Michigan hockey players huddled around the TV in the Yost Ice Arena locker room Sunday afternoon as the NCAA selection show began.
As the Wolverines’ first opponent was announced, players began to clap and say “There we go!” As a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, the team will take on Notre Dame at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Cincinnati.
“Notre Dame is one of our old, I wouldn’t say rival, but borderline rival opponents,” said coach Red Berenson. “Jeff Jackson is as good of a coach there is in college hockey and his teams show that every year. They’re disciplined, hard-working and well-coached and I think you’ll see a close hockey game.”
The Fighting Irish (19-10-7) enter Friday’s game having lost their last two games. They were beaten by Northeastern twice in the Hockey East quarterfinals.
Michigan (24-7-5) and Notre Dame haven’t met since the 2011-12 season when the Irish swept the Wolverines in five games, including the CCHA championship final.
The Midwest Regional final will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday in Cincinnati. Playing on the other side of the region’s bracket are North Dakota and Northeastern.
On Saturday, Michigan won the Big Ten hockey tournament, beating Minnesota, 5-3. The Wolverines were down 3-2 entering the third period before scoring three unanswered goals en route to their first conference title.
Freshman Kyle Connor scored the game-tying goal early in the period — his nation-leading 35th of the season. He also had three assists, earning the tournament’s most outstanding player award.
“Some players have a good game or good weekend but he’s had an unbelievable season,” Berenson said. “This last week to score four goals in one game, it seems like when the puck is on his stick, it’s in the net, and the line has been good.”
Defenseman Zach Werenski scored the game-winner on the power play inside the five-minute mark, and Tyler Motte added an insurance empty net goal. Werenski tallied three assists on the night and Motte scored twice.
Michigan’s power play unit was in a groove through its two tournament games. It finished 3-for-4 Saturday and 6-for-9 throughout the weekend.
Also representing the state in the NCAA tournament is Ferris State, which will play St. Cloud State at 3 p.m. Saturday in the West Region in St. Paul, Minn. The Bulldogs beat Minnesota State in the WCHA final on Saturday to earn an automatic bid.
Justin P. Hicks is a sports reporter and storyteller for MLive / The Ann Arbor News. If you have a unique story you’d like to share, you can reach me at jhicks3@mlive.com. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and MLive.
