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Sorry for the lack of updates on my website recently. I've been busy with other work I need to get done before month's end since I'm leaving town most of March, but hopefully I'll get an update and new highlights soon.
WTKA LINK
For those asking about the WTKA link, it is working again! Just in time for tonight's game against Lake Superior State. Saturday night's game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit.
If the WTKA ever goes down for a home game again like last weekend, you can also listen to WCBN's student broadcast at http://www.wcbn.org/
WEEKEND PREVIEW
As for those Lakers, they are a much improved team this season under new head coach Jim Roque. LSSU currently sits in 4th place in the CCHA, three points behind the Wolverines. But like U-M, the Lakers have struggled with consistency. A few weeks ago they swept Bowling Green at home, only to follow that up with an 8-0 loss and 2-2 tie at Nebraska-Omaha. LSSU is 0-2-2 in their last four road games.
While they may not be the most offensively gifted team still with just one player hitting double-digits in goals (leading scorer Trent Campbell with ten), the Lakers feature one of the CCHA's best netminders in junior Jeff Jakaitis. He ranks fourth in the CCHA with a 1.99 goals-against average, and the Lakers as a team rank third in the CCHA giving up just 2.14 goals per game (compared to Michigan's 2.93 goals allowed per game).
Expect senior netminder Noah Ruden to be between the pipes for the Wolverines this weekend unless something drastic happens. Ruden replaced Billy Sauer during last Friday's 7-5 home loss against Ohio State in which the freshman gave up five goals in roughly 41 minutes of action, including a few softies. Ruden was strong in the following night's 3-2 victory and again Tuesday night as U-M defeated Western Michigan 4-1 and has taken over the #1 job... for the time being.
Still questionable to play tonight is freshman Jason Bailey. He took a hard check at Michigan State on January 17 and left the game with a rib cage injury. Bailey returned to the lineup against Western Michigan on January 31, only to take another hard check and reinjure his ribs, knocking him out.
OTHER CCHA ACTION
Michigan State defeated Ohio State, 4-3, last night in Columbus. The win moves the Spartans back into second place in the CCHA, one point ahead of the Wolverines but U-M still has two games in hand.
Conference leading Miami is off this weekend. The other big series will be Nebraska-Omaha at Northern Michigan. Both teams currently sit tied for sixth place in the battle for the all-important fourth place and first-round playoff bye. They are one point behind Ferris State, which hosts Notre Dame, and two points behind fourth-place Lake Superior State.
Ohio State will also be facing Wisconsin tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. CT in the Frozen Tundra outdoor hockey game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. I'll be in attendance at that game, so I won't be sending out any updates after tomorrow night's U-M/LSSU contest.
WOLVERINES AT THE OLYMPICS
With the Winter Olympics kicking off tonight, former Wolverines Marty Turco and Mike Knuble will be representing Canada and the USA respectively. Here is a TV schedule of the U.S. Men's Ice Hockey games so you can catch Knuble in action:
Date Time (EST) Network
Feb. 15 vs. LAT 3:00 p.m. USA Network
Feb. 16 vs. KAZ 3:00 p.m. USA Network
Feb. 18 vs. SVK 2:00 p.m. NBC
Feb. 19 vs. SWE 11:00 a.m. NBC
Feb. 21 vs. RUS 2:30 p.m. NBC
Feb. 22 Quarterfinal TBD USA Network
Feb. 24 Semifinals 10:00 a.m. MSNBC, 3:00 p.m. USA Network
Feb. 25 Bronze-Medal 2:30 p.m. NBC
Feb. 26 Gold-Medal 9:00 a.m. NBC
I am not sure of the Canadian TV schedule yet. I'll have to do some digging. My guess is that their games will be broadcast on CBC, but I'll try to get exact times/channels.
That's all for now..
Go Blue!
Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
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