Michigan wins second straight GLI Championship

DETROIT – The last time the Michigan hockey team played Michigan State, the game was decided by a big third period for the Wolverines.

And with the stakes higher this time in the championship game of the Great Lakes Invitational at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, it took two big periods by the Wolverines to crushed the championship hopes of the Spartans.

No. 11 Michigan dominated Michigan State in the final two periods of today's game, scoring five straight goals in a 5-1 victory.

Just looking at the shot totals tells the story itself. Michigan fired 54 shots on goal compared to just 20 for Michigan State, and four Wolverine shots went off the posts.

After an evenly-matched first period, the Wolverines (13-7-0 overall, 7-5-0 CCHA), led by junior acting captain Chris Summers, took control of the game. Summers seems to play his best against Michigan State (5-12-3 overall, 2-8-2-2), and he has amassed four goals and seven assists in his career when playing the Spartans.

Summers fed two long passes to seniors Brandon Naurato and Tim Miller, who scored late in the second and broke open the game. Summers also assisted on Michigan’s opening goal by senior Travis Turnbull, giving him a career-high three assists in the game.

Turnbull's lamplighter tied the game at one in the first period and started the scoring onslaught. He continued his success against the Spartans following his hat trick against Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena three weeks ago. He tied the game on a wicked backhanded shot from the middle of the offensive zone that surprised Lerg bottom right.

After taking a 2-1 lead on a one-time shot from sophomore forward Ben Winnett, Summers and Naurato connected with 5:22 remaining in the period to extend the lead to 3-1.

Summers had the puck at the right side of the blue line and passed it to Naurato stationed to the right of Spartan senior goalie Jeff Lerg. Naurato hammered it into a wide open net past Lerg, who was out of position.

Summers and Miller connected on a similar play minutes later. Miller received the puck from Summers on a long pass, deked a
Spartan defender and shot the puck five-hole while falling to the ice.
While Michigan dominated the second period, Michigan State was lucky the Wolverines didn’t tally more goals.

Michigan out shot Michigan State 20-3 in the second frame and had another great look that didn’t go in. Sophomore Louie Caporusso had a one-time shot on a wide open net that was somehow deflected out of the air by the Spartan defense.

At times, it looked as if Michigan was on an extended power play, dominating the period by keeping the puck in its offensive zone.

The Wolverines continued to assert supremacy in the third period. Caporusso scored his fourth goal in the tournament to extend the michigan lead to four by lifting a wrist shot top shelf past Lerg who was trying to poke check the puck away.

Both goaltenders were kept busy in the first period. The Wolverines had 18 shots on goal and the Spartans had 15. Hogan made an impressive save with 30 seconds left in the first period off a one-time shot from Duston Gazley in front of the crease. Hogan started and won both games of the weekend.

This is Michigan’s second straight GLI Championship. The Wolverines beat Michigan Tech in the championship game last year.