No. 5 Wolverine Icers Overwhelm Chargers

The No. 5-ranked Michigan ice hockey team opened regular season play tonight with a dominating 8-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor. T.J. Hensick scored twice in the first ten minutes of play to pace the Wolverines offense.

It is common knowledge that as T.J. Hensick goes, the offense goes as well. It held true tonight as the Wolverines pounced the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers 8-1 in the season opener behind two goals and an assist from T.J. Hensick.

"One of T.J.'s goals is to be an every-shift, every-game player this year,” said U-M coach Red Berenson. “He's working harder for it and you can see the difference. He's dangerous every time he is on the ice and around the net. It's not a surprise, he's more consistent and that's what his goal is."

It took just 50 seconds for Hensick to get on the board tonight. After winning the opening face-off, Hensick found himself back in possession of the puck after two crisp passes from wingers David Rohlfs and Kevin Porter. Hensick took the pass from Rohlfs and skated alone into the Chargers zone. His quick wrist shot beat UAH goalie Marc Narduzzi to the glove side to make it 1-0.

On the Wolverines first power play of the game, the Maize and Blue made the score 2-0. Brian Lebler scored his first goal as a Michigan Wolverine after teaming with junior Chad Kolarik on a give-and-go just in front of Narduzzi at the 6:33 mark. Narduzzi was then done for the night.

Hensick, Porter and Rohlfs teamed up for their second goal of the period just minutes later. Hensick, again slicing through the Chargers zone alone, snapped his second wrist shot of the net into the UAH net, this time between the legs of new netminder Jordan Erickson.

"The play was going to (Kevin) Porter's side and I just cut through the middle, just as we work on in practice,” forward David Rohlfs said after the game. “Porter gave me the puck and Hensick was cutting behind him and I tapped (the puck) right to him. So (the goals) were pretty easy for me. The plays were exactly the same; it was like deja vu."

Andrew Cogliano made the score 4-0 in the opening minute of the second frame. Adding his second assist of the game, Chad Kolarik found the Wolverines sophomore center camped out in front of the UAH crease from behind the Chargers cage. Cogliano quickly fired the pass into the net behind Erickson.

Rohlfs put Michigan on top 5-0 at the 3:15 mark. His third point of the game, and first goal of the season, came on a nifty backhand that sent the puck over the Chargers stretched out netminder.

At the middle point of the second period, UAH scored the lone goal of the night beating Michigan sophomore goalie Billy Sauer low with a power-play goal.

"I thought Billy played well. He kept them from getting a life (on offense). They had some good scoring chances in the first two periods. I liked his game,” said Berenson. “I liked his rebound control. I liked his positioning.”

Steve Kampfer scored his first career goal for the Wolverines in the opening minutes of the third period with the Wolverines skating with a two-man advantage. Kampfer pinched into the slot from his spot along the blue line and fired a hard slap shot past Erickson at 1:38.

Chad Kolarik and Jack Johnson would add goals in the final two minutes of play to give the Wolverines the 8-1 victory. Michigan will be back in action again tomorrow night as the Wolverines complete their first home stand of the season with a 7:35 tilt against UConn.