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The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | October 19, 2016
LaFontaine’s debut
Jack LaFontaine lifted
Michigan in his debut with
exactly the kind of showing
the Wolverines needed
» SportsWednesday Column,
Page 2B
Dead heat
Michigan held firm at home
with a 0-0 tie against No.
15 Minnesota on Sunday,
staying at fourth place in the
Big Ten
» Page 3B
BIG RAPIDS — It was the
perfect storm: a hungry team
searching for its first win in
front of a rambunctious home
crowd, a young team making its
first road trip of the season and a
freshman goaltender making his
first start.
But the No. 13 Michigan
hockey team weathered the
storm, emerging with a 2-1 win
over Ferris State Friday night at
Ewigleben Arena.
The Wolverines (2-1) were
tested early and often by the
Bulldogs (0-5), who set the tone
with an aggressive forecheck
and physical play. Ferris State
kept
the
Michigan
attack
mostly in check and outshot the
Wolverines in all three periods,
finishing with a 29-16 advantage
for the game.
But a young Michigan team
hung tight behind strong play
from freshman netminder Jack
LaFontaine, who dealt with odd-
man rushes all night en route to
making 28 saves.
“I thought Jack played great
the whole game,” said Michigan
coach Red Berenson. “They
put pressure on us in the first
period, more pressure in the
second period — especially when
we were two men short — and
then in the third period when
the game was on the line. For a
freshman goalie to come in here
and win a game like that is really
impressive.”
Added LaFontaine: “As the
game progressed, I kinda found
my groove. I think our entire
team found their groove. We got
better as the game went on, and I
think as much as the fans played
a factor, we blocked it out and
played our game.”
Michigan made the most of the
few scoring chances it created
— the Wolverines could not
generate a consistent even-man
attack, but were able to convert
when given a man advantage.
After coming away empty-
handed on its first two power
plays
in
the
first
period,
Michigan did not let the third go
to waste. Nearly seven minutes
into the second period, junior
forward Dexter Dancs threaded
a pass between two Bulldogs
to find freshman center Jake
Slaker, who put it past the Ferris
State goaltender for the first goal
of his career.
“It wasn’t a set play or
anything,” Slaker said. “I think
everyone was just kinda puck-
watching. (Alex Kile) ended
up passing to Dancs, and then
Dancs saw that I was behind
everyone and I had a little
mini-breakaway. So I thought
it turned out to be a read-and-
react, and we ended up doing
well with that.”
The Bulldogs came roaring
back in the third, opening up
the period with several grade-A
chances.
LaFontaine
made
several impressive stops to hold
Michigan’s lead, but was unable
to prevent Ferris State forward
Andrew Mayer from burying
one in the back of the net during
a Bulldogs power play with 11:23
left in the third period.
Ferris
State
regained
all
the momentum with a tying
goal, and it looked to have
Michigan on the ropes. But
the Wolverines regrouped and
responded with just 4:28 left
when junior defenseman Sam
Piazza rifled a shot into the net
off a pass from Kile.
The
goal
came
during
Michigan’s sixth power play of
the game and proved to be the
game-winner
as
LaFontaine
made several crucial saves over
the final few minutes to preserve
the victory.
It may not have been pretty,
but the result was nonetheless
impressive for a young team
that was repeatedly tested in a
hostile environment.
“I can’t tell you this was a
good road game in terms of our
execution,” Berenson said. “As a
coach, you look at too many shots
against, too many outnumbered
rushes, too many penalties and
so on. We’ve got to get better
every week, and tonight was a
tough game to play, but our team
stayed with it. We never got
behind, and we found a way to
win the game.”
CLAIRE ABDO/Daily
ORION SANG
Daily Sports Writer
Ferris State 1
Michigan 2
WEDNESDAY