Wolverines Seek Great Lakes Invitational Three-Peat
12/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Dec. 27, 2016
» The Wolverines are looking to capture their record 18th John A. MacInnes Trophy.
» Michigan and Michigan Tech will face off for the 234th game between the in-state foes.
THIS WEEK: GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL
Thursday, Dec. 29 -- vs. Michigan Tech (Detroit, Mich.), 3:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Detroit | Live Stats | Listen | Tickets
Friday, Dec. 30 -- vs. Michigan State or Western Michigan (Detroit, Mich.), 3:30 or 7 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Detroit | Live Stats | Listen | Tickets
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team (7-8-1, 1-3-0-0 B1G) will take part in the 52nd annual Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena to begin the second half of the season. The Wolverines will face Michigan Tech (12-7-3, 11-3-2 WCHA) in the first semifinal Thursday (Dec. 29) at 3:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES
• Michigan and Michigan Tech face off in a rematch of last year's Great Lakes Invitational title game, which the Wolverines won, 4-2.
• The Wolverines are looking to win their record 18th John A. MacInnes Trophy. The Wolverines' 17 GLI titles since the tournament's inception in 1965 are the most by any team. U-M has appeared in 30 GLI title games with an overall record of 17-13 in those championship contests.
• Michigan and Michigan Tech meet for the 234th time since the series began in 1927. The Wolverines are 125-93-5 all-time against the Huskies. Only Michigan State (300) and Minnesota (269) have played more games against Michigan than Michigan Tech.
• U-M will play Michigan Tech for the 36th time (most common GLI opponent) in the Great Lakes Invitational, where the Wolverines are 24-11-0 all-time against the Huskies.
• Michigan Tech head coach Mel Pearson spent 23 seasons as an assistant/associate head coach at Michigan, starting with the Wolverines in 1988, before Red Berenson's fifth season behind the bench.
PLAYER NOTES
• After only tallying one goal in this first nine contests this season, the converted junior forward Cutler Martin enters the weekend riding a three-game goal streak.
• Junior forward Tony Calderone has scored four goals in his last six games and six of the last nine. He is leadiing the Wolverines with eight on the year.
• Jack LaFontaine and Hayden Lavigne have seen the bulk of the action between the pipes for the Maize and Blue, totaling 11 starts in the team's 16 games. Lavigne is currently tied for fifth in save percentage in NCAA DI (.935) and ranks 17th with a 2.29 goals against average.
RED, WHITE AND GO BLUE
Sophomore defenseman Joe Cecconi was one of 23 individuals named to the U.S. National roster that will represent the Stars and Stripes in Toronto and Montreal for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship (Dec. 26-Jan. 5). Cecconi becomes the 44th Wolverine to have played in the World Junior Championship, including 36 for the United States, seven for Canada and one for Sweden. Michigan players have brought home 22 medals (11 gold, four silver, seven bronze). Zach Werenski represented U-M and the USA last season at the World Juniors in Finland and captained the U.S. to a bronze medal.
FAREWELL JOE
• Joe Louis Arena will close its doors after being the home of hockey in Detroit for 38 years. Michigan played the first ever collegiate hockey game at "The Joe," defeating Michigan State, 7-4, on Dec.28, 1979. The Wolverines boast a 105-50-5 (.672) record all-time at Joe Louis Arena.
• While coaching with the St. Louis Blues, head coach Red Berenson defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2, on Dec. 27, 1979 in the first hockey game at Joe Louis Arena. Berenson holds a combined overall coaching record of 108-46-4 (.696) (U-M 102-44-4/STL 6-2) at Joe Louis Arena.
• In the first ever event to take place at Joe Louis Arena on Dec. 12, 1979, the University of Michigan men's basketball team defeated the University of Detroit, 85-72.
FOR MATZKA
The Wolverines and the Dekers Blue Line Club will be hosting an alumni game on Saturday, Jan. 7, against the Red Wings alumni at Yost Arena. Proceeds from the game will go toward Scott Matzka, member of the 1998 national championship team who was diagnosed with ALS in 2015. [ Tickets ]
Communications Contact: TJ Garske
