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Near the end of the first period, freshman forward Christian Humphreys received a pass from junior forward T.J. Hughes in the slot and with one slapshot earned the Michigan hockey team its first goal of the night. And for Humphreys, his first goal as a Wolverine meant a little more.
Last year, Humphreys was on the other side of the ice, taking a loss to Michigan as a recent alum from the U.S. National Training and Development Program (NTDP). Wolverines coach Brandon Naurato used the exhibition game to give some new faces an opportunity. And Humphreys became the first to show out.
No. 10 Michigan (3-2-1) reaped the benefits of Humphreys and other new players’ performances to take a 5-4 overtime win over NTDP (6-6) in Friday’s game.
“There’s so many emotions out there for all the new guys,” graduate goaltender Andrew Albano said. “(They’re) getting opportunities, points, assists, getting their first games in and even just getting a touch on the ice.”
When the Wolverines hit the ice in the early minutes of the game, they came out with authority. Between the pressure in the crease and a variety of Michigan players trying to secure a net-front goal, the Wolverines weren’t holding back on their shots. Even with the forceful showing, though, Michigan couldn’t break through.
Until Humphreys got his shot — this time, for the Wolverines.
Michigan took its 1-0 lead into the locker room and returned to the ice with that same intensity from the beginning of the game. Rather than waiting to make something happen, Hughes converted in the first 12 seconds of the second period. He took the puck off the boards, slinging the shot from the faceoff dot and sending it to the top shelf. In his first goal of the season, Hughes joined the party Humphreys started.
“(It’s) so good for T.J. to hopefully get some confidence from getting that goal,” Naurato said. “He’s been playing well, but a little snake bit.”
Though Hughes is a staple of experience in the youthful lineup, he’s struggled to make scoring plays this season. And while he’s not a new face, this was a new chance to make an impact and earn his first goal in the season.
However, Hughes wasn’t the only one to embrace the challenge. With no consequences to the Wolverines record, Naurato utilized the ice time to see who would step up when given the chance. Humphreys and Hughes made themselves known and Michigan continued playing, waiting to see who was next.
While freshman defenseman Hunter Hady has made his presence known on the penalty kill unit so far this season, he got his moment to score on Friday. From a pass to the right side, Hady sent the puck and delivered the Wolverines’ third goal of the night.
At the end of the second period, NTDP snuck its first goal of the night. But for NTDP, this goal was only the beginning as it climbed its way out of the hole through the third period.
Michigan responded with a goal of their own early in the third period, but NTDP cut this lead short with two goals to tie the game. Instead of the Wolverines coasting to the end of the game with its early dominance as support, it now needed to rely on both the new and old faces to avoid a third period downfall.
With both teams struggling to find the back of the net, the third period ended and sent the game into overtime. The dominating play Michigan started with disappeared in the final 20 minutes as it scrambled to clinch a game it once commanded.
“We have to be the team that puts teams away,” Naurato said. “We have to be the team that holds down a lead in the third period.”
In the final minutes of the game, freshman forward Michael Hage finally cracked through after spending three periods struggling to find the back of the net. Though Hage is a familiar face in the Wolverines’ recent wins, he’s still new to the program.
Michigan’s youth has defined the early games this season as it’s trying to figure how all the pieces fit together. And though the Wolverines almost let the game slip away, the new faces on the ice and new scorers managed to sneak the win.
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