The Mel era starts with a 10-1 win

Submitted by scanner blue on

In an exhibition match against Western Ontario, Michigan dominated in all phases in a 10 -1 win.  Nine players scored and the Mustangs were outshot 60 to 20. Notable goals included a tic-tac-toe play with Tony Calderone finding the top corner, Will Lockwood had a nice deke on a penalty shot score and senior Cutler Martin had a rare goal from the point on a seeing eye shot. LaFontaine looked sharp in the first 30 minutes stopping a mini breakaway and flashing his glove on a laser shot. plenty of chipiness also with lots of C-yas from the Children of Yost and a few scrums and even a Michigan goal scorer getting lifted off the ice and deposited on his back by the Western net minder. On the apparel front... Brian was not wearing his normal jersey. Buttoned down collared non U of M shirt. Laundry day? Silent protest? Young Denard Cook threw up on him on his way out the door?

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rosedani

October 1st, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^

While I agree Western Ontario is bad at hockey playing these exihibition games against OUA opponents have been a barometer of success for the season. When we lose or win a close one we miss the tourney, when we crush them (as we should) we will make the tourney. I am fairly confident we make the tourney, not based on the 10-1 result but based on the talent and coaching. 

2013-2014 Lost to Waterloo 2-1 - ended the season 18-13-4 and missed tourney

2014-2015 Beat Wilfrid Lauier 5-3 (w an ENG) - ended the season 22-15 and missed tourney

2015-2016 Beat Toronto 8-1 - ended the season 24-9 and made the tourney

2016-2017 Beat Windsor 2-0 (W an ENG) - ended the seaosn 13-19-3 and missed tourney 

 

 

 

Joined: 09/28/2010

MGoPoints: 408

South Bend Wolverine

October 1st, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^

Definitely don't want to over-rate the significance of this, but it felt good to see us steamroll a team we should steamroll.  That tic-tac-toe goal was pretty gorgeous, too.  Really looking forward to this season.

Joined: 09/11/2009

MGoPoints: 7918

Alton

October 1st, 2017 at 2:23 PM ^

Both power play units were impressive, although the #2 unit got the first 3 of Michigan's power play goals.

Unit #1:  Jake Slaker, Will Lockwood, Alex Roos, Josh Norris, Quinn Hughes.  Michigan deployed this unit mostly in that 1-3-1 that they used to such devastating effect during Kyle Connor's season.  Michigan had lefty Josh Norris line up in Connor's old spot, along the right wing boards in the faceoff circle.  If Norris can get his one-timer working, we can cackle with knowing glee.  Surprised to see graduate transfer (from Colorado College) Alex Roos out there, but he certainly wasn't out of place.  Roos didn't get any PP time in Colorado Springs, as far as I can tell.

Unit #2:  Dexter Dancs, Cooper Marody, Tony Calderone, Luke Martin, Joseph Cecconi.  They deployed in the umbrella for the most part.  Dancs & Calderone are a force in front of the net, and Luke Martin could easily end up our top-scoring defenseman.

It was hard to tell what the PK units looked like; UWO didn't have too many power plays.  Slaker & Lockwood appear to be the #1 PK unit.

Sam Piazza was scratched.  I don't know why, but hopefully not a long-term injury issue.  Since it was just an exhibition, it could have been a minor thing that wouldn't have held him out of a real game.

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 13277

Wolverine Devotee

October 1st, 2017 at 2:34 PM ^

I was there. Front row. Team looked different right from the start. Like Football in their first game, the differences were obvious. Discipline, aggression and speed. That's all yesterday's game was. For 60 minutes. I expected a game. Yesterday was very impressive. Final shot total was 60-20 and UWO seemed to be stuck on 12 forever. These CIS teams aren't all terrible. For the most part they have much older players. #6 Minnesota-Duluth actually lost to Alberta last night. Clarkson (next Saturday's opponent) tied Guelph.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

ppToilet

October 1st, 2017 at 2:49 PM ^

But anybody there would say that Michigan passed the "eye test". They looked like the better team and played like it. Crisp passing, opportunistic, and no mental lapses for the most part. Again, Western Ontario wasn't the greatest litmus test (their guys looked about 6-7 inches shorter or more on average) but the discipline Michigan showed on the ice was great. Without overstating things, some of the more frustrating elements (even in the wins from previous years) were missing. Let's cheer Mel's first win, the great turnout for the exhibition game, and the hope for better things to come.

Joined: 04/18/2011

MGoPoints: 5263

Alton

October 1st, 2017 at 2:49 PM ^

* Nobody for Michigan was wearing a letter.  Tony Calderone acted as captain for the game, but as far as I can tell Michigan doesn't have a captain yet (or maybe I'm wrong about that).  Since Piazza didn't play, maybe he is the "C"?  Even so, there should be another "C" or another couple of "A"s.

* Mel might as well send one of his wingers out to take the faceoffs, the linesmen were intent on kicking somebody out of the circle on every single draw.  Obviously this is a "point of emphasis" this season, which means that nobody will pay attention to it after New Years Day.

* It was a surprisingly good crowd for an exhibition game on a Fall Saturday.  Officially 5100+ out of a 5800 capacity.  Pretty good showing from the students, too.

* Speaking of which, did they move the students 1 section closer to center ice?  It certainly looked like they did.  If so, good move by Warde or whomever it was who made the decision.  I don't know where the visiting fans will end up, though.

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 13277

Michigan Arrogance

October 1st, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^

couple things (I live out of state but keep up with the sport fairly well)

- Never thought of this, but why not send your #2 FO guy out there pushing the envelope every time and if he gets booted from the circle, bring in your true #1 guy? seems like a good idea to me.

- bye week for football usually leads to good yost crowds, even for exhibs.

- based on the note above re: beating of OUA teams - if this team has a good showing on the road next week I'm willing to start expecting a touney team. there was a snippit of practice last week with video and there were a few things on twitter but one stuck out: there is no longer any more "save the energy for the game" attitude in practice. it's go hard, max effort at all times now. that seems like the way to do it (duh?) but man, this exhib. has "win with class, win with cruelty" written all over it. 

 

bottom line, necessary but not sufficient result for a 25+ win tourney bound team. good sign and very interested in next weekend.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 35465