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Gophers men's hockey loses to Michigan, comes up short of Big Ten title game

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Gophers men's hockey loses to Michigan, comes up short of Big Ten title game


For the third consecutive year, the Gophers will not be the Big Ten hockey tournament champions. And for the third year in a row, Michigan made sure that was the case.

Behind goals by Kienan Draper and Gavin Brindley, 23 saves from goalie Jake Barczewski and a suffocating defensive effort, the Wolverines defeated the Gophers 2-1 on Saturday night in a Big Ten tournament semifinal at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Michigan adds its latest triumph over Minnesota to a pair of 4-3 victories in the 2022 and 2023 Big Ten title games at Mariucci.

The Wolverines (21-13-3) will face regular-season champion Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday in East Lansing. The Spartans beat No. 7 seed Ohio State 2-1 in the other semifinal.

The Gophers (22-10-5) must wait until March 24 to find out where they’ll be playing in the NCAA tournament. They entered Saturday at No. 6 in the PairWise Ratings, and they’re a lock to make the 16-team NCAA field as an at-large entrant. The four regionals are in Sioux Falls, S.D.; Maryland Heights, