10/5 Quick Hits
FSN Detroit Season Preview
If you missed FSN Detroit’s half hour season preview show on Sunday, you can catch it on Monday (11:30am & 7pm) or Tuesday (7pm).
Zetterberg’s play keeps improving
This Thursday, Henrik Zetterberg will celebrate his 28th birthday and a certain banner ceremony before the Wings’ season opener against Toronto. Zetterberg finished the playoffs with 13 goals and 14 assists earning him the Conn Smythe trophy. In a contract year, Hank hopes to keep improving his play and teammates don’t see him slowing down any time soon.
“Just look back to what he did last year,” Niklas Kronwall said. “I don’t think there’s a limit to what he can achieve, what he can do. If you look at his work ethic day in and day out, it doesn’t matter if it’s on the ice, off the ice, in the gym, he’s always doing it 100%. He’s so good both ways — I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him score 50 goals.”
Even more encouraging is Zetterberg’s comment in the same article hinting that he’d like to stay in Detroit. It just seems to be a matter of agreeing on a fair price that can keep the Wings under the salary cap.
“I really enjoy it here, and it’s become a home for me,” Zetterberg said. “I can’t really see a better place to play hockey, so hopefully we can figure something out that can work for both of us.”
Datsyuk returns, Hossa out
Pavel Datsyuk returned from a groin injury to play in tonight’s 3-0 win over Buffalo, but linemate Marian Hossa was out with a sore groin himself. The injury came in Saturday’s game and while he doesn’t believe the injury to be serious, it did prevent him from playing in the third period and then caused him to miss the last exhibition game. It is unknown if he’ll be up to playing on Thursday.
4 players cut from Wings roster
The Wings have cut four players from their roster in an effort to trim the team down to the 23-man roster limit by Wedneday’s deadline. There will be more to come later this week. For now, we know that Justin Abdelkader, Cory Emmerton, Jan Mursak, and Mattias Ritola will play in Grand Rapids this season. Ritola was the only one of the four to have played pro all of last season so this next year will be a great chance for the other three to get used to the crazy AHL schedule and travel.
Wolverines win both exhibition games
Michigan’s hockey team won both of their exhibition games this weekend in a 4-1 win over the U.S. NTDP U-18 team and a 3-1 victory over Waterloo. The Wolverines open their season at home against St. Lawrence next weekend and will start off with No. 2 overall and No. 1 CCHA preseason rankings. BTJ readers may see a few more UM hockey-related posts/comments as I am interning in the UM athletic media relations department right now, particularly with the hockey team.
Wolverines make stunning comeback
In a pleasantly shocking turn of events, the Michigan Wolverines stormed back from a 0-19 deficit at halftime to beat No. 9 Wisconsin at the Big House. Sadly, my knee buckled right before the game so I could only physically make it through the first half and had to leave after a very entertaining halftime performance by the Michigan marching band. However, I watched the rest of the game on HD (I can’t believe I never had HD until this year - makes sports so much better) and saw a fantastic second half by Michigan.
Whereas the team had five turnovers in the first half courtesy of special teams and the offense, the offense stepped up thanks to QB Steven Threet, who finally found a rhythm and made some key plays. Ultimately, it was Michigan’s defense that (1) kept the team in the game during the first half and (2) got the win. Between an interception by John Thompson that he ran in for a touchdown and then a sack by Brandon Graham resulting in a Wisconsin fumble, the defense was the difference maker. Thompson’s interception came just three seconds after Brandon Minor scored a 34-yard touchdown runs. Wisconsin made it a game by scoring a touchdown and then seemingly tied it up on the two-point conversion. Much to the joy of Michigan fans everywhere, Travis Beckhum had lined up on the scrimmage line, which was illegal when he caught the ball, so the play had to be redone and Wisconsin could not get the extra two points giving Michigan its first big win in the Rich Rodriguez era.
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press
The win seemed fitting as it was Michigan Stadium’s 500th game and Michigan came back from the largest deficit in Michigan Stadium history. Eight gold medal winner Michael Phelps, who trained in Ann Arbor for the four years between the Athens and Beijing Olympics, was honored with other Olympians before the game. Phelps wore a No. 8 Michigan jersey for his eight gold medals. Phelps and the other honored Olympians all wore blue Michigan hats with Beijing 2008 in Yellow on the back. While Phelps was down on the sidelines during the games, the other Olympians sat literally right across the aisle from me in the next section. It was fun overhearing them talk and proudly show off their Olympic ring and souvenirs.
