Wolverines Come Out Flying to Shutout Falcons

[FalconBlue]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team shutout the Bowling Green Falcons 5-0 on Tuesday (Jan. 9). Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) stopped all 22 shots directed his way, while both David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) and Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) chipped in a pair of goals in the winning effort. The victory vaulted the Wolverines from sixth place into third in the CCHA standings. U-M thwarted nine Falcon power plays, including five in the third period.

Michigan kicked off the scoring early, converting its first power-play opportunity of the night. After Kai Kantola was whistled for tripping at 1:27, the Wolverines cycled the puck through the zone before it found Matt Hunwick's (Sterling Heights, Mich.) stick. Hunwick fired the puck cross-ice to T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) waiting just above the left face off circle. Hensick lined a shot toward Jimmy Spratt, but the attempt was redirected in front of the net by Kolarik. The man-advantage tally, Kolarik's 13th goal of the season and 100th career point, put U-M up 1-0 at 2:43 of the opening stanza.

Bowling Green was given a pair of power-play chances midway through the period, but a stingy Michigan defense prevented the Falcons from registering a single shot on goal as the Maize and Blue posted four of its own.

Coming out of the penalty box, Russ Sinkewich had the best scoring chance for Bowling Green. The defenseman skated in alone on Sauer, but Hunwick wrapped up Sinkewich from behind to not allow him to get a shot on goal.

The Wolverines continued to pressure the Falcons when David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) nearly put the team up by a pair of goals. Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) slid the puck up to Rohlfs, who ripped a shot that beat Spratt glove side. Unfortunately, the shot pinged off the cross bar at 2:04 to deny Rohlfs the tally.

Bowling Green's only shot of the period came at 18:19 from the neutral zone. After 20 minutes of play, Michigan outshot BGSU by a 13-1 margin.

A failed clearing attempt allowed Michigan to push its lead to 2-0 at 1:53 of the middle session. Rohlfs grabbed the dribbling puck and threw a slap shot in the direction of the BGSU netminder that fooled Spratt for Rohlfs' 11th goal of the year.

U-M extended its lead to three goals on a bang-bang play in front of the net. Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) tipped the puck from along the boards to Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) in the slot. Porter relayed the puck to Hensick behind the goal line, and the senior center dished it back to Porter. The give-and-go play netted Porter his team-leading 15th goal of the season at 8:42.

Kolarik's second goal of the night at 2:19 of the third period put the Maize and Blue up by a 4-0 margin. Jason Dest (Fraser, Mich.) slipped the puck up ice to Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) streaking through center ice. Cogliano laced a pass to Kolarik, who elected to keep the puck and rifle a shot in on Spratt. The near-side shot beat the BGSU goalie over his glove for the shorthanded marker.

The Wolverines' lead was propelled to five goals on Rohlfs' 12th goal of the season -- and second of the night -- at 8:05. Dest hit Rohlfs in stride at the blue line, and Rohlfs split the Bowling Green defense before lofting a shot that beat Spratt. Chris Summers (Milan, Mich.) also assisted on the play.

Michigan will host Northern Michigan this weekend, starting with Friday's game at 7:35 pm. The game will be televised on Comcast Local. Saturday's game will close out U-M's lone series with the Wildcats and is scheduled to begin at 7:35 pm.

Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423

[FalconBlue]

#13 Michigan Blanks Falcons, 5-0
Wolverines out-shot the Falcons 33-22 on the night.

Jan. 9, 2007

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Bowling Green State University hockey suffered their second straight 5-0 loss, after being blanked by the Michigan Wolverines Tuesday night inside Yost Ice Arena. Sophomore Jimmy Spratt made 28 saves in the loss.

"We had a good team feeling heading into the second and we actually increased our game, but unfortunately, our inability to score goals is really hurting our confidence and our overall game," said BGSU head coach Scott Paluch.

Michigan, having played just two game in the last month, looked to have the early jump in their legs, recording a scoring chance on each of their first five shots. Just 50 seconds into the contest sophomore Jimmy Spratt stoned Kevin Porter in front of the BG crease. The next 40 seconds Spratt denied two more point-blank UM shots to keep the game scoreless.

The Wolverines finally solved Spratt as Chad Kolarik deflected a T.J. Hensick slap-shot at the 2:43 mark of the first period.

BGSU (5-17-1, 3-12-0 CCHA) had a great opportunity to knot the score a one apiece as Josh Boyd stripped a UM defender in the Wolverines' zone. Boyd skated in on UM's Billy Sauer and rang a wrister off the near post for the Falcons' best scoring chance of the period.

Michigan finished the first period with a 13-1 shot advantage.

Bowling Green got the first two shots of the second period in the opening minute of the second stanza, but a Falcon turnover and a David Rohlfs flip towards the BGSU cage gave UM a 2-0 advantage 1:53 into the second.

The Wolverines added one more goal midway through the second and two more in the final period for the 5-0 final.

On the night Michigan out-shot the Falcons 33-22. Bowling Green went 0-for-9 on the power play and UM was 1-for-6.

