Michigan
Wilfrid Laurier (ex)
Michigan Defeats Wilfrid Laurier in Exhibition Play
10/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Comrie, scoring two goals and an assist, picked up where he left off last year, having led the Wolverines with 44 points in the 1998-99 season. As a team the Wolverines dominated the Golden Hawks, taking 56 shots on goal compared to Wilfrid Laurier's 13, including a 26-2 shot differential in the third period.
Wilfrid Laurier opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal by Darren Lowe 4:33 into the contest when Comrie tried to pass to Jeff Jillson (North Smithfield, R.I.) in front of the Michigan goal, but turned the puck over to Lowe instead. Josh Blackburn (Choctaw, Okla.) dropped to his knees trying to stop the puck, but it trickled through his pads into the back of the net. The goal came on Wilfrid Laurier's first shot of the game, and the only one in the first 12 minutes.
However, Comrie made up for his mistake by scoring in the second period off a shot just inside the blue line to tie the game at one. Langfeld scored his first goal with an assist from Comrie at the 12:24 mark of the second period on a four-on-three power play to give the Wolverines their first lead of the night 2-1.
Comrie netted his second goal of the night halfway thorough the third period to give Michigan a 3-1 lead. With Michigan up two goals, Wolverine backup goaltender Kevin O'Malley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) entered the game. Wilfred Laurier cut into the lead when Sean Scott scored against O'Malley on the first of just two shots by the Golden Hawks in the third period.
Langfeld scored his second and the team's fourth power-play goal with five minutes remaining. Then Jay Vancik (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Scott Matzka (Port Huron, Mich.) each picked up even-strength goals late in the third period to round out the scoring. Although it won't count in the offical statistics, Vancik's goal was the first of his career as a Wolverine.
Jillson and freshman Andy Hilbert (Howell, Mich.) each picked up three assists during the game, while Mark Kosick (Victoria, B.C.) added two of his own. Craig Murray (Penticon, B.C.) and Bill Trainor (Canton, Mich.) each had one assist.
Blackburn earned the win, stopping 10 shots in just over 49 minutes of play while allowing one goal. O'Malley allowed one goal and made one save. For Wilfred Laurier, Frank Ivankovic allowed six goals but still made 50 saves in the game.
Michigan's special teams looked good, stopping Wilfrid Laurier's nine power-play opportunities while scoring on four of 12 one-man advantages.
Michigan opens the regular season Thursday (Oct. 7) and Friday (Oct. 8) at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. The games start at 7:05 p.m. in the Joyce Center.
GAME SUMMARY
| Goals By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Wilfrid Laurier | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
1st period
1, WL, Darren Lowe 1 (unassisted), 04:33 (sh).
2nd Period
2, MICH, Mike Comrie 1 (Andy Hilbert, Jeff Jillson), 03:38 (pp).
3, MICH, Josh Langfeld 1 (Jeff Jillson, Mike Comrie), 12:42 (pp).
3rd Period
4, MICH, Mike Comrie 2 (Mark Kosick, Andy Hilbert), 09:01 (pp).
5, WL, Sean Scott 1 (Mike Allaby, Sam Simons), 12:32
6, MICH, Josh Langfeld 2 (Mark Kosick, Andy Hilbert), 15:08 (pp).
7, MICH, Jay Vancik 1 (Craig Murray), 15:40.
8, MICH, Scott Matzka 1 (Jeff Jillson, Bill Trainor), 18:09.
Shots on goal: MICH 56; WL 12
Power plays: MICH 4 of 12; WL 0 of 9
Penalties: MICH 12 (24 min); WL 16 (32 min)
Goalies: MICH, Josh Blackburn (49:02 minutes, 10 shots-9 saves) , Kevin O'Malley (10:58, 2-1); WL, Frank Ivankovic (60:00, 56-50).
Referee: Matt Shegos
Assistant Referees: Butch Friedman; Kevin Langseth
Attendance: 5,721
Time: 2:34
QUOTES
Head Coach Red Berenson
On the slow start ... "It was a combination of things. We were missing the net quite a bit on some good shots, and the goalie made some good saves. Maybe we weren't sharp around the net early on, but as the game went on, I thought we played with a little more desperation and the puck started to go in for us."
On the power play ... "I feel good and bad. I think there were times where they were sloppy, we gave up a goal, and there were other times they looked sharp. It's early in the year and usually your penalty killing will start off stronger than your power play and that's what you saw tonight."
On facing Notre Dame next week ... "I think we're ready. Without (Sean) Peach, we're not 100 percent. I thought our team got a lot of good out of that game. We were tested and our young playes played well and played with confidence. I think we'll be fine."
Defenseman Jeff Jillson
On the play of the defense ... "I thought our whole defense played real well considering we lost a guy like Sean Peach. I thought our guys stepped up and took the role they were given. We didn't give up too many shots, so I think we played well."
Center Andy Hilbert
On the offensive chances ... "In the beginning of the game we weren't getting any quality looks, just basically perimeter shots. He (Frank Ivankovic) is a good goalie. We had to learn how to beat him with different shots from different angles. We had success putting the puck up high because he was going down a lot."
On playing his first game as a Wolverine ... "It was unbelievable. Going out on the ice for warmups, seeing the crowd and my mom for the first time was an unreal feeling."
Center Mike Comrie
On playing point on the power play ... "It's something new to me. I have to get used to it. It takes time, but it seemed like it was working tonight. I think we just need to be patient on the power play and things will go our way."
On the giveway that led to the Golden Hawks' first goal ... "I was gong to pass it to (Jeff) Jillson, but I saw their guy come up but it was already too late. It had already left my stick. This game is a mental game. We had to regroup and we showed we can overcome little things like that."
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