“It’s really great to be back here, this is like home to me,” said Phelps, who has trained in Ann Arbor with Club Wolverine since 2004.
Phelps said Ann Arbor will always be special to him, a place where he matured and developed some strong friendships for life. He sold his home here six months ago, and has since moved back to his native Baltimore. His time at Michigan has been commemorated with a block “M” tattoo, inked in 2005. He only has two tattoos, with the other being the Olympic rings.
“I’m really thankful for the experience here,” Phelps, 23, said. “It changed my life. It was the first time I lived on my own. The first time I did the dishes, laundry, cooked for myself. It’s a lot of memories I will never forget. I have made friends that I’ll have forever.”
Michigan also had former Michigan turned NFL players in attendance including recent graduates Chad Henne and Jake Long.
Michigan loses to Utah, 25-23
As most of you know, I am currently a student at the University of Michigan. Last year, I made a post after the horrific loss to Appalachian State, which still hurts to this day. Anyways, I knew this was going to be a rough season adjusting to a new coach, the spread offense, and a bunch of new players in key positions. I had just hoped that the season opener would go smoothly. Sadly, that did not happen as the Wolverines lost 25-23. Now I’m not going to talk about the game specifics because you can read any of these great blogs if you want to get their opinions on the action. I just wanted to comment that this loss sucks and then the cab I was using to get back to my apartment because I’m on crutches got in a minor car accident so that was a great finish to the evening.
However, I must admit that my seats aren’t too shabby. Row 20. Section 25. Aisle seat. I was sitting on the 21 yard line. Glorious.
So how did I cheer myself up after the game? I popped in the 2008 Stanley Cup Champs DVD and realized how much I miss hockey! Only 24 more days until the Wings first preseason game!
Michigan heads to Frozen Four
The University of Michigan hockey team won its second game in consecutive days in the NCAA tournament, which means the Wolverines are heading to the Frozen Four! They defeated Clarkson tonight, 2-0, and Niagara last night, 5-1.
Be sure to visit The Blog That Yost Built for all your latest UM hockey news!
Michigan will face the winner of the Michigan State/Notre Dame game that is just about to face-off. The CCHA is now 5-0 on the tournament, about to be 6-1, with two teams guaranteed into the Frozen Four, and one guaranteed to make the NCAA Championship game. For the record, the WCHA is 2-4, will be 3-5 after tomorrow, and can put a maximum of one team into the Frozen Four. But they weren’t overrated this year or anything….
The Frozen Four game would be on April 10th at 4pm or 7pm (MDT). Go Blue!
Michigan wins CCHA tournament
This past weekend, the University of Michigan Wolverines defeated Northern Michigan on Friday, 6-4, and then Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, 2-1, to win the CCHA title at Joe Louis Arena.
College Hockey Showcase Championship: Check
Great Lakes Invitational Championship: Check
CCHA Regular Season Championship: Check
CCHA Tournament Championship: Check
NCAA #1 overall seed: Check
How sweet is that? Now hopefully UM will continue this level of success in the NCAA tournament. Based on the team’s top seed and the fact that Wisconsin made it to the tourney (and was placed in the Madison, WI regional), UM will play in the East regional and should come out of that regional. It’s obviously not a lock or anything like that, but it’s certainly in the Wolverines’ favor.
If you’re curious about how they selected who goes where and want more bracket analysis, be sure to check out this great MGoBlog post here.
I must admit I cracked a smile in the press box when I saw the players pile on top of each other when that buzzer rang ending the game and it was great to see Michigan going to the rafters of the Joe for the second time this season. Hopefully, they will be raising a certain National Championship banner to the rafters of Yost Ice Arena this season. Go Blue!
Playoff hockey this weekend
For all of you southeast Michigan hockey fans out there itching for the playoffs, you can support two of the local teams this weekend in their playoff run.
Friday night at 8:05pm, you can cheer on the Maize and Blue as the University of Michigan hockey team takes on Northern Michigan in the CCHA semifinals at Joe Louis Arena. Earlier in the day at 4:30pm, Miami (OH) and Notre Dame will face-off. The winner of those two games will play in the CCHA championship game on Saturday at 7:35pm. The two losing teams will play at 3:35pm. The winner of the CCHA tournament gets an automatic bid into the NCAA tourney.
Yours truly will be working all four games this weekend as well as volunteering at the first ever CCHA Fan Fest, which will be held at the Ren Cen.
