The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 43 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE T he Michigan hockey team (5-5-2 overall, 1-3-2 Big Ten) has struggled to close out games on the right note this season and, as a consequence, had slipped to No. 12 in the na- tional rankings as of Nov. 12. Of the Wolverines' five losses, they held leads heading into the third period in two of them (up 2-0 in a 6-3 loss to UMass Oct. 14 and up 4-3 in a 5-4 loss to Wisconsin Nov. 3) and were tied heading into the final stanza in one (2-2 in a 4-3 loss to Minnesota Nov. 10). The then-No. 8 Michigan squad also squandered a 2-1 edge heading into the third pe- riod at Yost Ice Arena against No. 6 Minnesota Nov. 11. The Maize and Blue had a power play opportunity in the third frame but didn't score. But with less than five minutes to go — af- ter exceptional efforts from the Michigan defensemen block- ing shots, including sophomore Tyler Duke, who took a puck to the rib and coughed up blood — Minnesota found the back of the net to tie the score. After a scoreless overtime period, U-M graduate goaltender Jake Barczew- ski turned away three attempts, while sophomore defenseman Seamus Casey nailed a backhanded shot to give the Wolverines the shootout victory. The Maize and Blue were relieved they were able to finish strong and earn an extra point over Minnesota with the shootout victory. "It's a win in the locker room right now, for sure," head coach Brandon Naurato said, per The Michigan Daily. "Obviously, we would have liked to have closed that out in regulation and get three points, it is what it is. But this could be a big turning point for our team. "I think we needed this tonight." Michigan also needed it for its spot in the conference standings. The Wolver- ines have slipped as of late, due in large part to a tough schedule to begin the Big Ten season. Michigan came away with a win and a tie against then-No. 13 Ohio State Oct. 20-21, before being swept by No. 1 Wisconsin, a loss to No. 6 Min- nesota Nov. 10 and the tie against the Golden Gophers the next day. As of Nov. 12, the Maize and Blue were fourth in the Big Ten with 6 points — trailing Wisconsin (12 points), Michigan State (10) and Notre Dame (9). WOLVERINES FEATURE ONE OF NATION'S TOP GOAL SCORERS Ahead of the series against Minne- sota, sophomore forward Gavin Brind- ley led the nation with 9 goals and was tied for fourth with 15 points. After a scoreless weekend, he was still near the top of the country, checking in tied for second in goals and ninth in points. Brindley, a second- round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Draft, has taken a big jump from fresh- man to sophomore year. In his first season, he notched 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points in 41 outings. "It's pretty weird, to be hon- est," Brindley told Gulo Gulo Hockey of the difference be- tween his first and second years in Ann Arbor. "I'm still the youngest on the team, and I'm a sophomore. Just getting ac- climated to Ann Arbor and liv- ing in a house now with three other guys, you definitely get a little different taste than being in the dorm. I'm feeling really comfortable around the rink and coaches and around the guys. I feel like [as a team] we caught on a lot quicker this year [to what the coaches wanted], especially our sophomore, junior and se- nior classes. It came like second nature for us." Several of his classmates also have seized their opportunities this season. Casey, a defenseman, was tied for first nationally with 18 points through Nov. 12, while forwards T.J. Hughes and Rutger McGroarty each had 17 points (tied for second). Casey led the nation with 14 assists, while Hughes and McGroarty each added 11. The Wol- verines had five of the nation's top 14 point-scorers when adding in junior forward Dylan Duke (14 points). JACKSON HALLUM OUT FOR SEASON Sophomore forward Jackson Hallum, a third-round pick by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the 2020 NHL Draft, will miss the rest of the season after taking a blow to the knee that sent him sliding down the ice against Wisconsin Nov. 3. The 6-foot, 183-pounder posted 8 points (5 assists and 3 goals) in nine games before the injury. ❑ ❱ MICHIGAN HOCKEY Wolverines Finally Finish One Off In Early Going Sophomore forward Gavin Brindley ranked second in the nation with 9 goals in 12 games through Nov. 12. The Columbus Blue Jackets selected him in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY