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The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | October 2, 2017

Falling out of love
Sports and society have a 
complex relationship, and 

the current climate has made 

that all the more apparent.
» SportsMonday Column, 

Page 2B

A perfect start

It may have only been an 
exhibition, but Mel Pearson’s 
first game as Michigan’s 
hockey coach still gave 
people plenty to smile about.
» Page 3B

Michigan 10, Western Ontario 1

RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily

Sophomore defenseman Luke 

Martin 
and 
senior 
forward 

Dexter Dancs helped fans at 
Yost Ice Arena let out a sigh of 
relief with a first period, power 
play goal that slipped past the 
opposing goaltender.

On a heavily-anticipated Friday 

evening, the Michigan hockey 
team took on Western Ontario 
in the first exhibition match of 
the season. Following a season of 
disappointment last year — but 
paired with high expectations for 
this year’s team under new coach 
Mel Pearson — one could notice 
that every member of the crowd 
was on the edge of their seats.

One of the most distinguishing 

— and surprising — traits of the 

exhibition match was a newfound 
offensive initiative.

“The goal scoring,” Pearson 

said. “We were 42nd in offense 
last year, so we weren’t sure 
where the goals were going to 
come from.”

The Wolverines, who failed to 

score over six goals in a single game 
last year, proved that nervousness 
futile in a 10-1 win that can only be 
described as a one-sided offensive 
pandemonium.

Michigan took its new ethos 

of an unwavering, fast-paced 
offense to heart with two goals 
early in the first period. After 
Dancs’ deflection goal off Martin’s 
shot just over four minutes into 
play, Michigan did not hesitate to 
pick apart the Mustang defense, 
unleashing 15 shots on goal in the 
first period.

After 
a 
successful 

counterattack 
just 
over 
nine 

minutes in, junior forward Cooper 
Marody carried the puck down 
the right side of the ice, delivered 
a crisp pass to Dancs under the 
goal, who, in robotic precision, 
passed to senior forward Tony 
Calderone for a one-timer.

“I know where Tony is on the 

ice. I’ve played with him the last 
two or three years,” Dancs said. “ 
… I know where he likes to be and 
that’s the high slot.”

Western Ontario’s frustrations 

with the unrelenting Wolverine 
offense came to fruition when 
Mitchell 
Brooks 
ripped 
the 

helmet off Martin, resulting in 
an immediate ejection from the 
game and a five-minute major 
penalty.

The Wolverines entered the 

locker room up on Western 
Ontario, 2-0, leaving no spectator 
in doubt that the era under 
Pearson looks promising.

The second period started 

much like the first, with the 
Wolverines dominating the shot 
count and possession.

Five minutes into resuming 

play, 
though, 
the 
Mustangs 

seemingly found a new leg to 
stand on, with two breakaway 
opportunities. 
Sophomore 

goaltender 
Jack 
LaFontaine 

thwarted both chances – the 
latter being a sweeping glove save 
meant for a highlight reel.

Michigan quickly settled in 

once again, netting its third goal 
on a dish from senior defenseman 
Cutler Martin down in front 
of the net to fifth-year senior 
forward Alex Roos, who finished 

the job.

But they didn’t stop there.
Following a brawl behind the 

Western Ontario net, sophomore 
forward Will Lockwood deked 
the Mustangs’ goaltender, Luke 
Peressini, on a penalty shot to put 
the Wolverines up by four.

From there, Michigan exerted 

its dominance, as the Wolverines 
let 27 shots fly resulting in two 
more goals.

Marody kicked off the third 

period in similar fashion to the 
first and second after just 53 
seconds when he seamlessly 
netted a cross-ice pass. Martin 
and sophomore forward Jake 
Slaker followed up on the trend 
with two goals of their own.

After 
Trevor 
Warnaar 

became the Mustangs’ second 
ejection — leaving the stadium 

for 
misconduct 
—Western 

Ontario’s chances even for a 
pride-saving comeback seemed 
dim. Immediately following the 
ejection, 
sophomore 
forward 

James Sanchez deflected a shot 
past Peressini for the teams 10th 
goal.

“Starting off the year like that,” 

Calderone said. “It shows the 
work that we did in the summer is 
paying off a little bit.”

In a last--chance effort to avoid 

the shutout, center Ray Huether 
put in the Mustangs’ first goal off a 
scrum in front of the net, limiting 
the Wolverines’ lead to nine.

Nine 
different 
Michigan 

players found the net in a 
statement that the new fast-paced, 
eclectic and gritty Wolverines are 
taking steps to reverse last year’s 
storyline.

ROBERT HEFTER

Daily Sports Writer
MELCOME BACK

The Wolverines dominated from the opening faceoff in Mel Pearson’s first game as Michigan’s head coach Saturday. 

