Wolverines handle LSSU in first round

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan Beat Writer

Michigan is moving on in the CCHA Tournament after sweeping Lake Superior State this weekend at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor.

And the Wolverines did it without No. 1 goalie Bryan Hogan, still out nursing a lower-body injury. Shawn Hunwick won both games for Michigan and felt comfortable both nights.

"I think the more shots, the better my rhythm," Hunwick said. "There are points like (Friday) night where I only got five [shots] in a 10-minute span. That's not ideal. You want to stay as sharp as you can and mentally focused to stay in the game. I was communicating with the defense. They had good puck touches and I made some good saves."

Saturday night, Louie Caporusso tallied a hat trick and Jeff Rohrkemper scored his first collegiate goal for Michigan in a 6-0 shutout. Carl Hagelin added two goals to back Hunwick's 28-save outing.

"If you have momentum, your top scorers should be your best players," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "Your team should be playing like a team and you should be playing well defensively. I think we are getting all of that."

Brian Mahoney-Wilson and Pat Inglis combined for 40 saves in the LSSU net. Mahoney-Wilson started and made 28 through two periods, while Inglis mopped up and stopped all 12 in the third period.

In Friday night's opener, five different Wolverines - A.J. Treais, David Wohlberg, Matt Rust, Brian Lebler and captain Chris Summers - gave UM a 5-2 victory.

"We were surprised to see that three of their top players weren't dressed," Berenson said. "Later we found out that they have the flu. I guess that they have had some flu going around their team. That's unfortunate, but it's also unfortunate that Hogan is not playing as our starting goalie, so it is a trade-off. I thought that their team had the better of the play in the first seven or eight minutes of the first period. We were on our heels. Hunwick made some huge saves and I thought that was a turning point in the game and it kept us in the game. Overall, I thought our team got better as the game went on."

Hunwick finished with 21 saves, while Mahoney-Wilson stopped 38 for the Lakers.

Steven Kaunisto and Dillon Stonehouse scored for LSSU.

Lake Superior State ends the year 15-18-5.

The Wolverines (21-17-1) will continue into the quarterfinal round of the CCHA Tournament on the road next Friday against Michigan State.

"It's a rivalry," said Caporusso. "It's a big game and it's going to be fun hockey. The way we're playing now, we should be okay."

The best-of-three series will be played in East Lansing from Friday through Sunday with all three games starting at 7:05 p.m.