Michigan
Minnesota Duluth
Michigan to Face Top-10 Competition at Ice Breaker Tournament
10/13/2021 4:32:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» No. 3-ranked Michigan heads to Duluth, Minn., to take part in the Ice Breaker Tournament. The Wolverines with battle host No. 5 Minnesota Duluth on Friday and will face either No. 10 Providence or No. 1 Minnesota State on Saturday.
» Michigan was slated to play Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA Tournament last season before the game was canceled due to COVID protocol.
» The last time Michigan and Minnesota Duluth met was in the 2011 NCAA National Championship.
» Three of the four teams at this weekend's tournament are undefeated.
THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 15 -- at Minnesota Duluth - Ice Breaker Tournament (Duluth, Minn.), 7:37 p.m. CDT
TV: NCHC.tv | Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats
Saturday, Oct. 16 -- vs. Providence or Minnesota State - Ice Breaker Tournament (Duluth, Minn.), 4:07 p.m. CDT
TV: NCHC.tv | Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
• Social Media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tik Tok
All eyes will be on the Ice Breaker Tournament this weekend as the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team takes on No. 5 Minnesota Duluth on Friday (Oct. 15) at 7:37 p.m. CDT. On Saturday (Oct. 16), the Wolverines will play either No. 1 Minnesota State or No. 10 Providence at 4:07 p.m. CDT. Both of Michigan's contests will be streamed live on NHCH.tv.
Ice Breaker Outlook
• After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of last season's Michigan-UMD matchup in the NCAA regionals, the 10-plus-year wait for a rematch of the 2011 national championship finally has arrived. The Bulldogs bested U-M, 3-2, in overtime to deny the Wolverines their 10th national title. This year's top-five battle will be one to watch.
• U-M will draw one of two premier programs in the second half of the tournament in either No. 1-ranked Minnesota State or No. 10-ranked Providence on Saturday.
About Last Weekend
• The 2021-22 season opened on Friday night (Oct. 8) against Lake Superior State in the program's 3,000th game. U-M cruised out to a 5-0 lead powered by three assists from Owen Power, before surrendering a power-play goal to the Lakers early in the third period. Power finished the night in style with a goal of his own to put the finishing touches on his first career four-point game for the Wolverines.
• Saturday's (Oct. 9) contest started on a similar note, with Michigan scoring twice in the game's first 2:49. LSSU bounced back to tally four consecutive goals, but did not score again in the game's final 39:19, while U-M added five more goals to earn a comeback win and sweep.
B1G Stars
• Sophomore Brendan Brisson was named the B1G First Star of the Week on Tuesday (Oct. 12). He had a five-point weekend as Michigan opened the 2021-22 season with a series sweep of Lake Superior State. He is tied for the national lead in points per game at 2.50 after scoring three goals and two assists. All three of his goals were scored on the power play. He net the game-winning goal on Saturday (Oct. 9), as Michigan found itself in a two-goal deficit before rallying for the victory.
• No. 1 overall NHL Draft pick Owen Power captured Big Ten Second Star of the Week after he recorded his first four-point game as Michigan opened the season with a 6-1 win over LSSU on Friday night (Oct. 8). He assisted on the first three Wolverine goals before netting his first goal of the season. On Saturday (Oct. 9), he added another assist for a five-point weekend. Power is tied with Brisson for the national lead in points per game (2.50).
Scouting the Bulldogs
Representing the NCHC are the fifth-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, coached by Scott Sandelin in his 22nd season. UMD, national champions in 2011, 2018, and 2019, has become a powerhouse. At forward, an experienced group led by Noah Cates, Kobe Roth, and graduate transfer from Miami (Ohio), Casey Gilling, is supplemented by sophomore Blake Biondi and a deep supporting cast. The Bulldogs are strong defensively, with the skilled, puck-moving Wyatt Kaiser and fifth-year Louie Roehl pacing a talented group. In goal, junior Ryan Fanti and sophomore Matt Stejskal have each played well for UMD.
Scouting the Mavericks
Minnesota State in Mankato, under the direction of Mike Hastings, has flourished into a consistent powerhouse, winning consecutive championships in the entity formerly known as the WCHA while leading the way for the brand-new iteration of the CCHA. Led up front by Jets prospect Nathan Smith as well as a pair of exquisite seniors in Julian Napravnik and Reggie Lutz. UMD coach Sandelin's son, Ryan, also is a forward for the Mavs. On the back end, Akito Hirose plays a large part in the offense, while other contributors like Jake Livingstone provide solid play. In net, Richter finalist Drydan McKay tied Ryan Miller for the lead in all-time NCAA shutouts. Also on the roster, transfer Josh Groll who spent his freshman year in Ann Arbor.
Scouting the Friars
Nate Leaman's Providence program is led by a strong corps of forwards: Brett Berard, Patrick Moynihan, Parker Ford, Chase Yoder, and Cody Monds, among others. The 2015 national champion is undefeated in this early season at 3-0 but will get its first real test this weekend. Twelve different skaters have scored at least one goal over the span of three games, leaving a number of Friars that the Wolverines would need to keep in check. The most active is Berard, who has taken 17 shots and has five points on three goals and two assists. Ford has also talleid three goals, while Nick Poisson is the team leader in assists with four. Jaxson Stauber, a Minnesota State transfer, has started all three games in goal and has a 1.02 GAA and .958 save percentage.
Up Next
• Friday, Oct. 22 -- vs. Western Michigan (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 23 -- at Western Michigan (Kalamazoo, Mich.), 7:05 p.m.
