Former Wolverine Kampfer to Get Name on Stanley Cup

Another former Michigan Wolverine hockey player will soon have his name etched forever on the Stanley Cup.

Former  defenseman Steve Kampfer’s Boston Bruins capturedLord Stanley’s Cup last night with a 4-0 victory over Vancouver in Game 7 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals. 

Kampfer, who played at Michigan from 2007-10 becomes the 17th Wolverine alumnus to win the Stanley Cup. A rookie for the Bruins in 2010-11, Kampfer played 38 regular-season games. He scored 5 five goals and 5 assists, earning a +9 plus/minus rating and finished the season with 12 penalty minutes. Kampfer did not play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

At Michigan, Kampfer scored 7 goals and 53 assists in a 147 game career. He helped the Wolverines win the 2007-08 CCHA regular-season championship as well as 2008 and 2010 CCHA Tournament titles.

For a complete list of Wolverines listed on the Stanley Cup, get the book Michigan Ice Hockey, Celebrating the All-Time Greats and Most Memorable Moments by Greg Nelson.

Michigan hockey team heads outside again!

The University of Michigan’s hockey team is headed outside again. The Wolverines will play an outdoor game for the third consecutive season, versus Ohio State, at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Michigan announced the game would take place Sunday, Jan. 15 inside the stadium of the Cleveland Indians.

Michigan lost to Wisconsin, 3-2, in February 2010 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, and defeated Michigan State, 5-0, last season at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines helped kickstart the outdoor hockey craze back in 2001 when they traveled to Michigan State and skated to a 3-3 tie at Spartan Stadium.

Learn more about the history and traditions of Michigan hockey with the book, Michigan Ice Hockey, Celebrating the All-Time Greats and Most Memorable Moments.

 

 

Michigan Hockey Shoots for 10th NCAA Title

A perfect 10.

The University of Michigan hockey team will be gunning for its NCAA record 10^th National Championship Saturday night at 7 pm inside the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.

After a stirring 2-0 win over top-ranked North Dakota last night, Michigan moves on to face the University of Minnesota Duluth in the Frozen Four championship game.

The Wolverines were led by senior goaltender Shawn Hunwick who came up with one big play after another while making 40 saves against the favored Fighting Sioux.

While North Dakota was relentless on offense the entire night, the Wolverines just needed the opening goal by winger Ben Winnett. The first period goal, only his fourth of the season, was all the help Hunwick needed. Michigan finally sealed the semifinal win with an empty net goal by Scooter Vaughan

With 35.8 seconds remaining.

The Fighting Sioux entered the game on a 15-game unbeaten streak. The second-best offensive team in the nation, North Dakota had only been shut out twice all season.

Hunwick, the MVP of the NCAA West Regional, continues to be the hottest goalie in the tournament and he has now stopped 88 of the last 91 shots he’s faced. Michigan has now won 12 of its last 13 games.

While Michigan enters the title game in search of title number 10, Minnesota Duluth will be looking for its first ever NCAA hockey championship in only its second trip to the finals in school history.

The Bulldogs advanced to the final with a 4-3 win over Notre Dame.

Michigan Hockey Back in the Frozen Four!

On to the Frozen Four. Again!

The University of Michigan hockey team added another page to its storied history by stamping its ticket to another Frozen Four berth this weekend. It will be the program’s NCAA record 24^th trip to the Frozen Four and the Wolverines will be shooting to add to their record nine national championships.

But the road to the title won’t be easy. Michigan is set to face the nation’s top-raked team as North Dakota became the only top-seeded team to win its regional when it bounced Denver 6-1 in the Midwest Regional final.

The Fighting Sioux (32-8-3) will play Michigan (28-10-4) in one of two national semifinals to be played April 7 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.

Michigan (28-10-4) advanced to the Frozen Four after defeating Nebraska-Omaha 3-2 in the Regional semifinal and then ousting Colorado College 2-1 in the Regional final behind goals from Scooter Vaughan and Lee Moffie and more outstanding goaltending from Shawn Hunwick.

For more information on Michigan’s amazing hockey history, including a look back at the program’s previous National Championships, check out the book – Michigan Ice Hockey, Celebrating the All-Time Greats and Most Memorable Moments, by Greg Nelson.

Michigan Wins Another CCHA Championship!

Eleven and counting!

The University of Michigan ice hockey team earned the program’s 11th CCHA regular season championship on Saturday night with a 5-0 whitewash at Northern Michigan University. Coupled with Notre Dame’s 2-0 loss to  Western Michigan University, the win gave UM the CCHA title on the final day of the season.

