Michigan Ice Hockey set for final series of 2024

No. 8 Michigan ice hockey (10-5-1) dropped both games against No. 1 Minnesota (15-2-1) last weekend. The Wolverines were held out of the net in both contests, as they lost game one 6-0 and game two 2-0. Michigan will host Wisconsin (6-9-1) on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.) for its final series of the calendar year. 

Michigan Ice Hockey to Host Wisconsin This Weekend

Wolverines head coach Brandon Naurato said he wants his team to be on-point from the jump.

 “Just start on time, just prepped and ready to be hard and connected and play Michigan hockey on the first puck drop,” Naurato said. “And just have the poise and consistency to do it all weekend.”

Michigan hadn’t been swept on the ice since losing a two-game series against Michigan State in February last season. The Wolverines won’t have a game to play for almost a month following their set with the Badgers, and it’s created a sense of urgency in the locker room. 

“Everyone’s just itching to get back in a game and be able to play and respond to how we played this past weekend,” forward Nick Moldenhauer said. “This week of practice is definitely super important and something we’re going to take advantage of.”

Freshman forward Michael Hage leads the team in goals (9), assists (8) and subsequently, points (17). Hage said his team is looking forward to the opportunity to rebound from back-to-back losses.

“We didn’t like the way that weekend went,” Hage said. “It’s good that we get another chance before the break to respond and finish this first half (of the season) on a good note. It’s exciting for us and we’ll be ready.”

Hage was named national rookie of the month earlier this week and leads all first-year skaters with 1.43 points per game. Naurato said he cares about the details.

“His game is very mature with and without the puck,” Naurato said. “Obviously, with all these guys, still a lot of room for improvement, but he takes pride in the little things away from the puck, and he listens to what we’re trying to do with it.”

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms