Michigan
9-10-0, 5-7-0CCHA
Rensselaer
10-9-1, 3-4-0ECAC
Wolverines Falter in GLI Opener to RPI
12/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Dec. 29, 2009
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Site: Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)
Event: Great Lakes Invitational Semifinal
Score: Rensselaer 4, Michigan 3
Records: U-M (9-10-0, 5-7-0-0 CCHA), RPI (10-9-1, 3-4-0 ECAC)
Attendance: 13,017
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Dec. 30 -- vs. Michigan Tech - Great Lakes Invitational Third-Place Game (Detroit, Mich.), 4:05 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team saw its run for a third straight Great Lakes Invitational title end with a 4-3 semifinal loss to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday (Dec. 29) at Joe Louis Arena. Despite peppering the RPI netminder with 46 shots on goal, the Wolverines dropped the game by a narrow one-goal decision in the first meeting between these two schools since Jan. 18, 1986.
The Wolverines outshot Rensselaer 15-3 in the opening period, but it was RPI that held a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission thanks to two power-play goals from center Chase Polacek to start and bookend the period. Sophomore left wing David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) made it a 2-1 game with 6:34 remaining in the middle frame, but the Engineers responded with a goal of their own less than three minutes later to regain their two-goal advantage. Junior left wing Carl Hagelin (Sodertalje, Sweden) cut the deficit to 3-2 on a five-on-three power-play goal at 2:57 of the third period. Freshman right wing Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) then tied the game at 3-3 at 12:04, but RPI quickly responded to take back the lead for good just 46 seconds later.
Rensselaer netted the game's first goal 25 seconds into its first power play on a redirection, scoring against the No. 2-ranked penalty kill unit in the country 2:01 into the game. Right wing Scott Halpern sent the puck from his position below the left faceoff circle to center Paul Kerins, who was stationed above the inner hashmarks of the circle. Kerins fired the puck toward the net, where the shot was redirected into the cage by Polacek sitting alongside the left goal post.
The Engineers then snagged a two-goal lead with 6.5 seconds remaining in the first stanza from Polacek once again, but this time on a blast from above the left faceoff circle.
Wohlberg brought the Wolverines within one goal at the 13:26 mark in the middle frame. Glendening dug the puck out of the boards along the blue line to freshman right wing A.J. Treais (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) skating up the slot. Treais pushed the puck forward to a wide-open Wohlberg, who switched to his backhand at the last second and lifted the puck over Allen York into the net.
RPI responded less than three minutes later thanks to a tally from center Paul Kerins with 3:17 left on the clock in the second period. Kerins flung the disc from atop the left faceoff circle toward the U-M net. The puck hit junior goalie Bryan Hogan's (Highland, Mich.) glove before continuing into the back of the net.
Head coach Red Berenson pulled Hogan in favor of junior goalkeeper Shawn Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) to start the third period with the hope of sparking the Maize and Blue.
Michigan took advantage of a two-minute five-on-three power-play opportunity 2:57 into the third period when Hagelin popped in the rebound off freshman defenseman Lee Moffie's (Wallingford, Conn.) shot. Junior defenseman Chad Langlais (Spokane, Wash.) got an assist as well.
Lynch sent the puck past the RPI netminder at the 12:04 mark in the final stanza for the first tally of his career. Hagelin and senior defenseman Chris Summers (Milan, Mich.) registered the primary and secondary assists, respectively.
The tie did not last for long, however, as the Engineers took back the lead 46 seconds later when right wing Marty O'Grady found an opening above Hunwick's left shoulder on a shot from a sharp angle at the bottom of the right faceoff circle to ensure a win for RPI.
U-M unleashed 21 shots on goal in the final 20 minutes of play, but York made the difference, especially in the final five minutes when the Wolverines had two power plays.
The GLI wraps up tomorrow evening with the Wolverines vying for third place against Michigan Tech at 4 p.m., while RPI and Michigan State play in the championship game.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
