Playoff Roundup: Three is the magic number
By Jason Paul | April 30, 2008
In the NHL last night, Detroit took a 3-0 series lead over Colorado following a 4-3 win in Denver. Some Hensick kid got an assist on the Avs first goal. T.J. saw about 14 minutes of ice time and had a +1 rating and three shots on goal.
Down in Dallas, the Stars took a 3-0 series lead over San Jose with a 2-1 overtime victory. Marty Turco made 19 stops and looks to be on a collision course with the Red Wings.
Pittsburgh took a 3-0 series lead over the New York Rangers in the night’s other game.
In the ECHL last night, Las Vegas took a 3-0 series lead over Alaska with a 5-2 win. Former Wolverine defenseman Jason Dest iced the game with an empty net goal for the Wranglers.
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Playoff Roundup: Another heartbreaker for Porter, Kolarik
By Jason Paul | April 29, 2008
San Antonio lost to Toronto, 2-1, in Game 7 of their AHL opening round series. The Marlies scored with 59 seconds left in the third period to end the Rampage’s season.
Neither Kevin Porter nor Chad Kolarik registered a point, and Porter had a -1 rating. Kolarik did score the GWG in Game 6 (assisted by Porter, naturally) to add to his total, however.
Former Wolverine Mike Brown also saw his season come to an end with the Manitoba Moose. Syracuse defeated the Moose, 3-2, in Game 6 to take the series, 4-2.
In the NHL last night, the Philadelphia Flyers took a 2-1 series lead over Montreal with a 3-2 victory. Mike Komisarek had no points and a -2 rating for the Canadiens, while the Flyers Mike Knuble remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, but could return for Game 4.
A couple of big games tonight as Marty Turco and Dallas look to go up 3-0 on San Jose, while Detroit looks to take a 3-0 lead over Colorado. The games start at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET respectively.
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Kolarik hat trick play-by-play
By Jason Paul | April 20, 2008
Here’s a link to the audio play-by-play of all three Kolarik goals set to the tune of The Victors.
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Playoff Roundup: Kolarik nets a hat trick
By Jason Paul | April 19, 2008
In his second professional game, former U-M standout Chad Kolarik netted a hat trick to help San Antonio to a 6-3 win over Toronto, and it should come as no surprise that Kevin Porter assisted on two of them. The series is now tied 1-1. The points were their first as pros.
In the NHL last night, the Detroit Red Wings defeated Nashville when Johan Franzen scored a breakaway goal early in overtime to give the Wings a 2-1 win. Former Wolverine Josh Langfeld suited up for the Predators due to a few injuries. The Wings lead the series 3-2.
Marty Turco and the Dallas Stars were unable to put away Anaheim. The Ducks broke open the game with three third period goals to win 5-2. The Stars still lead the series 3-2 with Game 6 to be played in Dallas.
The New York Rangers ended New Jersey’s season with a 5-3 win to take the series 4-1. Former Wolverine John Madden had no points and was a minus-2 for the game.
Back to the AHL, former U-M captain Matt Hunwick helped Providence shut down Manchester, 2-0. Hunwick had no points and four shots on goal.
Syracuse defeated Manitoba, 2-1. Mike Brown had no points and surprisingly no penalty minutes.
In the ECHL last night, Columbia defeated former U-M defenseman Tim Cook and Texas, 4-2. Cook had two shots on goal.
Jason Dest and Las Vegas defeated David Rohlfs and Stockton, 4-3, in overtime. Neither player registered a point or shot on goal.
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Mitera named captain (update)
By Jason Paul | April 18, 2008
Michigan head coach Red Berenson has named junior defenseman Mark Mitera captain for the 2008-09 season.
Mitera was an alternate captain for the second half of this season and helped lead a young defensive corps. He led the blue line with 23 points, a +30 rating, and he averaged a team high 24 minutes of ice time per game.
Mitera was named to the All-CCHA Second Team and InsideCollegeHockey.com named him their national Defenseman of the Year.
Of course, the question still remains whether or not he will return for his senior year. A first round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2006, it shouldn’t come as any surprise if the Ducks try to sign him this summer. Hopefully this is an indication that he has already made up his mind or is strongly leaning towards staying.
Berenson will announce alternate captains in the fall.
UPDATE: According to The Michigan Daily…
Berenson said he gave Mitera the captaincy after the defenseman assured him that he had decided to return for his senior year. Mitera confirmed that he has made the commitment to return in an interview.
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Playoff Roundup
By Jason Paul | April 17, 2008
The college hockey season may be over, but there’s still plenty of hockey going on in the professional ranks involving former Wolverine standouts.