The CCHA Fan Fest will be open on Friday, March 21 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and will re-open for the CCHA Championship party at 10:30 p.m. The Championship party, presented by Olympia Entertainment and the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, will include live music from the band 9 House featuring former NHL player Kraig Nienhuis. Fans will also have an opportunity to explore the Fan Fest during the Championship Party.
“It’s a fun night of entertainment. People get to come and see live entertainment and socialize with other hockey fans and enjoy the camaraderie of a sporting event outside of the arena. Hockey people love being around other hockey people and this is an opportunity for everyone to come and enjoy each other’s company and have some fun,” CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos said.
The Fan Fest will also be open on Saturday, March 22 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
I will be working at the Fan Fest from 10am-1pm on Friday and 10am-11:45am on Saturday before heading to the Joe for the games. So if you are looking for something to do, come downtown for the Fan Fest (it’s free!) and then come over to the Joe and watch some hockey!
Since I will be working 26 of the 48 hours on Friday and Saturday, it’s safe to say I won’t be posting here until Sunday evening or Monday.
Plymouth Whalers
As many of you know, I was a game night intern for the Plymouth Whalers last year. If you don’t already know, the Whalers are the local Ontario Hockey League team in southeast Michigan. Well, their playoffs begin tomorrow in Kitchener when the Whalers take on the No. 1 ranked Rangers. The two teams will then travel to Plymouth for Game #2 of the series to be played on Saturday at 7:05pm. Tickets are just $15 for center ice or $11 otherwise.
Game #4 will also be in Plymouth on Wednesday, March 26th. The Wings don’t have a game on the 26th and they are on the road on the 22nd, so if you can go support the local OHL team! Playoff games are always fun and it’s the OHL so they are affordable too!
Wolverines 6, Friars 0
I spent eleven hours of my day today working at the Joe for the Great Lakes Invitational, but I was able to sit and watch most of the two college hockey games this evening so here are some quick thoughts about the action.
My Michigan Wolverines opened up the night against the Providence Friars and won 6-0. The game was a bit closer than the score indicates as a couple goals were pretty weak, but a win is a win and the Wolverines will play in the championship game Saturday night at 7:30pm. The team has not won the GLI since 1996 and hopes to change that this year despite missing four players due to the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. Head coach Red Berenson commented on this in a press conference following the game:
“It has been talked about a lot. We are not here in this tournament just as a guest, we are here as a team that wants to compete. We want to get in the final game, and then we want to have a good final game. It is a mini-championship, if you will. It has been important when we have been winning it, and it has been important for us when we haven’t been winning it. So, we want to put our best foot forward.”
The second game of the evening consisted of the GLI host, Michigan Tech Huskies, and Michigan State. This was the more interesting of the two games, in my opinion, with flashes of brilliance and sloppiness for both teams. The game ended with a 4-1 victory by the Huskies, but two of Tech’s goals came in the last minute of the game so for the majority of the game, it was closely contested. MSU had numerous chances in the second period to tie the game up at two apiece, but failed to capitalize on every opportunity thrown their way.
I must say that I was impressed by Red Wings prospect and MSU junior forward Justin Abdelkader who took eight shots on net (a team best today) and earned an assist on the sole MSU goal. It was his 100th career game as a Spartan. I thought he played a physical game and many of the solid chances that went State’s way in the second were a result of his play.
Note: I will be unable to watch the Red Wings game against Phoenix tomorrow as I will be working another eleven hour day at the Joe.
The Big House and UM’s disabled fans
Over at Big House Football, I address the issue of the Big House renovation and how the stadium has been for UM’s disabled fans.
UM 28, MSU 24
After watching a very frustrating college football game, I’m pleased to say that UM beat MSU for the sixth time in just as many years. I’ve been asked by MVN to contribute a post once a week to Big House Football so you can read my recap for today’s game at that link. Go Blue!
Wolverines win & Whalers lose
Yesterday, I attended both the UM-Penn State football game and the Plymouth Whalers season opener. As many of you know, I was a game night intern for the Whalers last season so I wanted to enjoy their season opener and watch them raise the 2006-2007 OHL Championship banner to the rafters of Compuware Arena. Michigan beat Penn State, 14-9, in a close game til the finish. The Whalers lost, 6-4, to the Erie Otters, who had 70 points less than the Whalers last season.
Since I’m short on time, I will leave you photos of my experiences.
First play of the game…
My friend Jenny & I
Watching the banners rise at Compuware…