Wolverine Spirit: A Deep Dive into University of Michigan Athletics

» T.J. Hughes entered the Century Club by recording his 100th point. He subsequently added #101 & #102.

» Jackson Hallum concluded the evening with a decisive overtime goal on an odd-man rush.

» Evan Werner scored a equalizer while leading the Wolverines with five shots on target.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A duo of age-old rivals took their contest indoors on Sunday (Jan. 5) at Yost Ice Arena after a tough matchup at Wrigley Field in Chicago just two days earlier. This encounter saw the ninth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey squad rebound from a two-goal deficit for the first time since March, overcoming the 13th-ranked Ohio State University Buckeyes in overtime with a final score of 3-2.

Alternate captain T.J. Hughes, who assisted on the game-winning goal for his third point of the evening, made history earlier in the match by becoming the latest addition to the program’s Century Club with his 100th career point in his 100th college game. He later recorded his 101st and 102nd points with the second and third parts of his three-assist performance.

The visitors secured the initial draw for the extra session but grew restless, allowing U-M a chance to seize the puck and launch a counterattack. Hughes transitioned the puck to Ethan Edwards, and the junior moved toward the crease from the left side, diverting the goaltender’s focus away from a racing Jackson Hallum on the right side. Once the keeper committed, Edwards slid a pass to Hallum’s advantageous spot, and the junior fired the game-winner into the center of the net, igniting Yost into a frenzy and concluding the weekend on a positive note just 20 seconds into overtime.

Experienced goaltender Logan Stein manned the net for the Wolverines, and the Georgia native laid down a solid platform for the team to build upon. Stein thwarted 30 of 32 shots from a competent, industrious Buckeye squad, including multiple impressive saves.

The home team received an early opportunity on the power play when William Whitelaw was taken down just 1:59 into the action. The Wolverines spent extended periods in the attacking zone but could not capitalize before play returned to even strength.

A penalty on Edwards reversed the scenario at 6:09, granting OSU its first power play. For the third consecutive time dating back to the outdoor matchup in Chicago, the Buckeyes’ power-play unit scored against Michigan’s penalty killers, granting Ohio State a 1-0 advantage at 7:29.

The visitors doubled their advantage several minutes later by scoring off a turnover after Michigan initially thwarted the chance in transition. Following a defenseman’s return of the puck into the slot, Ohio State flicked it into the top of the net to take a 2-0 lead.

Michigan’s penalty killers returned to the rink at 13:46 after Hunter Hady was penalized for tripping while trying to disrupt a Buckeye puck handler. The group regained their focus after the early slip-up and effectively dismissed the opportunity to prevent the deficit from increasing further.

Philippe Lapointe came agonizingly close to scoring for the Maize and Blue with just two minutes left in the period. The veteran forward positioned himself near the right post and displayed his blade to receive a precise cross-crease pass, which he struck firmly; however, the puck hit the post squarely and rebounded, leaving the Wolverines without reward.

Michigan found themselves trailing 2-0 on the scoreboard after the first, with OSU also leading in shots on goal 10-6.

The Wolverines emerged for the second period with vigor and persistently sought an icebreaker. At 7:25, they initiated the team’s second power play of the evening when Evan Werner was taken down in the corner. Once implemented, the unit maintained its presence in the Ohio State zone. After applying pressure to OSU’s four initial killers for over a minute, Werner seized the opportunity and narrowed the deficit for U-M with a one-timer blast from the left flank at 8:46. Michael Hage and Hughes earned assists on Werner’s power-play goal, allowing Hughes entry into the prestigious Century Club with his 100th point as a Wolverine.

At the conclusion of 40 minutes, Michigan still trailed 2-1, despite showing a significantly improved performance over the first stanza. OSU continued to hold slight leads in shots on goal (22-20) and faceoffs (22-19).

For the second consecutive period, U-M came out from the intermission energized. This push lasted over three minutes, culminating in a game-tying goal from Whitelaw. The sophomore’s goal capped a sequence where the Buckeyes struggled to clear their zone, let alone gain possession. U-M capitalized on the pressure to earn an offensive zone faceoff to the left of the opposing goaltender. Immediately after Hughes effectively tied up the draw, Whitelaw stepped toward the crease, gathered the puck, and buried a shot on the near side at 3:15 to equalize.

Michigan’s power-play unit returned to the ice with 8:20 remaining after freshman forward Christian Humphreys drew a hooking infraction against the OSU captain; however, the ensuing two minutes were somewhat disjointed, and the team could not net a go-ahead goal before play reverted to 5×5.

A brilliant chance to take the lead with 1:07 left came and went when Werner got denied by a spectacular glove save during transition, forcing the sophomore to look skyward in frustration. Neither team managed to construct a game-winning goal before the buzzer signaled the end of regulation, prompting the teams to retreat to their benches in preparation for overtime.

The Wolverines won 11 of 19 faceoffs in the third period, concluding regulation with the faceoff battle even at 29 wins each. U-M also overtook OSU in shots on goal (35-32).

Next week, the Wolverines will venture down to South Bend for two games against Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 10-11). The puck drop for the first game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, while the rematch on Saturday is set to commence at 6 p.m. ET. Both matches will be streamed live on Peacock.