Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Dec. 3)
Welcome to another season of MiHockey’s Michi-gamer, now powered by Bauer Hockey.
We take great pride in our homegrown talent. Whether they grew up in the Mitten or we welcomed them here for college or juniors, they are our own. They represent the best place in the world for hockey.
Every night, we’ll keep an eye on those players, and every morning, we will pick one Michi-gamer of the night – one Michigan player who stood out above the rest.
DECEMBER 7 – ERIK CONDRA
With limited action to pick from last night, we went across the pond – virtually, of course – to see how some of our Michigan products are performing in foreign leagues. The Trenton native (and member of the Ottawa Senators when NHL hockey is actually being played) is currently having some fun with SC Riessersee in Germany. Condra has seven goals and five assists in only seven games (if we’re reading the German-translated page correctly). In SC Riessersee’s last game on Dec. 2, Condra picked up two goals in a lopsided 6-0 win over Dresdner Eislöwen. On a side note, we would much rather be reporting on big games that Condra has had in the States, or in Canada…hint, hint.
More MiHockey articles on Condra:
Michi-gamer: The pride of the Mitten (2011-12 archive)
DECEMBER 6 – J.T. MILLER
While a lot of hockey fans were paying attention to a podium all of last night, perhaps they should have been paying attention to J.T. Miller. The former Plymouth Whaler and NTDP alum, playing in his rookie season at the professional level, picked up a pair of goals last night in the Connecticut Whale’s 4-2 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Miller also finished plus-two on the night. The first-round pick of the Rangers now has four goals and six assists in 21 games this season – not bad for a 19-year-old playing in the AHL.
More MiHockey articles on Miller:
USA Hockey announces preliminary roster for World Junior team
Michi-gamer: The Pride of the Mitten (Week of Oct. 22)
Plymouth Whalers’ 2011 year in review
DECEMBER 5 – JASON DESANTIS
In the only AHL game of the night, Oxford native Jason DeSantis delivered on behalf of the Mitten with an overtime game-winner for the San Antonio Rampage (Florida Panthers affiliate) in a 3-2 victory over the Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames affiliate). That’s a rare feat, considering that the red-hot Heat are 13-3-3 and that they doubled the Rampage’s shot total, 34-17. For DeSantis, however, that marks the Honeybaked alum’s first tally on the year to go along with his six assists for seven points in 20 games. Last season, the 26-year-old rearguard set career-highs across the board with 11 goals and 32 assists for 43 points in 66 games with the St. John’s Ice Caps (Winnipeg Jets affiliate). DeSantis is also a product of the U.S. NTDP (2002-2004) and CCHA, where he spent a four-year career with the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2004-2008.
DECEMBER 4 – JEFF ZATKOFF
When you take home a monthly honor from the top professional league currently playing in North America, you deserve a little extra recognition. Jeff Zatkoff, a Detroit native and goaltender for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, was named goaltender of the month by the league for an outstanding month of November. Zatkoff, a Honeybaked alum and Miami RedHawks product, compiled a 8-1-0 record in the month, along with a 1.21 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and three shutouts. He allowed only 11 goals on 244 shots he faced over the month.
More MiHockey articles on Zatkoff:
Zatkoff, Kennedy take home AHL awards
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Nov. 19)
DECEMBER 3 – TIM KENNEDY
While his alma mater was swept at the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend, former Michigan State Spartan Tim Kennedy had himself quite the weekend for the Worcester Sharks (AHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks). Friday, the Worcester alternate captain scored a pair of goals in a 4-3 loss to the Portland Pirates. On Saturday, Kennedy lit the lamp twice again and added a shootout goal in a 4-3 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Sunday, Kennedy would find the back of the net yet again in 3-2 win over the Providence Bruins. Five goals in a weekend? Not too shabby, and it gives him 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 20 games this season. In three seasons with the Spartans here in the Mitten, Kennedy scored 105 points in 113 games and played a pivotal role on the 2007 NCAA championship-winning team.
More MiHockey articles on Kennedy:
MSU hosts their annual pro camp this week
To see last week’s Michi-gamer nominations, click here.