Ann Arbor Sports
Michigan hockey completes sweep of Michigan Tech with 2-1 win
Posted Nov 3, 2013
Photo Gallery: Michigan hockey defeats Michigan Tech 2-1
Gallery: Photo Gallery: Michigan hockey defeats Michigan Tech 2-1
By Pete Cunningham | petercunningham@mlive.com
Updated, 11:07 p.m.
The No. 4 Michigan hockey team welcomed Mel Pearson back to Yost Ice Arena over the weekend, but the Wolverines weren't the most gracious of hosts. The former Michigan assistant, now the head coach at Michigan Tech, was handed a pair of losses in his return to the rink he called home for 23 years.
Michigan beat the Huskies 2-1 to wrap up a two-game sweep following a 3-2 overtime win Friday night. It was Michigan's sixth straight one-goal game.
Friday night's hero, Andrew Copp, came through again for the Wolverines Saturday with just 26 seconds left in the first period. Copp slipped past the Huskies defense on a late period power play and fired a wrist shot past Phoenix Copley to give Michigan a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
"That was an important goal for us tonight. He's playing really well," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "He's doing a lot of good things for this team."
Copp walked into Saturday's postgame press conference with a big smile on his face and left singing the praises of Big Blue. Skyline blue that is.
The Ann Arbor Skyline alum was pumped his alma matter had won the school's first ever state championship earlier in the day -- in boys soccer. Some of the sophomore captain's happiness can probably be linked to him having a big hand in another Michigan hockey win.
"He's scored big goals. Really big goals," Berenson said of Copp who is currently tied for the team lead in goals.
Copp's goal was the only scoring of the night through two periods. Michigan had plenty of chances to add to its lead in the second -- out-shooting the Huskies 11-8 -- but couldn't get an insurance goal past Copley, making the early goal even more crucial.
"It's been important for us to get the early goal. We haven't had to play from behind this weekend," Berenson said. "It was anyone's game."
The insurance goal finally came off of the stick of Justin Selman 3:28 into the third. It was Selman's first goal of the season in just his second game played.
"It's a coaching decision with these kids, but in some cases it's a player's decision too," Berenson said of Selman's playing time so far this season. "How hard they work in practice, how hard they work when they get in the games. And Selman is one of several players who could be playing every night if he played really well."
"There's some competition now between about six or seven guys to get in the lineup or stay in the lineup, but that's good. It's good for our team," Berenson said.
Selman said he was happy to contribute in any way, just as he has been to be a scratch.
"We have a really good team this year, so watching a game is still an honor," Selman said. "I've been working hard all week...obviously a goals always nice, but I'm just glad we got the win."
Selman's first goal came just in time as Tech was able to get on the board four minutes later on an unassisted goal from Dennis Rix. Michigan Tech had a man-advantage for the final 46 seconds of play, but Michigan kept the attack from the goal and secured the win in front of goalie Zach Nagelvoort.
Nagelvoort made 22 saves on the night, but wasn't tested much throughout the game.
"I thought (the defense) did a really good job, letting me see everything in front of me," Nagelvoort said. "There were only two or three chances they even had a chance to tip any chance."
No. 4 Michigan improves to 6-1-1 with the win heading into a bye week.
Freshman defenseman Kevin Lohan will have surgery Monday for an undisclosed lower body injury Michigan coach Red Berenson said Saturday. Lohan skated to the locker room before the end of the game Friday and left the arena on crutches. Berenson said the injury is not considered season-ending at this point, but that Lohan will be out at least three months.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for The Ann Arbor News. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.