Michigan
26-12-2
Northern Michigan
21-15-4
Michigan Tops Northern, Advances to Mason Cup Final
3/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- The sixth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team advanced to its fourth consecutive CCHA Super Six championship game with a 5-1 victory over Northern Michigan Friday afternoon (March 19) at Joe Louis Arena. Sophomore Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead midway though the second period and added his second for the eventual game-winner 28 seconds into the final period, as U-M went ahead 5-0 before NMU could respond.
Freshman forward T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) paced the Wolverines with a three-point night with a goal and two assists. In addition to Kaleniecki, three others -- sophomore Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.), junior Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) and freshman David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) -- had two-point outings for the Maize and Blue to help sophomore Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) to his 25th win of the season.
With just under five minutes remaining in the first period Tambellini generated the first dangerous scoring opportunity for either team when he wristed a shot off the crossbar. Hensick initiated the play when he stole the puck at mid-ice and danced into the Wildcat zone. Hensick found Tambellini at the left faceoff circle and Tambellini fired a shot over the right shoulder of NMU goaltender Tuomas Tarkki that pinged off the crossbar.
Two minutes later, the Wolverines pushed the action into the NMU zone and threatened to break the scoreless deadlock, but junior forward Michael Woodford Jr.'s (Westford, Mass.) slap shot was turned away by Tarkki. Woodford, who was trailing the play, received a pass from junior forward Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Ala.) in the slot and fired a one-time slap shot on Tarkki, who pushed the puck out of danger with a pad save.
With just under a minute reamining in the opening stanza, Gajic tested Tarkki on a one-on-one break but the NMU goaltender was once again up to task. After beating a Wildcat defender just inside the blue line, Gajic skated in alone on Tarkki and fired a wrist shot which the Wildcat netminder deflected wide with an acrobatic pad save.
The Wildcats created their own scoring opportunity 10 minutes into the second period when Darin Oliver received an outlet pass behind the Michigan defense and broke down the left side of the Wolverine zone and in on Montoya. The NMU chance was quickly defused, however, as freshman defender Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) tracked back and pulled Oliver off the puck just as he was about to fire a shot.
The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead at 10:14 of the second period when Kaleniecki tipped home a one-time shot right as Michigan's third power play of the game expired. After receiving a pass from Gajic in the right halfboards, junior defender Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) penetrated the NMU defense and found Kaleniecki wide open just outside of the Wildcat crease. With the defense out of position, Kaleniecki calmly redirected the puck past Tarkki, into top right corner of the Northern net.
Michigan nearly extended its lead to 2-0 with 1:45 remaining in the second period, but junior forward Eric Nystrom's (Syosset, N.Y.) shot found the crossbar. Junior forward Dwight Helminen (Brighton, Mich.) initiated the scoring opportunity when he dropped the puck to Nystrom, who was trailing the play in the slot. Nystrom received the puck and fired a one-time shot past Tarkki and off the crossbar.
Only 28 seconds into the third period, Kaleniecki recorded a power-play marker, his second strike of the night, to put the Wolverines on top 2-0. Hensick, who received the puck along the right side of the goal line, picked up the assist on the play as he found Kaleniecki on the back post with a cross-crease pass. For the second time on the night, Kaleniecki redirected a one-time shot into an open NMU net, as the Wildcat defense and goaltender were caught out of position.
The Wolverines extended their lead to 3-0 at 8:42 when Tambellini converted on a two-on-one break. Hensick once again created the opportunity for the Wolverines as he carried the puck into the NMU zone and found Tambellini on the back post. Tambellini received the pass and flipped a one-time backhand shot over the outstretched blocker of Tarkki.
Forty-one seconds later junior forward David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) gave the Wolverines a commanding 4-0 lead as he snapped a wrist shot over left shoulder of Tarkki. After receiving a pass from Ryznar, Moss broke into the NMU zone on a two-on-one break. As Moss skated into the slot, the Wildcat defender opted to the cut off the passing lane and Moss alertly fired a shot past Tarkki.
Hensick collected a goal of his own at 11:15 of the final period, converting on yet another two-on-one break. Tambellini, who received a pass from Rohlfs along the right side of the NMU zone, found Hensick on the back post with a cross-ice pass. With no defenders in the vicinity, Hensick calmly snapped a one-time shot past Tarkki to give the Wolverines a 5-0 lead.
With 1:34 remaining in the game, Wildcat forward Dave Bonk ended Montoya's bid for a shutout with an even-strength marker. Bonk, who was stationed in front of the Michigan net, redirected a shot from Matt Hunter through the legs of Montoya for the final goal of the night.
The Wolverines (26-12-2) will attempt to claim their third consecutive Mason Cup when they take on No. 12 Ohio State, a 4-3 overtime winner over Miami (Ohio) in the second semifinal, Saturday night (March 20) at the Joe. The opening faceoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. Tickets for the game are available at the Joe Louis Arena Box Office. Ticket prices range from $28 for lower-bowl seats to $8.50 for students with a valid ID.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
