Tag Archives: michigan

31 December 2015

The Joe

By icefogger

Great Lakes Invitational
Detroit, Michigan

Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena

The venerable Joe Louis Arena has only one year left, before it’s replacement is ready to drop the puck. Completed in 1979, Joe Louis Arena, the home of the Detroit Red Wings, is the third oldest venue in the NHL, behind Madison Square Garden and Rexall Place. JLA, along with MSG are the only two NHL arenas without a corporate sponsor name.

Tunnel to The Joe
The tunnel from the parking garage to The Joe

I had never seen a hockey game at Joe Louis; my chance to see the Frozen Four there in 2010 was scuttled by the NCAA when they held the tournament at the football stadium – Ford Field.
Since I’m basically in the area right now anyway, I figured the Great Lakes Invitational was a great way to see some hockey at The Joe.

Ted Lindsay Sculpture
Ted Lindsay sculpture near one entrance

The NCAA screwed up back in 2010. The Joe is an old rink, to be sure, but it’s still a great home for hockey, and the history throughout the building is staggering. Everywhere one looks, is a piece of the Red Wing’s storied history.

Red Wing Banners
Red Wing Stanley Cup Banners

The Great Lakes Invitational also has some great history. The tourney started in 1965 with Michigan Tech as the host school, since then the GLI has grown into one of the premier tournaments in Division 1 hockey. Michigan was added as a co-host in 1976.

Home of the Red Wings

Due to the weather, I didn’t get to Detroit in time to see the games on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Michigan State was to take on Northern Michigan in the third place game. The Spartans scored early in the first period, and took that 1-0 lead late into the third, when NMU tied it up and sent the game into OT. Robbie Payne scored in the extra period to give Northern the win.

MTU & UM warming up
Michigan Tech & Michigan warming up

In the title game, Tech came out flying and took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Wolverines woke up in the second period, scoring 3 goals, as their offense took over the game. MTU went skate to skate with Michigan in the third, with both teams having several scoring chances. Michigan iced the game with an empty net goal with less than a minute to play, to give Michigan it’s third consecutive GLI title.

A fun tourney and I really had a blast in Detroit.

Soapbox Moment:

To the NCAA:
I paid $25 for a two day pass to attend four games at the GLI. The attendance for Tuesday was just short of 16,000, and on Wednesday it was 16,571. When the B1G Championship game was at The Joe last March, attendance was dreadful, just like it is for almost every single Regional. Take a page out of the 51 year old Great Lakes Invitational, and stop gouging people on tickets. There were a ton of families taking in the GLI, because they could afford to go, you knuckleheads.

To hockey fans everywhere:
When the puck is in play, don’t get up for the tenth time in the period for ice cream. Please wait until the whistle. I realize that stadium etiquette is a dying art form, but the GLI title game takes the top spot for the worst I have experienced.

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29 December 2015

On The Road: Madtown to Motor City

By icefogger

chicagoskywaytollbridge

The car was buried under a good eight inches of snow this morning, but the interstate was clear, and I made great time… until Chicago.

I took the easy route, which meant toll roads. I usually avoid interstate highways with tolls out of pure principle, but today I grudgingly paid the tax. From Illinois to Indiana I shelled out $14.40 in tolls, using several one dollar bills that I had very recently been saddled with. Whose pocket gets lined when tolls are on the interstates? I ask, because they certainly are not lining the roads with anything. The short section of Indiana was by far the worse section of road I have traveled since the Yukon Territory.

At 1:15pm I hit traffic west of Chicago. It wasn’t until 2:45pm when I was able to visit 4th gear again. I don’t know what you Lower 48-ers see in traffic, but I think it’s seriously overrated.

Once I escaped the potholes of Indiana, I was able to make good time again until 85 miles outside of Detroit, when a five mile section of I-94 became a parking lot. Through the wonders of technology, I could find out that a wreck at an off ramp up ahead was causing the delay. 75 minutes later, I passed the offending ramp, which had no sign of a wreck.

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30 October 2015

“Mutual of Orono Wild Kingdom”

By icefogger

Here is a 1998 promo from the University of Minnesota to add a little “wildlife” to the game between Minnesota and Michigan. My favorite part, is the little “squeak”, by the Wolverine.

Good luck to the Gophs and to recently promoted Coach Claeys.

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21 March 2015

Battle at The Joe

By icefogger

Minnesota vs Michigan

This Minnesota senior class has won four consecutive regular season championships, been to two Frozen Fours and one National Championship game, but they have not won a tournament championship. It’s their last chance, and the Michigan Wolverines stand in their way.

The season series has each team with two wins. This is the rubber match. It should be a very entertaining game at Joe Louis. The winner is guaranteed a spot in the National Tourney, and Michigan has to win to get in.

Graphic courtesy of Golden Gopher Hockey

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Update: 22 March

Kyle Rau with B1G Trophy
Captain Kyle Rau with the B1G Tournament Trophy. Photo credit: StarTribune

The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the University of Michigan Wolverines 4-2 in the Big Ten Championship game. The victory gives Minnesota the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, and the loss knocks Michigan out of the field for the third year in a row after 22 consecutive appearances.

