DEARBORN, Mich. - The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's ice hockey team returned to action with a home-and-home weekend series against the Indiana Tech Warriors on Friday night in Dearborn, Mich, and on Saturday afternoon in Fort Wayne, Ind.
On Friday, the Warriors would open the scoring, taking a one-goal lead into the first intermission. The Wolverines would respond quickly to open the second as Brendan West would connect on a one-timer with Billy Brock getting the assist. UM-Dearborn would take the lead midway through the second when Blake Petterle floated a shot that made its way past the Indiana Tech goaltender with Henry Laukkanen and Jared Lee recording assists on the play. The Warriors would tie it at two early in the third period as the two clubs would play the remainder of the game and a five-minute overtime in a stalemate, forcing a shootout. The Wolverines would come out on top in the shootout winning 2-1 with Seth Lause and West connecting on their attempts.
Kayden Pickles got the start in the goal for the Wolverines, making 39 saves in the game.
On Saturday, UM-Dearborn jumped to a three-goal lead thanks to a pair of first-period goals from Mathieu LaForest and another from Joey Cullinan just 45 seconds into the second period. Brock would assist on two of the goals, while Kieran O'Connell and West would each add one. Indiana Tech would cut the Wolverine lead to one with a pair of goals five minutes apart. UM-Dearborn would put the game out of reach when LaForest completed the hat trick with Brock recording his third assist of the night, followed by a Brock tally 37 seconds later from West. The Warriors would add a third-period goal, but it wasn't enough as the Wolverines would win 5-3.
The series sweep moves UM-Dearborn to 14-8-0 overall and 12-4-0 in the WHAC.
Pickles got the nod in back-to-back games, making 34 saves in the winning effort for the Wolverines.
UM-Dearborn returns to action against the Aquinas College Saints at 7 pm Friday at the UM-Dearborn Fieldhouse in Dearborn, Mich.
