Wolverines gearing up for North Dakota

By Matt Mackinder/MiCHO Managing Editor

The Michigan Wolverines are ready for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

The two teams' Frozen Four semifinal goes down tomorrow night in Minneapolis and Michigan head coach Red Berenson has his squad ready to play two more games this season.

"It is interesting that this senior class played their first ever college game in this building (Xcel Energy Center)," said Berenson. "We are proud to be here and we want to put our best foot forward in this tournament. Our program has been in this tournament since I have been here 11 times, only getting to the championship twice."

As for playing in front of a hostile crowd, the Wolverines know what they're in for against North Dakota.

"North Dakota is going to have a lot of fans here, but we’re not concerned about the rink or who is coming, we are just concerned with how we are going to play," senior forward Louie Caporusso said. "We have played in these types of atmospheres before where the other team is bringing a lot of noise. I don’t think it has affected us before. We like playing on the road, so if it’s a hostile atmosphere, so be it."

The seniors played against Boston College in Minneapolis in the season-opening game of the 2007-2008 season and have come full circle by playing the last games of their careers this weekend.

"Our freshman year was a different story (and) I don’t think anyone really knew what our team was going to do that year with 12 freshmen," senior forward Matt Rust said. "That was pretty much considered Kevin Porter’s team. I think starting off the season with a senior class that we have had, being such a tight-knit group that we are, I think we had one goal in mind and that was getting here, but none of us are truly satisfied with just getting here. My freshman year, there is still a bitter taste in my mouth just coming so close and losing in overtime, but other than the team, there really isn’t anything different."

Senior captain Carl Hagelin has led the Wolverines since September and plans on doing more of that against the Sioux.

"We all want to be here, so it doesn’t matter where we play," Hagelin said. "We just focus on our task and our task is to win that game tomorrow. Every guy on the team is excited. We don’t know if we will have more fans than them or not, but we will just go out and play our game."

Adrian's Skelly signs CHL contract

Courtesy Daily Telegram

Shawn Skelly feels ready for another playoff run.

Two weeks after the Adrian College men’s hockey team finished as NCAA Division III runner-up, the high-scoring forward looks to help his new team chase a championship.

Skelly has signed a professional contract with the Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League. He joins Texas during its best-of-five series against the Odessa Jackalopes in the first round of the CHL Ray Miron President’s Cup playoffs. Texas and Odessa split the first two games of the series and play Game 3 on Tuesday night.

“It’s a lifetime goal of mine,” Skelly said shortly before his flight to Texas on Sunday night. “I grew up always wanting to play pro hockey. It’s an exciting time that I was given this opportunity, and hopefully I can excel at it.

“...It’s going to be different coming into a team where I don’t know anyone. I hope they embrace me coming in, and hopefully I can help them out.”

Adrian College hockey standout Skelly signs professional contract

USHL captain picks Ferris State

Courtesy USHL

The Dubuque Fighting Saints have announced that forward T.J. Schlueter has committed to play collegiate hockey at Ferris State University.

It is the second USHL season for the St. Louis native and a breakout year offensively as Schlueter is fourth on the Saints with 15 goals and has collected 26 points (15g, 11a) in 50 games while serving as the captain for the expansion club. The 19-year-old played 33 games in the USHL last season for the Tri-City Storm and scored one goal. He also added a goal in the playoffs for the Storm.

"This year has meant everything to my career," Schlueter told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald. "I can't say enough about (Dubuque coaches) Monty and Coombsy. They've put me in a position where I could get exposure and show what I can do. They have made my hockey career, and for that I thank them."

Five other current USHL players are also committed to Ferris State University: Dominic Panetta (Indiana Ice), Ken Babinski (Omaha Lancers), Jason Binkley (Tri-City Storm), Simon Denis (Tri-City Storm) and C.J. Motte (Waterloo Black Hawks).

The Bulldogs are a member the CCHA and had 10 USHL alumni on the roster this season: Eric Alexander (Lincoln Stars/Chicago Steel), Chad Billins (Waterloo Black Hawks), Kyle Bonis (Indiana Ice), Scott Czarnowczan (Green Bay Gamblers), Justin DeMartino (Waterloo Black Hawks), Mike Embach (Indiana Ice/Chicago Steel), Zach Redmond (Sioux Falls Stampede), Aaron Schmit (Chicago Steel), Scott Wietecha (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), and Brett Wysopal (Tri-City Storm). In addition, Bulldogs assistant coach Mark Kaufman is a former head coach in the USHL (Sioux Falls Stampede 2003-05, Rochester Mustangs 1988-92).

"He's helped us win in so many different ways this year, but it's mostly been because he's worked so hard and put his teammates first," Saints head coach/GM Jim Montgomery said to the Telegraph Herald. "I'm going to be sad to see him go, but this is one of those times where you really feel good about being a coach. You get an opportunity to help an outstanding young man reach one of his dreams in hockey."

Photo by Jim Naprstek