The Gophers will move on to the Northeastern Regional in Manchester, NH to face the Bulldogs of Duluth. It will be the fifth meeting this year between UM & UMD.

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13 February 2015

Michigan vs Minnesota

By icefogger

A Semi-Flashback Friday Edition:

Minnesota_vs_Michigan_1963_Program_large

A huge B1G series this weekend, when the Michigan Wolverine hockey team visits Mariucci Arena and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

3130 miles to the northwest, the #1 team in the country, the Minnesota State Mavericks are in town to play Alaska’s Nanooks.

Drop the puck.

Update:
Minnesota won 6-2. Alaska tied Minnesota State 1-1.

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28 September 2014

Little Brown Jug Heads to Minneapolis

By icefogger

Gophers Hoist Jug in Big House

The 111 year old Little Brown Jug traveling trophy was up for grabs in the Big House of Michigan on Saturday. Minnesota vs Michigan is one of the oldest rivalries in college football, with the first meeting between the two programs taking place on Northrup Field in Minneapolis in 1892. The earthenware jug entered the competition in 1903, when Michigan coach Fielding Yost had the team manager buy the 5 gallon crock for 30 cents. Yost didn’t trust the Gopher fans; he thought they may contaminate the Wolverine water supply.
Minnesota tied that 1903 game late in the second half. A thunderstorm hovered above, as Minnesota fans rushed the field. The game was eventually called a 6-6 tie with 2 minutes remaining. Michigan walked off the field, leaving the jug.

Little Brown Jug after capture

A Minnesota custodian, Oscar Munson, recovered the jug from the playing field. The team painted the jug brown, and a traveling trophy was born.

In the past 4 decades, Minnesota had only won the trophy three times. On Saturday, the Golden Gophers dominated all facets of the game. Minnesota running back, David Cobb had more yards rushing on the ground (183), than the entire Michigan offense had as a team (171).

Luckily, through the magic of the internet, I was able to listen to the Minnesota radio broadcast online while I was working. I love the fact that smart phones plug into my jobsite radio. I guess technology isn’t always a bad thing.

2014 Minnesota celebration photo courtesy of Minnesota Golden Gopher football.
Black & white photo courtesy of the Michiganensian … 1909 edition

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3 March 2014

Flying Nanook vs. Feisty Bulldog

By icefogger

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152213550082978

Friday’s night game saw a major brawl, 3 x 10 minute misconduct penalties, and 84 total penalty minutes between the two clubs in the 4-1 Alaska victory over Ferris State.  By Saturday, the Nanooks had clearly gotten under the skin of Ferris State goaltender C.J. Motte.  When Jared Larson came in on a breakaway, Motte flew out of the crease like a bowling ball.  Here’s a quick 15 second video of the meeting between the two players.

The goal was waved off.  Motte had lost his helmet in the collision, and by rule, play stops the moment that happens.  Motte did receive a 2 minute tripping penalty on the play, which Ferris successfully killed off.

The Nanooks dominated play the entire weekend, and earned a much needed sweep over the then #4 ranked team in the country.

Next weekend, the Seapuppies of Anchorage come to town.  The Governor’s Cup and home ice for the WCHA playoffs are on the line.

The video comes courtesy of the Alaska Nanooks

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14 February 2014

Mayasich Honored

By icefogger

Mayasich Honored at Mariucci

Getting in the Olympic spirit, the University of Minnesota honored past Olympian and former Golden Gopher John Mayasich tonight at Mariucci Arena prior to the game vs Michigan. Mayasich, a native of Eveleth, MN, won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and a Gold Medal at the 1960 Winter Games held at Squaw Valley.

Minnesota responded on the ice by beating the Wolverines 5-3. Listening to the latter half of the internet broadcast, one can already tell that Minnesota vs Michigan in the new Big 10 Hockey Conference is going to turn into a major rivalry. Only the current seniors on the two teams had ever played against the other, and now they will meet four times every year. The series continues at Mariucci tomorrow night, and then conference play ends for both teams with two games at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor.

#8 John Mayasich
John Mayasich during his University of Minnesota days. The only Golden Gopher to have his number retired.

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20 October 2013

More Hockey

By icefogger

Nanooks 2013 BAGR

A great game at the Carlson Center last night in front of a very enthusiastic crowd. In an evenly matched game, Alaska and Western Michigan tied after OT, with Alaska winning the shootout 1-0, giving Alaska it’s 4th Goal Rush title.
How even was it? Final score: 3-3. Shots on goal: 33-32 in favor of WMU. Blocked shots: 22-21, WMU. Both teams had one power play goal. WMU scored a go ahead goal with 1:40 left in the third period, only to have Alaska even the score 30 secs later. It really was a great game.

Freshman goalie Davis Jones made his second start for the Nanooks, earning his second win and all tournament honors. Senior forward Cody Kunyk of Alaska was the tournament MVP.

Next up for Alaska is Mercyhurst, and we go on campus to the Patty Center next weekend for that series. I don’t remember the last time a regular season game was played on Patty Center ice. I’m guessing pre-CCHA.

Photo courtesy of Alaska Nanook Hockey

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