Up next for the Orange and Brown is a trip to Omaha, Nebraska for a pair of CCHA games with the UNO Maverick this weekend (Jan. 12-13).

[jpfalcon09]

Paluch's an idiot for what he said. They played worse in the 2nd and 3rd than they did in the 1st. Spratt's cheapie 2nd goal broke the team's back and ultimately had them going through the motions. I wish I could see the same team and game through the eyes of Paluch, but I might be dead from all the drugs I'd be on.

This program needs help, desperately. After Foster left this spring I was worried that the team wouldn't be as good...but I'd never think they'd be this bad. I'm sure by the end of the year no one will care about the hockey program outside of the diehards and it will be relegated back to the 4th sport on campus.

[pdt1081]

Paluch's an idiot for what he said. They played worse in the 2nd and 3rd than they did in the 1st. Spratt's cheapie 2nd goal broke the team's back and ultimately had them going through the motions. I wish I could see the same team and game through the eyes of Paluch, but I might be dead from all the drugs I'd be on.

This program needs help, desperately. After Foster left this spring I was worried that the team wouldn't be as good...but I'd never think they'd be this bad. I'm sure by the end of the year no one will care about the hockey program outside of the diehards and it will be relegated back to the 4th sport on campus.

You must've been on drugs then. The second period was our best period.

[Falconfreak90]

Check this out....the game was actually on Sports Time Ohio on my Dish Network! I was jacked! But then the game started. Wow. Is there any defense on this team? It seems like Spratt is back there all by himself and gets no help.

I also saw very few real scoring chances. After sitting thru Saturday night's 5-0 loss at the Ice Arena and watching that game last night, I firmly believe a change is needed for next year. I can't believe how this once proud, nationally ranked and recognized program has fallen. Even though BG has not had a solid team since the late 90's, people still recognize the hockey program. But this program seems to be on life support at this time and it's very depressing and frustrating. Hockey helped put BGSU on the map...

I can't tell you how badly I feel for the Hockey Crazies that have followed this team a lot longer and much closer than me. It's time for a CHANGE.

GO HOCKEY

[jpfalcon09]

Paluch's an idiot for what he said. They played worse in the 2nd and 3rd than they did in the 1st. Spratt's cheapie 2nd goal broke the team's back and ultimately had them going through the motions. I wish I could see the same team and game through the eyes of Paluch, but I might be dead from all the drugs I'd be on.

This program needs help, desperately. After Foster left this spring I was worried that the team wouldn't be as good...but I'd never think they'd be this bad. I'm sure by the end of the year no one will care about the hockey program outside of the diehards and it will be relegated back to the 4th sport on campus.

You must've been on drugs then. The second period was our best period.

I didn't think they played any better in the 2nd or 3rd than from the 1st. They had a 5-on-3 in the 2nd and Nesdill screwed it all up and Spratt gave up a horrendous goal that deflated the team. BG had no more than two scoring chances last night, and they both came from Matsumoto, no one else did anything. I've watched the game of hockey a long time, and I know the disparagy between a good period and bad period...all three last night were pretty rotten. Michigan could have scored 15 goals on us if they hadn't been so cute trying to score.

The program right now is on life support. As I mentioned earlier, there was no one outside of Matsumoto that even looked like they have the skill level to match up with the better teams, and Michigan isn't even that good this year, they're 14-8-0. It looked like the All 18-22 Team vs. a runky-dunk high school team, it was that bad live.

I went to the game because I support the school and the athletics, but I left Yost embarrassed last night. Even the Michigan fans were sympathic with how bad our team is, their fans actually wanted a competitive game but BG never even put up a fight.

[hammb]

I will readily admit that I do not know much about hockey. I watched the first 2 periods last night, and what I saw was total domination. At least from a non-hockey mind that's what it looked like.

I went to nearly every home game when I was in college. I made road trips to OSU, MSU, and UM as well during those years. The program has gotten to the point where I cannot even stand to watch 3 full periods when it's on TV for free. As a "casual" hockey fan, something needs to be done, because the product on the ice is pretty terrible.

[dannyk]

It will be interesting to see what happens in the offseason, because right now we are one of the worst teams in college hockey.

What was the worst team in BG history? I would think we are about on pace for that title.

[hockey fan]

I believe the worst team in BG history (prior to this year) was the 98-99 team. Can't remember the record precisely, but I think they won eight games all year. This year's team definitely looks like it might give them a run for their money.

I saw that 98 team play in almost every game except for the long trips, NMU, LSSU etc. I've only seen one game in person so far this year, but that game (the UMD in C-bus) was worse than any game I ever saw that team play. I can only imagine what some of the worse losses of the season must of looked like. The 98 team sorely lacked talent (particularly scoring talent), but they always fought every step of the way.

[Falconfreak90]

The fewest games BG has ever won in one season is 8...three times. 91-92, 97-98, 02-03.

Looking thru the records in the media guide, wow. We really kicked ass for a lot of years.