Michigan 3, Northern Michigan 3

A disappointing start to the weekend as Michigan tied Northern
Michigan, 3-3, Friday night at Yost. The Wolverines took a 3-2 lead
in the third period, but a couple of penalties allowed the Wildcats to
score a 5-on-3 power play goal to tie the contest. They also had a
shorthanded goal earlier in the game.

There's something about Yost that seems to bring out the best in NMU's
goalies. Brian Stewart stopped 41 Wolverine shots, while Billy Sauer
had 21 saves. Sauer's three goals against is the most he has given up
since Ohio State upset Michigan on Nov. 30.

Tonight's game will be broadcast by student station WOLV-TV and you
can watch the game online via the link at MGoBlue.com/icehockey.

Michigan did get a little good news in the standings as Nebraska-Omaha
defeated Michigan State, 5-4, in overtime. That puts the Wolverines
ahead of the Spartans by three points, and they remain two points
behind Miami, who is idle this weekend. A win tonight will tie them
for the lead, setting up the big showdown next weekend in Oxford.

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QUICK DISMISSAL
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The big story out of Yost last night, however, came before the puck
even dropped. It was reported that freshman defenseman Kevin Quick
had been dismissed for violating team rules and the trust of the team.

"Obviously, it was serious enough that we had to let him go," said
head coach Red Berenson. "It was just a total violation of our team
trust and our rules.

"He's a good kid, and it's been a long, long week for me having to
make this decision, but it was the only thing to do."

Berenson added that he didn't learn all the details until Thursday and
when he did it was a quick decision to let him go.

There's no word on what exactly the violation was as the coaches and
the players won't discuss it and Quick has yet to be reached for
comment. It obviously wasn't a minor issue as Berenson has suspended
players in the past for a game or two for things like missing class or
a team meeting, as happened earlier this season to Louie Caporusso.
Rarely is a player kicked off the team, and the last player I can
think of that was given the boot--perhaps the only Wolverine
ever?--was freshman Troy Kahler back in 1998.

A 2006 third round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Quick originally
was part of the freshman rotation with Scooter Vaughan and Tristin
Llewellyn before becoming a blue line mainstay. He had recently been
paired with Mark Mitera on the top line and had two goals and two
assists in 21 games.

His loss means Vaughan and Llewellyn will both see full time roles on
the blue line, and it leaves the Wolverines with six defensemen.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

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