Last night in the American Hockey League Calder Cup Playoffs, Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik made their debuts with the San Antonio Rampage in a 4-3 loss to Toronto. Neither registered a point, both had a shot on goal, and Porter finished with a minus-1 rating while Kolarik was even.
Al Montoya was in net for the Rampage and gave up four goals on 28 shots, but he did have an assist on the Rampage’s game-tying goal midway through the third period.
Andrew Ebbett had Portland’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Hartford.
Matt Hunwick had no points and a penalty, but his Providence Bruins defeated Manchester 3-2 in overtime.
And in Chicago, Josh Langfeld took honors as the AHL Star of the Night as he scored a hat trick and assisted on the game-winning goal in overtime as Milwaukee downed Chicago, 4-3.
In the NHL last night, the New York Rangers took a 3-1 series lead over New Jersey following a 5-3 victory. John Madden had an assist for the Devils.
Coming up tonight, Mike Komisarek and the Montreal Canadiens look to wrap up their series against Aaron Ward and the Boston Bruins. Montreal leads the series 3-1.
Marty Turco looks to get Dallas back on track as they trail their series against Anaheim, 2-1.
Mike Knuble and Philadelphia hope to extend their 2-1 series lead over Washington. That game can be seen on Versus starting at 7 p.m. ET.
And Eric Nystrom and David Moss look to give Calgary a boost as they are deadlocked 2-2 in their series with San Jose. That game can be seen on Versus at 10 p.m. ET.
Finally, in the ECHA Kelly Cup Playoffs, Milan Gajic had an assist to help Victoria to a 4-1 victory over Bakersfield. The Salmon Kings lead the series 3-1. They are the #2 seed in the National Division.
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Berenson named National Coach of the Year
By Jason Paul | April 15, 2008
For the first time in his 24 years coaching at Michigan, Red Berenson has been named the Spencer Penrose Award winner as the national coach of the year.
Despite losing a boat load of talent and bringing in 12 freshmen, Berenson led the Wolverines to a 33-6-4 record and trip to the Frozen Four.
He is the third straight CCHA coach to take the award following Miami’s Enrico Blasi and Notre Dame’s Jeff Jackson. The last Wolverine coach to take honors was Vic Heyliger in 1954.
Needless to say, this award has been long overdue. Congrats to Coach Berenson!
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Coyotes sign Kevin Porter
By Jason Paul | April 14, 2008
Yesterday it was Chad Kolarik and today the Phoenix Coyotes signed teammate and Hobey Baker Award winner Kevin Porter to an entry level contract.
Best of luck to both of them!
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Coyotes sign Kolarik
By Jason Paul | April 14, 2008
The Phoenix Coyotes have signed senior forward Chad Kolarik to an entry level contract.
The 22-year-old Kolarik was a seventh round selection of the Coyotes in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He had 30 goals and 26 assists to help the Wolverines make the NCAA Frozen Four.
He should be suiting up for San Antonio (AHL) very soon, and senior captain Kevin Porter probably isn’t too far behind.
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Hobey Porter!
By Jason Paul | April 11, 2008
As expected, senior captain Kevin Porter has been named the 2008 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner.
Porter led the Wolverines to a 33 -6- 4 record this season and a return to the NCAA Frozen Four. This despite being picked to finish fourth in the league after losing several top players from last year’s team.
The Wolverines entered the season with question marks all around. Was Porter a byproduct of T.J. Hensick? Where will the scoring come from? Only three returning defensemen, one of whom only saw limited action last season. And the goalie situation was up for grabs.
All Porter did was help take 12 freshmen under his wing, unite a team that had “a bunch of egos” last season according to Chad Kolarik, and led them a season that surpassed just about all expectations.
Porter switched from wing to center this year and showed he wasn’t just Hensick’s sidekick. He tied for the national lead in goals (33) and was second in points (63). He helped the Wolverines sweep Wisconsin and Minnesota in the College Hockey Showcase, where they have struggled in recent years. He helped them capture the Great Lakes Invitational title for the first time since 1996 in a thrilling double-overtime victory over Michigan Tech. He led them to the CCHA regular season and tournament championships. And he helped them return to the Frozen Four. Not too shabby!
Porter picked up a pair of CCHA Player of the Month awards, was the only unanimous selection to the All-CCHA First Team, was named the CCHA Player of the Year, and was selected to the East Regional All-Tournament Team and named the Most Outstanding Player.
Porter joins Brendan Morrison as Michigan’s only Hobey Baker Award winners.
Congrats to him on an outstanding season and giving us Wolverine fans a season to remember! Thank you, Captain!
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