DEARBORN, Mich. - The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's ice hockey team returned to action for the first time in over a month, opening a weekend home-and-home series with Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League rival Oakland University Friday at the UM-Dearborn Ice Arena.

The Wolverines scored six times in the second period to pull away from the Golden Grizzlies for an 8-2 win, the fifth straight for the team. The win moves UM-Dearborn to 9-5-1 overall and 5-4 in the GLCHL.

Kevin Bechard (SO/Trenton, Mich.) got the Wolverines on the board in the first with his ninth goal of the season on a feed from Justin Dunn (FR/Trenton, Mich.). Despite outshooting OU 15-6 in the first period, UM-Dearborn led just 1-0 at the first intermission.

The Wolverines exploded in the second with three goals win the opening three minutes, including tallies from Ryan Urso (JR/Livonia, Mich.), Tyler Groat (SO/Wyandotte, Mich.) and Andrew Spiegel (SO/Riverview, Mich.). Urso and Groat each added another before the second period ended, while Jeff McFarland (JR/Grosse Ile, Mich.) recorded his first of the contest. Gino Darin (SR/Allen Park Mich.) capped off the night with a third period goal to give the Wolverines the series opening win.

Justin Dunn, McFarland and Spiegel each recorded two assists. The Wolverines outshot OU 52-30 as Nate Ferris made 28 saves in net for UM-Dearborn in the win.

The Wolverines close the weekend on the road in the second game against Oakland at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Rochester, Mich.