Michigan hockey swept by Western Michigan for first time since 1986
Michigan goaltender Adam Janecyk makes a save Friday night against Western Michigan
Matt Gade | Mlive Media Group
By David Drew
KALAMAZOO, MI - Western Michigan University got the monkey off its back on Friday and the Broncos made a statement on Saturday.
Michigan again got on the scoreboard first, but Western Michigan scored five unanswered goal to win 5-1 and sweep the Wolverines for the first time since 1986.
It was the Broncos’ first-ever sweep of Michigan at Lawson Arena as this weekend’s series was the first two-game series in Kalamazoo. The sweep in 1986 was a home-and-home matchup.
Michigan got out to a 1-0 lead when Skyline graduate Andrew Copp scored on a U-M power play with 4:26 left in the first period, but it was all WMU from there.
The Broncos got on the scoreboard when Shane Berschbach re-directed a Matt Stewart shot from the blue line 4:08 into the second period and Michigan goalie Adam Janecyk was not able to track it.
Just two-and-a-half minutes later Kenney Morrison lit the lamp with his signature rip on the power play to give WMU a 2-1 lead.
The prettiest goal of the game was scored by freshman Colton Hargrove. After a U-M turnover, freshman linemate Josh Pitt brought the puck up the ice on a 2-on-1 odd man rush and found Hargrove who got just enough of it to send it in to the leg pads of Janecyk, who deflected it back into play. Hargrove, moving full speed towards the net, gathered the puck and wrapped it around Janecyk for the score.
The Wolverines recorded one shot on goal through the first 16 minutes of the second period and finished the middle frame with three shots.
WMU took a 26-12 shot advantage into the second intermission.
Pitt and Hargrove put the icing on the cake for Western Michigan in the third period.
Pitt, a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder, created a turnover in the Michigan zone and buried the biscuit 2:13 into the final frame.
Hargrove scored another goal in front of Janecyk 3:53 into the third when linemate Mike Cichy fed him a pass from behind net.
Janecyk was pulled after Hargrove’s second goal and replaced by Jared Rutledge. Janecyk finished with 26 saves. Rutledge made two stops in relief.
WMU goalie Frank Slubowski stood tall at times, but got plenty of help in front of him from the Brown and Gold defense and the offense, which did a nice job of possessing the puck, especially in the second.
Slubowski finished with 20 saves.
Comments
SemperFi
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
There is a complete lack of leadership on this team. Kevin Lynch provides some intensity, but the rest of the upperclassmen, not so much.
MRunner73
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 12:21 p.m.
How could a team fall into the dumper? I believe Michigan is now in last place in the CCHA. Problems with this team are plentyful. No doubt the coaching staff is mosot accountable. At what point will common sense overtake the unwillingness to step down for the Head Coach? For the sake of the program, leave this program in good hands before another embarrassing season awaits.
Veracity
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 5 a.m.
Ouch! I have not been paying attention: has Red been changing the lines? How good is next year's recruiting class? Is Michigan getting a rated goalie?
Kyle Austin
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 11:52 p.m.
No goalie next year, all four on this year's roster have remaining eligibility but some highly rated skaters should be coming in. And Red has been changing the lines plenty.