No. 5 Michigan Ice Hockey Rolls Into Bye Week After Back-to-Back Sweeps

Michigan is off to a powerful start on the ice this season. The No. 5 Wolverines (7-2-1) got their streak started by taking both games against No. 11 Boston University, who was ranked fifth at the time. Last weekend Michigan began Big Ten play with a sweep of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish were ranked No. 20 heading into the series. 

Michigan Ice Hockey Rolls Into Bye Week

The strong start didn’t come without its challenges, as Michigan won two of its last four games in overtime. Wolverine head coach Brandon Naurato said his team reminds him of the Honolulu blue. 

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“It’s good for our confidence to go four in a row (with) back-to-back sweeps and sing our song on Saturday night,” Naurato said. “Never going to play a perfect game, but similar to the Lions, the guys are finding ways to win, and that’s what matters.”

Graduate forward Thomas Daskas transferred to Michigan after two seasons with Miami (OH) and a freshman season with the Air Force Academy. Daskas got his first points in the maize and blue with a second period goal against Notre Dame on Saturday. The 6-foot-2 forward is originally from Rochester, MI. 

“(Michigan is) close to home so it hasn’t really been that hard of a transition,” Daskas said. “I knew a couple guys from before, and everyone in general welcomed me with open arms, so yeah it’s been great so far.”

By the time Michigan takes the ice with Penn State on Nov. 22, it will have had almost two full weeks off from game action. Naurato said the team will use the extra time to work on details. 

“I think we could use a little break right now. Guys are resting up,” Naurato said. “Other guys are just working on individual development, like fine tuning the parts to make the whole better. We haven’t had the luxury of doing this in years past since I’ve been here, and I like it. I like the fact that we can spend more one-on-one time with guys during weeks like this.”

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Michigan Stat Leaders Through 10 Games

Points: Freshman Forward Michael Hage – 9

Goals: Hage (5), Sophomore Forward Garrett Schifsky (5), Sophomore Forward Evan Werner (5), Junior Forward Jackson Hallum (5)

Assists: Junior Forward T.J. Hughes – 6

Saves: Freshman Goalie Cameron Korpi – 126

Goals Against Average: Graduate Goalie Logan Stein – 1.59

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