Big Green Opens Season with 3-2 Win Over No. 11 Michigan

Saturday, October 29

Hanover, N.H.

7:30 PM

Dartmouth College

1-0-0

Michigan

3-3-1

Team	1	2	3	F
Michigan	1	0	1	2
Dartmouth	0	2	1	3

Big Green Opens Season with 3-2 Win Over No. 11 Michigan

10/29/2016 10:25:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

HANOVER, N.H. - Senior Troy Crema scored with 49 seconds left to give the Dartmouth men's hockey team a 3-2 season-opening victory against No. 11 Michigan Saturday night in front of a standing-room only crowd at Thompson Arena.

The contest almost didn't need Crema to be the hero as just four minutes earlier it appeared as if freshman Cam Strong had netted his second of the night to put the Big Green (1-0-0) up a goal, only to see it waived off for goalie interference upon video review.

Crema and the rest of his Dartmouth teammates did not let that setback diminsh their energy as they continued to attack the net and force the play into the Michigan (3-3-1) zone with a countless number of rushes late. Eventually, two great passes from juniors Corey Kalk and Carl Hesler found the puck on Crema's stick for the far-side wrist shot that beat Wolverines goalie Jack LaFontaine low for the game winner.

“I love that our guys didn't let that disallowed goal do anything to slow them down,” head coach Bob Gaudet '81 said. “We fed off the great energy in the building all night and you could see them feed off that in the final minutes and in Troy's goal.”

Michigan nearly sucked the energy out of the building with a goal that tied the score at 2-2 with just 9:27 left in regulation. But the home team rebounded and, anchored by junior Devin Buffalo — making the first home start of his career —found a way to beat the Wolverines for the first time since Jan. 2, 1971.

Making its first-ever trip to Hanover for a game, Michigan got the scoring started with Adam Winborg's first career goal at the 17:00 mark of the first. Junior Kevin Neiley came out and quickly tied the game two minutes into the middle stanza on a laser of a wrist shot inside the near post.

Strong scored his first career goal at 11:46 of the same period with a patient, veteran move in tight quarters, pulling the puck back out of the crease and going upstairs under the crossbar with a backhand to put his team on top, setting up the dramatic third.

The Green and White saw not only Strong register his first career goal, but his linemates and fellow freshman Will Graber and Ryan Blankemeier pick up their first career points with assists on the goal. The team's 11 freshman this season is tied for fourth-most in the nation.

Buffalo's first career start came last season on short notice at Michigan on Nov. 28. He made 37 saves in a 1-1 tie that afternoon at Yost Arena only to eclipse that performance with Saturday's 22-save win in front of the Thompson faithful.

“The energy in the building was unbelievable tonight,” Buffalo said. “I've seen a lot of games here, but nothing like what we saw tonight.”

Both UM goals came on the power play as they finished the game 2-for-4 on the advantage, while their penalty kill held at 5-for-5. The Big Green were a force all night at even strength, though, as they held a 35-24 edge in shots, peppering LaFontaine and forcing him to make 32 saves.

Dartmouth's win meant Michigan went winless on its two-game swing through northern New England after a 3-0 loss Friday at Vermont.

The Big Green now turn their attention to Cornell and the ECAC Hockey opener next Friday night in Hanover. That game can be seen on the Ivy League Digital Network as well as ESPN3 with puck drop set for 7:05 p.m.