WEEK 1: College hockey weekend recap

By @StefanKubus –

The 2015-16 collegiate hockey season is underway, and all but one of the seven Michigan teams were in action this past weekend.

WCHA

Saturday night, Northern Michigan kicked off its WCHA campaign at home with a 4-0 win over USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 Team. Atte Tolvanen and Derek Dun combined for the 21-save shutout, while Brock Maschmeyer, John Siemer, Casey Purpur and Sami Salminen scored for the Wildcats. Sophomore Gaylord native Robbie Payne added a pair of helpers in the contest.

In Sunday action, Ferris State topped the University of Lethbridge (Alberta, Canada), 4-2. Battle Creek native Chad McDonald potted a pair of goals of the Bulldogs, and junior netminder Charles Williams (Canton) stopped 24 shots, including a penalty shot in the final minute.

Lake Superior State fell to the NTDP U18 team, 2-1, Sunday. Patrick Khodorenko scored the OT winner of the U-18 squad. Sophomore Scott Patterson scored the lone marker for LSSU.

Michigan Tech opens their season with an exhibition against Laurentian University (Ontario, Canada) Friday, Oct. 9.

Big Ten

Michigan opened its 2015-16 campaign with a commanding 8-1 victory over the University of Toronto on Sunday. Justin Selman struck just ten seconds into the opening period to get the ball rolling. Captain junior forward JT Compher and sophomore defenseman Zach Werenski each scored a pair in the victory that saw the Wolverines outshoot Toronto, 54-12. Freshman forward Cooper Marody (Brighton) potted three assists in his first collegiate game.

The Spartans, meanwhile, had a much closer game in their exhibition against Western Ontario, as they pulled out a 2-1 victory on Sunday. Though MSU outshot the Mustangs, 41-18, goals from freshman forward Cody Milan (White Lake) and senior defenseman Travis Walsh (Haslett) were all the team could muster – it was still enough to secure victory for the Spartans.

NCHC

Western Michigan opened their season Saturday with an exhibition loss to the University of Lethbridge, a 4-3 decision. The Broncos were behind 4-1 heading into the third, and a pair of goals by Aidan Muir and J.T. Osborn helped them climb back into the game, but it ultimately was too late. Captain Sheldon Dries (Macomb) potted an assist, while freshman and former Muskegon Lumberjacks standout Griffen Molino (Trenton) notched a pair of helpers in his first collegiate contest.