Wolverines Set to Battle Michigan State This Weekend

Friday, January 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:30 PM

Michigan

Michigan State

1/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey

By: TJ Garske

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

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THE SERIES
• Michigan (8-11-1, 1-5-0-0 Big Ten) and Michigan State (4-15-1, 0-6-0-0 Big Ten) meet for a two-game Big Ten weekend series, with the first game being played on Friday night (Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m.) at Yost, and the Saturday night (Jan. 21, 7 p.m.) game in East Lansing.

• Michigan and Michigan State meet for the 310th time, with the Maize and Blue holding a 159-131-19 record all-time against its in-state rival. Michigan has played more games against Michigan State (309) than any team in college hockey. Minnesota (271) and Michigan Tech (235) second and third most, respectively.

• Michigan defeated the Spartans earlier this season in the Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 30 at Joe Louis Arena. After scoring three goals in the first period, the Maize and Blue won the game in overtime on a goal from junior Tony Calderone. Last season, Michigan was 3-1 against the Spartans, scoring 21 goals in those four games.

• The Wolverines are 75-44-4 all-time at home against Michigan State and have won four out of the last five meetings with the Spartans at Yost, dating back to 2013.

WELCOME BACK, COOP
After returning to the team for the second half of the season, sophomore forward Cooper Marody led the team with three assists in the Wolverines' 5-4 OT win over Michigan State on Dec. 30 to claim third place in the 52nd Annual Great Lakes Invitational.

ROOKIE KEEPERS
Freshmen Jack LaFontaine and Hayden Lavigne have seen the bulk of the action between the pipes for the Maize and Blue, totaling 15 starts in the team's 19 games coming into the weekend. Lavigne heads into the weekend ranked ninth in save percentage in NCAA DI (.932) and ranks 21st with a 2.36 goals-against average.

FIRST TIMERS
Eight Wolverines have scored their first collegiate goals this season, including six freshmen (Lockwood, L. Martin, Merl, Sanchez, Slaker, and Winborg) -- the most rookie scorers since the 2009-10 season.

TONY TIME
Junior forward Tony Calderone has scored six goals in his last 10 games and three in his last five games coming into the weekend; he is currently leading the Wolverines with 10 on the season.

LOCKED IN
Freshman forward Will Lockwood recorded a goal in the Wolverines 5-4 OT win over Michigan State and has now recorded a point in three of his last four games. The Vancouver Canucks draft choice heads into the weekend tied leading the Maize and Blue with 13 points (7g, 6 a).

SHORTIES
U-M has registered six shorthanded goals thus far, tied for the most in NCAA DI coming into the weekend. They have already reached more than half the total from last season (6). Freshman Will Lockwood's two short-handed goals is currently tied for second in NCAA DI.

SHORT-HANDED SUCCESS
Michigan has killed 85.6 percent (89/104) of its penalties, 17th best in NCAA DI. The 13 goals against on the penalty kill are also ranked tied for sixth in NCAA DI coming into the weekend.

JUST BLOCKIN' IT
Michigan leads all of NCAA DI in blocked shots per game with 18.4 average heading into the weekend. Freshman defenseman Luke Martin currently is tied for 10th in all of NCAA DI with 50 blocked shots coming into the weekend.

RED, WHITE AND GO BLUE
Sophomore defenseman Joseph Cecconi captured a gold medal with Team USA at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship (Dec. 26-Jan. 5). Cecconi became 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 now brought home 23 medals (12 gold, four silver, seven bronze).

PRO BLUE
Michigan currently has 18 alumni on an NHL roster, which is the most of any NCAA program. Making their NHL debuts are Kyle Connor, Tyler Motte, Cristoval Nieves and Zach Werenski, who were members of last season's Big Ten championship squad.

FUTURE BLUE
Michigan received four letters of intent during the NCAA's early signing period. Joining the Wolverines next fall will be forwards Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich./USNTDP U18), Michael Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla./USNTDP U18, Dakota Raabe (Capistrano Beach, Calif./Wenatchee Wild), and Gustaf Westlund (Stockholm, Sweden/Lincoln Stars).

FAREWELL JOE
Michigan will play a total of at least four games this season at the iconic Joe Louis Arena, as it will replaced next year with Little Caesars Arena. Michigan played the first ever collegiate hockey game at "The Joe," defeating Michigan State, 7-4, on Dec. 28, 1979. The Wolverines boast a 106-52-5 (.674) record all-time at Joe Louis Arena.

UP AHEAD
Michigan will return to Yost next weekend in a two-game series with Ohio State. Michigan hockey is hosting a book drive that will run through the Feb. 4. Fans are encouraged to bring in books to be donated to Martin Luther King Education Center Academy in Detroit. Books and donations can be dropped off anytime through Feb. 4 in the Yost Ice Arena lobby.