Your guide to the Michigan hockey team's season-opening weekend
WHAT: Kendall Hockey Classic.
WHERE: Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, Alaska.
WHEN: 9:07 p.m. Friday; 11:07 p.m. Saturday.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: No local TV or radio, but MGoBlue.com will live blog the games and offer a link to streaming play-by-play broadcasts.
RUNDOWN: Michigan, which lost to Air Force in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, opens the regular season with two games at the Kendall Hockey Classic in Alaska.
The Wolverines went 2-0 in the exhibition season, beating the U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-18 team, 4-2, and Windsor, 6-2.
Although Michigan and Alaska both are in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, the season-opener will not count as a conference game. The last time these two teams played, Michigan beat Alaska, 3-1, in the CCHA tournament. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 37-7.
The Wolverines on Friday will have to break through Alaska's slow, defensive trapping style. It's likely to be a low-scoring game, with a lot of pressure on Michigan's defensemen and goalie Bryan Hogan. Look for scoring from Louie Caporusso, who has five points, including a game-winning goal, in his career against Alaska.
Michigan and Alaska will play two more times, Jan. 15 and 16, in Ann Arbor. Michigan has played Alaska-Anchorage just three times, with Michigan winning each game.
Here's a recap of our preview coverage for the Michigan hockey team.
OFFENSE Faced with the challenge of replacing 50-point scorer Aaron Palushaj, who turned pro after his sophomore season, Michigan still has question marks on offense. But the Wolverines have begun answering those questions with strong preseason play from junior Carl Hagelin and freshman A.J. Treais. Expect junior Louie Caporusso, who had 49 points last season, to lead Michigan in scoring.
DEFENSE Captain Chris Summers leads a skilled and experienced defensive unit, which should be a strength for the Wolverines.
GOALTENDING After a rare season in which Michigan rotated goalies, junior Bryan Hogan has solidified the No. 1 goaltending position this season.
COACHING Red Berenson is back for his 26th season as coach of the Wolverines. Berenson prepared for the season by joining the Detroit Red Wings for training camp, where he picked up some new ideas and spent time with Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, with whom Berenson shares a mutual respect and love for the outdoors. Berenson needs 17 wins to tie Len Ceglarski for sixth place on the all-time college hockey coaching win list.
FRESHMAN CLASS Michigan has seven freshmen, several of whom will be in the lineup every night. A.J. Treais, Kevin Lynch and Chris Brown lead a solid freshman class.
CCHA Central Collegiate Hockey Association coaches and media picked Michigan as the team to beat in the conference.
Because of a CCHA rule change, teams will have greater incentive to win conference games in regulation or overtime rather than allowing them to extend into shootouts.
Inside College Hockey has a full preview of the CCHA.