Michigan
Northern Michigan
Wolverines Set for 51st Great Lakes Invitational Opener vs. Wildcats
12/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
• TV: FS Detroit (Tape Delay after Red Wings game) | Live Audio | Live Stats | BTN2Go
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (9-3-3, 2-1-1-1 Big Ten) will begin the second half of the season with the 51st annual Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena. The Wolverines will face Northern Michigan (6-6-6, 5-5-4 WCHA) in the second semifinal Tuesday (Dec. 29) at 7 p.m.
• The Wolverines have won 16 GLI titles since the tournament's inception in 1965, the most by any team, including the 2014 GLI championship, which the Wolverines earned with wins over Michigan Tech (W, 2-1) and Michigan State (W, 2-1).
• Michigan is 55-34-1 all-time in the GLI and 29-16 in GLI semifinal games. The Wolverines have played semifinal opponent Northern Michigan four times in the GLI, with a record of 3-1-0 in those contests. Michigan last played Northern Michigan at the GLI in 1995, earning a 6-1 win in a semifinal game.
• Michigan and Northern Michigan were both members of the CCHA from 1981-84 and 1997-2013. The Wolverines own a 39-20-7 record in the all-time series, with Michigan earning a home series win (3-2, 6-2) in the first round of the 2013 CCHA Tournament on March 8-9, 2013, NMU's last games as a member of the CCHA.
• Since defeating Michigan State, 7-4, on Dec. 28, 1979 in the first collegiate game at Joe Louis Arena, the Wolverines are 103-49-5 (.672) all-time at "The Joe." Michigan was 4-2 last season at Joe Louis Arena, including wins against Michigan Tech and Michigan State in the 2014 Great Lakes Invitational.
• Michigan finished its final weekend before the holiday break with a home series split against Minnesota, following an 8-3 rout on Friday night with a 3-2 loss to the Gophers on Saturday. Freshman forward Kyle Connor (5G, A on the weekend) became the first U-M freshman to record a hat trick since Michael Woodford (12/29/01) in the win on Dec. 11, and he leads the Big Ten (and the team) in scoring with 22 points (11G, 11A) after adding two more goals on Dec. 12. Michigan's win on Dec. 11 was the Wolverines' most lopsided win over Minnesota since a 6-0 win on Nov. 27, 2009 in the College Hockey Showcase at Yost.
• Michigan begins the second half of the season as the top-scoring team in the nation with an average of 4.47 goals per game. U-M has topped the five-goal mark in nine of 15 games this season. Last season, the Wolverines topped five goals in 14 games, the most in one season since 2009-10 (15). The Wolverines led the nation in scoring in 2014-15 with an average of 3.86 goals per game.
• Michigan's power play has been a strength so far this season, as the Wolverines are No. 11 in the nation at 23.2 percent (13-for-56) on the man advantage. The Wolverines have scored multiple power-play goals in four games this season, including a season-high four PPGs in a 7-0 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 27.
• Michigan has the top three scorers in the Big Ten in Kyle Connor (11G, 11A), JT Compher (3G, 15A) and Tyler Motte (11G, 5A). Connor and Motte are tops in the Big Ten in goal-scoring and tied for seventh overall in the nation. Compher leads the league (and is tied for fourth in the nation) in assists.
• Kyle Connor was named Big Ten First Star of the Week for his efforts against Minnesota and has established himself as one of the nation's best freshmen through 15 games this season. Connor leads all NCAA freshmen in points per game with an average of 1.47 and goals per game win an average of 0.73. Connor has been on fire of late, notching 10 points (6G, 4A) in the last four games.
• Michigan's five freshman skaters -- Nicholas Boka, Joseph Cecconi, Kyle Connor, Cooper Marody and Brendan Warren -- have each played in all 15 games so for Michigan and have made immediate contributions for the Wolverines. Connor (11G, 11A) leads the Big Ten in scoring, while Marody (7G, 6A) and Warren (4G, 6A) have also had an immediate impact, as have defensemen Boka (4A) and Cecconi (4A). The three freshman forwards (Connor, Marody and Warren) have combined for 21 of Michigan's 67 goals (31.3%). On Dec. 5, freshman goaltender Chad Catt entered the game midway through the second period, stopping 12 of 14 shots in 34:42 to help Michigan rally to earn a 6-6 tie against Wisconsin. Catt stopped both Wisconsin shootout attempts to give the Wolverines a 2-0 edge and the extra Big Ten standings point.
• Sophomore defenseman Zach Werenski has been named captain of the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team, USA Hockey announced on Dec. 22. Werenski is the third Michigan player to captain the U.S. National Junior Team, joining Kevin Porter (2006) and Eric Nystrom (2003). Werenski is the second youngest player ever to captain the U.S. at the World Junior Tournament. In addition, defenseman Louie Belpedio and forwards Auston Matthews and Colin White were tabbed alternate captains of the squad. The team will participate in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Helsinki, Finland. Forty-three Wolverines have played in the World Junior Championship, including 35 for the United States, seven for Canada and one for Sweden. Michigan players have brought home 21 medals (11 gold, four silver, six bronze). Werenski was one of four Wolverines that skated for Team USA at the World Junior Championship last year in Montreal and Toronto. In five games, Werenski notched a goal and an assist with a plus-3 rating.
