By Michael Florek, Daily Sports Editor
Published January 15, 2011
It’s been a long time since the Michigan hockey team sang “The Victors” after a CCHA game.
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The seventh-ranked Wolverines sing the fight song after every series sweep, but prior to this weekend, they hadn’t sung in over a month. Their last sweep came Nov. 20 against Lake Superior State.
Saturday, Michigan’s 6-1 victory over Ferris State gave it the right to sing the Wolverines’ distinct, sped up version of “The Victors”. They beat the Bulldogs 3-2 at Yost yesterday.
After a slow 10 minutes to start the game, Michigan found their scoring touch from a night ago.
Senior forward Carl Hagelin came down on a two-on-one with senior forward Matt Rust. After the Ferris State defenseman went down to block the pass, Hagelin took the shot. It went off the defenseman’s leg and into the net. And they didn’t wait long to put another one past Bulldog goalie Pat Nagle.
After a good forecheck, senior forward Louie Caporusso found himself with the puck in the slot. He dropped a backhand pass to junior forward David Wohlberg, who immediately fired the puck top shelf.
A slap shot from sophomore defenseman Lee Moffie made it 3-0 to end the first period.
Those along with a couple arm motions from the referees were more than enough to win the game. The Bulldogs (8-8-3-2 CCHA, 11-10-4 overall) had two goals waived off. One was on a three-on-two rush, where it was determined the net came off before the puck crossed the goal line. The other no-goal call was made in the first minute of the third period. It was determined a Bulldog kicked the puck across the line.
Ferris State’s only goal came in the third period after senior forward Scooter Vaughan put Michigan up 4-0. A wrist shot from the point was deflected between the legs of an upright Hunwick.
Whatever doubt that crept into Michigan fans was quickly snuffed out by freshman forward Derek Deblois. After a long shot was dropped by Ferris State goalie Taylor Nelson, who came in for Nagle after the fourth goal, Deblois scooped up the puck and put it into the empty net. Wohlberg scored his second of the game shortly after as well.
The Wolverines (12-4-1-0, 15-6-4) now jump eight points ahead of the Bulldogs, who dropped a spot in the CCHA standings to fourth.
