Men’s Hockey: No. 5 Terriers look for weekend sweep against No. 11 Michigan

Featured image by Spirit Veron

By Mel Mastela 

The No. 5 Boston University Men’s Hockey (4-1-0, 1-0-0 HEA) will take on the No. 11 University of Michigan Wolverines (3-2-1, 0-0-0 B1G) in a two-game weekend series at Agganis Arena starting on Friday, Nov. 1.

This is the first time the Wolverines visit BU since their weekend series in the 2015-16 season, where both teams took home a win.

Historically, BU has had more luck at home, and they boast a 4-1 lead against Michigan at Agganis Arena. The two teams split the weekend series in the 2022-2023 season in Ann Arbor.

BU’s sophomore defenseman Tom Willander will be one to watch as he was named the Hockey East Defender of the Week after the Terriers bounced back in a statement victory over North Dakota this past weekend.

“When [Willander] is playing hard and playing his game he’s to me one of the best defensemen in college hockey,” coach Jay Pandolfo said.

Willander recorded two points from an assist in the Friday game and provided the Terriers with their game-winning goal on Saturday for his fifth point of the season.

Sitting at a .909 save percentage, Terrier goaltender Mathieu Caron will be on alert for Michigan’s sophomore Garrett Schifsky, who leads the nation in most short-handed goals, racking up six total points this season.

Freshman Michael Hage leads Michigan in points with seven after providing his team with the winning overtime goal this past Friday.

The Wolverines are high in momentum after an exhibition win against the U.S. National Under-18 Team at Yost Arena on Friday, Oct. 25.

Likely to get the nod in net for UMich is Logan Stein, who holds a .925 save percentage and has stood as a brick wall for the Wolverines.

BU will look to come out on the front foot against a dominant offensive Michigan team.

“It’s just consistency that’s what we need,” Pandolfo said about what he expects from his team this weekend. “It has to be consistent over the course of 60 minutes… there’s gonna be times where you’re on your heels a little bit, but our overall consistency as a group has to be better.”

The Terriers and Wolverines are set to start the weekend series with a 7 p.m. puck drop on Friday, Nov. 1, followed by a 7 p.m. start on Nov. 2. Streaming will be available on ESPN+.