Goaltender Jared Rutledge leaves Michigan hockey with option to return (or not)
Michigan goaltender Jared Rutledge, above, will play with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL next year.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
Michigan goaltender Jared Rutledge, above, will play with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL next year.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
Jerseys to be worn at the NHL Winter Classic hockey game are shown on display in Detroit, Sunday April 7, 2013. The Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium, canceled this season due to the NHL lockout, has been rescheduled for Jan. 1, 2014, next season.
Associated Press
DETROIT -- All fall, the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor waited on the NHL and its lockout, to find out if the scheduled 2013 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium would go on as scheduled.
More after the jump…The 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium keeps getting more and more official.
More after the jump…Jacob Trouba has officially left Michigan and will join the NHL's Winnipeg Jets after just one season in Ann Arbor.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Better start warming up the car, Red.
More after the jump…The Michigan hockey team celebrates a goal at Joe Louis Arena during its semifinal game Saturday against Miami.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
The Michigan hockey team may not have qualified for the NCAA tournament this year for the first time in more than two decades. But it was unbeaten in nine straight games to make the CCHA tournament finals, and ended the season playing its best hockey of the year.
More after the jump…Red Berenson has spent 29 years as Michigan's hockey coach.
AnnArbor.com file photo
The Michigan hockey team’s late nine-game win streak restored some respectability to an otherwise dismal season.
More after the jump…Michigan freshman forward and former Skyline High School quarterback Andrew Copp, pictured above, was Michigan's second most productive player after Christmas this season.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
Jon Merrill, pictured above, has reportedly signed a pro contract.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo
On Tuesday, Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson said he thought it was time for defenseman Jon Merrill to move on to professional hockey.
More after the jump…Michigan freshman defenseman Jacob Trouba takes a shot against Michigan State earlier this season.
Two of Michigan’s best defenseman could both have played their final games in a Wolverines uniform Sunday.
More after the jump…DETROIT -- The Michigan hockey team fell short of extending its NCAA Tournament berth streak to 23 years on Sunday, falling 3-1 in the CCHA Tournament final. The Wolverines needed to secure the conference's automatic bid to make the NCAA Tournament.
More after the jump…Michigan freshman Andrew Copp skate's away from a skirmish near the end of Michigan's 3-1 loss to Notre Dame in the CCHA Tournament Championship at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday, March 24.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
DETROIT -- Twenty-two years is a hell of a run.
And that’s exactly what the Michigan hockey team had to nearly make it 23 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.
But Notre Dame put an end to Michigan’s nine-game unbeaten streak with a 3-1 win in the CCHA Tournament championship game on Sunday at Joe Louis Arena.
The loss ends Michigan’s chance at a national record 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. With a sub-.500 record, Michigan needed to win the tournament and secure the league’s automatic bid to extend its streak.
Michigan scored four goals in an eight-minute span in the second period to beat Miami, 6-2 and advance to the CCHA final Sunday against Notre Dame
More after the jump…Michigan forward Kevin Lynch celebrates a Wolverines goal in the second period Saturday at Joe Louis Arena.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Updated at 8:15 p.m.
More after the jump…Steve Racine makes a save in Michigan's first-round series against Northern Michigan.
Andrew Kuhn | AnnArbor.com file photo
For the 24th time in 24 years, Michigan is headed to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA tournament semifinals.
More after the jump…Michigan forward Luke Moffatt takes a shot against Miami earlier this season.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com file
With a two-game weekend sweep over Western Michigan, the Michigan hockey team advanced to the CCHA semifinals at Joe Louis Arena for the 24th consecutive year.
More after the jump…Michigan forward Phil DiGiuseppe skates away from Western Michigan players during the two teams’ Friday night game.
Matt Gade | Mlive Media Group
Updated at 10:30 p.m.
More after the jump…Western Michigan's Mike Leone and Ben Warda (27) close in on Michigan's Phil Di Giuseppe in the third period of the game on Friday night at Lawson Arena. Michigan won the game 4-3.
Matt Gade | MLive.com
The Michigan hockey team will need to win the CCHA Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament this year. It took another step closer on Friday with a 4-3 win over Western Michigan. The Wolverines need one more win in the three game series. The teams resume the series on Saturday (7:05 p.m.) and if necessary will play again on Sunday (7:05 p.m.).
More after the jump…It's no coincidence that Michigan goaltender Steve Racine's best play of the season has coincided with the team's resurgence.
Andrew Kuhn | AnnArbor.com file photo
And with the end of the season looming at the next slip up, frankly, it no longer has a choice.
More after the jump…The awards keep piling in: after being named one of the top rookies in the CCHA, Michigan freshman defenseman Jacob Trouba was named to the All-CCHA first team, the league announced on Wednesday.
More after the jump…
What a difference a day makes.
One night after barely escaping with a win over Northern Michigan, the Michigan hockey team dominated the Wildcats Saturday night, earning a 6-2 victory and a two-game sweep in the opening round of the CCHA playoffs.
“I think that was the best game we’ve played all year,” said defenseman Mac Bennett. “We started hot, we finished hot, we were just great all around. I thought our special teams were great. We dominated the game.”
More after the jump…