TAMBELLINI TRIO LIFTS WOLVERINES, 5-2
November 5, 2004

The Michigan hockey team got a boost from Jeff Tambellini and their power
play as they down Miami, 5-2, tonight at Yost Ice Arena. Tambellini netted
his second career hat trick, while the power play unit went 4-for-9 to
break out of an 0-for-18 slump.

Tambellini got the ball rolling 1:40 into the contest with a rocket from
the top of the right circle beating RedHawks goalie Brandon Crawford-West
glove side for his second goal of the season.

"He's a scorer," coach Red Berenson said. "He just needs to get a little
confidence around the net, and I think tonight after he got that first goal
he couldn't wait to get the puck."

The Wolverines would continue to apply the pressure with three power plays
over the next eight minutes, but they couldn't extend the lead.

Late in the first period with Mike Brown in the penalty box for goaltender
interference and a delayed penalty coming up to Al Montoya for slashing,
the RedHawks got a power play goal of their own. A sea of red jerseys in
front saw Chris Michael knock the puck past Montoya with 1:48 left in the
opening stanza.

The RedHawks would keep the momentum during the opening minute of the
second period as they came out storming. But a penalty to the RedHawks
quickly ended that, and on the ensuing Wolverine power play they finally
connected when Tambellini scored his second goal of the night at the 2:47
mark. It was the first U-M power play goal in their last 19 attempts, and
the first of many to come tonight.

On the power play again late in the second period, Chad Kolarik had his
shot stopped by Crawford-West, but he picked up his own rebound behind the
net and banked a shot in off the back of Crawford-West's leg from behind
the endline that trickled into the net for his third goal of the season.

In the third period, it was more of the same. With 6:44 left in
regulation, Tambellini completed the hat trick on the power play when he
took a feed from Moss and sent a quick shot past Crawford-West.

Then a few minutes later with the RedHawks shorthanded again, T.J. Hensick
skated in and buried the puck past Crawford-West to make it 5-1.

With about 1:30 remaining a RedHawks player gave Eric Nystrom a shot in the
back that led to a lot of scuffles and several players escorted off the
ice, as well as apparently some (Miami?) fans being escorted from the
building as the students chanted "Sore losers!" and "F*** OHIO!" very
audibly. The CSTV Game Tracker shows Nystrom receiving a 10 minute
Disqualification. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but if that's right it
could mean him not playing tomorrow night.

The Wolverines ended up with one more power play as a result, but this time
it was Miami's Matt Christie stealing the puck at center ice and scoring a
shorthanded goal with 40 seconds left.

Montoya finished the game with 19 saves, while Crawford-West turned aside
29 shots for the RedHawks.

Special teams were the key to this contest and the Wolverines worked hard
on the power play in practice all week and the results paid off. "Last
week was a famine," Berenson said of his team's 0-for-13 power play
performance against Ferris State, "This week was a feast."

The Wolverines and RedHawks wrap up their weekend series tomorrow night at
7:35 p.m. at Yost Ice Arena.

------------------------

FOUR WOLVERINES SELECTED FOR WORLD JUNIORS

The Michigan hockey team will be shorthanded once again come the Great
Lakes Invitational as four players have been selected to Team USA's
roster. Returning in net will be Al Montoya, along with defenseman Matt
Hunwick, and forwards Mike Brown and T.J. Hensick. I won't be surprised if
Kevin Porter and possibly Chad Kolarik make the team, too.

------------------------

CENTRAL SCOUTING PLAYERS TO WATCH

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau released their Players To Watch list a few
days ago for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. This is NOT the same as their
Mid-Term Rankings, which will also be released later this month. The
Players To Watch List is for prospects in North American Junior 'A' and
Junior 'B' Leagues, and they are divided into 'A' Players and 'B' Players.

Among the Wolverine recruits making the list are:

'A' Players
Andrew Cogliano - St. Mike's - Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League
Jason Bailey - U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team
Jack Johnson - U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team
Zach MacVoy - U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team

------------------------

That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net/