Sanderson selected captain of 2022 U.S. World Junior Team; Faber, Beniers, Slaggert alternates

North Dakota sophomore defenseman Jake Sanderson has been named captain of the 2022 U.S. National Junior Team. In addition, Minnesota sophomore defenseman Brock Faber, Michigan sophomore forward Matty Beniers and Notre Dame sophomore forward Landon Slaggert were named alternate captains of the squad. All four players were members of the gold-medal winning 2021 U.S. National … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Coming off weekend sweep over Niagara, Michigan looks ‘to get it to the net’ against Minnesota

As preseason favorites Michigan and Minnesota meet for the first time this season, we were correct about at least one thing from the preseason. The two teams are in first and second place, Michigan leads Minnesota by a point, but both have also played two more contests than everyone except Wisconsin. “We know what kind … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Penn State looking for offense vs. Minnesota, Michigan hoping to continue roll against Notre Dame

A 6-4 victory over North Dakota in Nashville put a bow on the early portion of the Penn State’s nonconference schedule and gave the Nittany Lions a 6-1-0 record. The start of the Big Ten schedule hasn’t been as kind to the team from Hockey Valley. A trip to Minneapolis gives Penn State another chance … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Notre Dame finding success with increased emphasis on puck possession

There are numerous ways one can describe a hockey team. Jeff Jackson, though, would appreciate it if people stopped using one term to describe Notre Dame. “I really hate when people say we’re a defensive team,” Jackson said Monday night. “We’re a puck-possession team, in my opinion. We really focus on our ability to possess … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Rivalry weekend on tap as Michigan plays Michigan State, Minnesota battles Wisconsin

Michigan State defeated Michigan in a – let’s just keep things simple and say entertaining – football game last weekend. Spartans’ head coach Danton Cole was asked if his team could possibly feed off that energy and keep things rolling when the two schools meet in a home-and-home series on the ice this weekend. “Well, … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Ohio State finding offense by committee is way to go in early portion of ’21-22 season

When the coaches poll came out in September, the Big Ten opener between the teams predicted to finish sixth and seventh probably didn’t cause many to bust out the Sharpie. That being said, both Ohio State and Michigan State have, at least to a point, navigated their early-season nonconference schedule successfully and will be looking … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Upcoming Minnesota series with NCHC’s Minnesota Duluth should be ‘just good hockey teams going against each other’

Minnesota hasn’t played an in-state rival for conference points since March of 2013, but in the middle of back-to-back series against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth, it feels like we’ve been transported back a couple years. The Gophers and Bulldogs will face off in a home-and-home bout this weekend with Friday’s game being played … Read more

Big Ten 2021-22 Season Preview: Michigan has the talent, but are the Wolverines the conference favorite?

As the sudden cancelation of the 2019-20 season and the general, let’s say, quirkiness of last year gets put in the rearview, everyone is hoping for a more normal Big Ten season this year. Saying more normal instead of 100 percent normal is already necessary as during the process of writing this piece a nonconference … Read more

Big Ten announces new COVID-19 game rule for upcoming 2021-22 season

The Big Ten announced Monday a new COVID-19 regulation for the 2021-22 season. “In collaboration and communication with the Big Ten Conference Athletic Directors, Chancellors and Presidents, the Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases, and the Sports Medicine Committee – effective today – the conference has determined that if one of its member institutions is … Read more

Top NHL draft picks Power, Beniers, Johnson all announce return to Michigan for ’21-22 college hockey season

Owen Power, Matty Beniers and Kent Johnson each announced Friday that they will return to Michigan for the 2021-22 season. Power was the No. 1 overall selection in July’s 2021 NHL Draft by Buffalo, while Beniers was selected No. 2 by Seattle and Johnson No. 5 by Columbus. The trio will be joined by three … Read more

After time with Red Wings, Naurato returns to Michigan as Wolverines’ new assistant coach

Michigan announced Monday the hiring of former Wolverines forward Brandon Naurato as an assistant coach. Naurato spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, serving as a player development consultant. In his role, he worked with both the Red Wings and AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins coaching staffs to implement individual skill development into … Read more

Great Lakes Invitational to be changed to showcase format in 2021 with games at Yost Ice Arena, Munn Ice Arena

The 56th annual Great Lakes Invitational will be played in a showcase format at Yost Ice Arena and Munn Ice Arena, rather than a tournament format in Detroit. Michigan Tech will play at Michigan and Michigan State will host Western Michigan on Wednesday, December 29, and then the teams will flip opponents for Thursday, December … Read more

With Michigan college hockey talent set to be taken early, Wolverines looking to make history at 2021 NHL Draft

How many Wolverines does it take to dominate the top 10 spots in an NHL Draft? Four. Perhaps. No joke. Everyone knows that college hockey will be represented well in this year’s draft. What remains to be seen, though, is whether the top overall pick will be from the University of Michigan and how many … Read more

Citing racist past, Michigan considering removing Fielding Yost’s name from hockey arena

A committee commissioned by the University of Michigan has recommended that the school remove Fielding H. Yost’s name from its hockey arena, citing a history of racial issues involving the former football coach and athletic director who worked at the school from 1901 to 1941. According to published reports, an eight-person panel of university historians … Read more

National freshman scoring leader, Michigan forward Bordeleau chosen USCHO Rookie of Year for ’20-21

You likely feel like you’re dating yourself, but if you remember 1990s college basketball, you’ll likely also remember the “Fab Five,” a talented group of freshmen at Michigan in the 1991-92 season that helped lead the Wolverines to the national championship game. Those who had a chance to watch Michigan’s hockey team this season witnessed … Read more

Michigan freshman Thomas Bordeleau selected 2020-21 Tim Taylor Award winner as national rookie of the year

Michigan freshman forward Thomas Bordeleau has been named the recipient of the 2021 Tim Taylor Award, given annually to the best first-year player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey. He is the second Wolverine player to win this award, following Kyle Connor in 2016. The award is voted on by the nation’s assistant coaches and … Read more