Michigan
U.S. NTDP U-18 Team (ex)
Freshmen Contribute in Exhibition Win
11/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Nov. 18, 2016
» Michigan netminders combined for 21 saves, with three goalies seeing a period of action each.
» The Wolverines resume their regular-season play next Friday (Nov. 25) when they host Lake Superior State.
• Boxscore 
| Game Replay 
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: Michigan 6, U.S. NTDP 3 (exhibition)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 25 -- vs. Lake Superior State (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated the United States National Team Development Program Under-18 Team, 6-3, in exhibition action on Friday (Nov. 18) at Yost Ice Arena. Three of Michigan's four goals were scored by freshman alumni of the NTDP program.
Team USA opened the scoring with 7:48 left in the opening period after forward Jacob Tortora found an opening behind the Michigan defensemen. He took a long pass on the way to a breakaway and finished on the glove side.
U-M responded early in the second period with a breakaway of its own, when freshman Will Lockwood scooped up a loose puck in the defensive zone and took it down the ice, finishing with a top-shelf snipe from between the circles.
Tortora notched his second goal of the contest with 48 seconds remaining in the middle frame, finding an opening in the crease and firing a shot through the five-hole to give the NTDP a 2-1 lead.
The Wolverines responded 21 seconds later, however, when freshman forward Adam Winborg redirected a shot from the point by freshman defenseman Luke Martin, tying the game at two goals apiece.
Michigan took the lead 2:31 into the third period on a goal by freshman forward Nick Pastujov, who received a pass from classmate Steven Merl low in the slot and tapped it around Dylan St. Cyr's outstretched leg.
The Wolverines added another a little more than two minutes later after freshman forward James Sanchez took advantage of a Team USA turnover, taking the puck in the corner and wrapping it around the goalie.
Senior forward Alex Kile gave Michigan a three-goal lead with four minutes remaining, finding the five-hole opening while crossing in front of the crease off a breakaway.
Team USA added an extra-skater goal with 1:22 remaining in the contest, but Michigan countered with an empty-net goal by Sanchez to keep the three-goal lead.
Michigan -- which used three goalies in the contest -- saw excellent play in net from senior Zach Nagelvoort, sophomore Chad Catt and freshman Jack LaFontaine, who combined for 21 saves.
The Wolverines finish their homestand next weekend with a Friday/Saturday series against Lake Superior State. Friday's (Nov. 25) game will begin at 7:30 p.m. [ Tickets ]
Communications Contact: TJ Garske