Senior Carl Hagelin led the way for the Wolverines with two goals and an assist and senior goaltender Shawn Hunwick was stellar in goal. Bryan Hogan entered at goalie for the final six minutes and kept the shutout intact.

After a hard fought victory at NMU Friday night, this one was never in doubt as Michigan chased the CCHA title. Michigan finished the regular season at 23-9-4 overall and 20-7-1-0 in the CCHA. In winning the championship, UM also earned a bye in the CCHA Tournament first round. Michigan will host a quarterfinal matchup March 11-13 at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor as the Wolverines attempt to add a tournament title to their regular season championship.

For more information on all of Michigan’s prior hockey championships, get the new book by Greg Nelson entitled, Michigan Ice Hockey, Celebrating the All-Time Greats and Most Memorable Moments.

Wolverines Aim for Another CCHA Title

With the CCHA playoffs looming, the University of Michigan hockey team travels to take on Northern Michigan University this weekend in two games that will help determine the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s regular season champion.

Heading into the weekend, UM trails first place Notre Dame by 1 point in the CCHA standings. Each team has just two regular season games remaining, with the Irish facing a two-game set vs. Western Michigan. The Wolverines head into their two crucial road contests in Marquette on a bit of a hot streak, having won four in a row.

For more on Michigan’s hockey history, including their 20-year run of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, look for the book – Michigan Ice Hockey, Celebrating the All-Time Greats and Most Memorable Moments – by Greg Nelson.

Wolverine Icers Sweep Broncos

Michigan’s ice hockey team kept its CCHA regular season championship hopes alive and well with a weekend sweep of visiting Western Michigan University. The Wolverines followed up Friday night’s 6-3 thrashing of WMU with a thrilling 5-4 overtime win on Saturday night at rocking Yost Arena in Ann Arbor.

Senior captain Carl Hagelin led the way on Saturday night, rallying UM in the final seconds of regulation time. Hagelin scored with just 39.1 seconds remaining in the third period to tie the game 4-4 and send the teams into overtime. Hagelin then scored the game winner with only 2.9 seconds left in the OT period.

The wins pushed Michigan’s record to 21-9-4 overall and 18-7-1 in the CCHA and  marked the 24th consecutive season in which Michigan has recorded at least 20 victories. Senior goalie Shawn Hunwick was in goal for Michigan for both victories.

Michigan hockey fans can find must reading in the new book, Michigan Ice Hockey, Celebrating the All-Time Greats and Most Memorable Moments, by Greg Nelson.

Wolverines Sweep Buckeyes at Yost Arena

With dual 2-1 wins over Ohio State at Yost Arena over the weekend, the University of Michigan hockey team stayed just one point out of first place in the CCHA with four games left in the regular season.

On Saturday night, sophomore forward Chris Brown scored early in the second period to stake Michigan to a 2-0 lead. After OSU scored to make it 2-1, UM had to fight off a five-minute Buckeye power play late in the game to hold on for the victory. The win moved Michigan’s record to 19-9-4 overall and 16-7-1 in the tight CCHA race.

The Wolverines next host Western Michigan University for two games at home in Yost Arena on Feb. 18-19.

Thanks to the M Club of Greater Detroit

Author Greg Nelson with Josh Blackburn

Thanks to the M Club of Greater Detroit for their warm hospitality at Joe Louis Arena last weekend prior to the Michigan-MSU hockey game.

I enjoyed meeting a great group of alums filled with maize & blue pride. Also enjoyed talking with fellow event co-speaker Josh Blackburn. Josh is a former UM standout goaltender and currently serves as the Wolverines’ volunteer goaltending coach.

The University of Michigan hockey team travels to Oxford, OH to face CCHA rival Miami on Feb. 4 & 5 in a crucial weekend series.

Wolverines Keep Rolling with Sweep of Alaska

The CCHA season is heading for the home stretch and the University of Michigan is hitting its stride at just the right time. Michigan followed up Friday night’s 2-0 shutout of Alaska with a 4-3 win over the Nanooks on Saturday night at Yost Arena.

The weekend sweep puts the UM winning streak at 5 in a row and the Wolverines have now won 9 of their last 10 games to grab first place in the CCHA standings.

Sixth-ranked Michigan, 17-6-4 overall and 14-4-1 CCHA, rode the hot hand of goaltender Shawn Hunwick with 37 saves while senior Carl Hagelin chipped in with three assists.

Michigan next travels to Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena on Sat. Jan 29 for another matchup with rival Michigan State University at 8:05 pm.

Discover more on the history and greatest moments in Michigan hockey with the book, Michigan Ice Hockey, Celebrating the All-Time Greats and Most Memorable Moments by Greg Nelson. The author will also be speaking before the Jan. 29 game as he addresses the M Club of Greater Detroit.