malley
On getting the win as the starting goalie ... "I was happy. I never thought it was a big deal. It's terrible for Josh (Blackburn) but I felt fine out there. It was weird for me sitting on the bench last season after always playing for 15 or 16 years. I'm back in my environment feeling fine."
On setting the tone early ... "I don't think there's a better offensive team in the league right now, and as long as we stick to defense we'll be fine. The first 10 minutes was incredible. Right from the beginning we were playing Michigan hockey. That's what teams in the past have always done -- come out strong at home."
Right Wing Jed Ortmeyer
On getting his first goal ... "It felt good to help the team out. I had a lot of chances the first couple of games, but it was nice to get one tonight."
On the potent offense ... "I think everyone gets comfortable playing and we've got some good goal-scorers on the team. We have a lot of offensive firepower, but we play defense first. When you play good defense, that creates good offense."
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
