Michigan
1-1-0
Minnesota State
1-1-0
Hage Continues Hot Start as Michigan Overpowers Minnesota State
10/5/2024 10:01:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Michael Hage's goal and assist helped the Wolverines to a 4-1 win over Minnesota State.
» Nick Moldenhauer was the only other Wolverine to finish with multiple points.
» Cameron Korpi looked made his first career start, earning the win with 24 saves.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A strong rebound effort led the seventh-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team to a season-opening split after defeating Minnesota State 4-1 on Saturday evening (Oct. 5) inside Yost Ice Arena.
Freshman Cameron Korpi earned his first career start for Michigan, and the South Lyon, Mich., native took full advantage of the opportunity, turning aside 24 of 25 shots to start his tenure on a positive note.
Junior Jackson Hallum opened the scoring for Michigan after he dashed into the Minnesota State zone and carved in toward the net before backhanding a precise shot into the top corner 1:21 into the contest. Freshman forward Michael Hage continued his hot start by collecting the primary assist while Nick Moldenhauer earned the secondary helper.
Hage continued his torrid start by netting his first collegiate goal at 11:48 with a quick shot that was in and out of the net by the time the celebrations began. The play was created in transition off the sticks of Moldenhauer and freshman defender Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen, who initiated the breakout. With the first period tally, Hage had factored in on Michigan's first four goals of the season.
At the end of the first, both teams had put nine shots on goal while the Wolverines led at the faceoff dot winning 13 of 21 draws.
The second period came and went without either team getting on the scoreboard, despite both teams each having a pair of power-play opportunities.
Four minutes into the third, Minnesota State halved the deficit with a goal that made it 2-1.
Minnesota State pulled its goaltender with a bit over one minute left in regulation in search of a game-tying goal, but the Wolverines buried on the empty net instead to ice the game at 3-1 with 41 seconds left when Josh Eernisse notched his first goal of the year.
The visitors emptied their net for a second time and before time expired, Tyler Duke sent a lob from the defensive zone that found its way into the back of the net fractions of a second before the final buzzer sounded. While the teams mobbed their goaltenders and prepared for the handshake line, the officials gathered in the penalty box to confirm the unassisted goal that made it 4-1.
The Wolverines owned the faceoff dot once again (33-26), but the Mavericks did outshoot the home team 25-18.
Next week, the Wolverines hit the road for another non-conference series against Arizona State, starting on Friday (Oct. 11) at 3:30 p.m. MST. The series opener will be streamed live on NCHC.tv.
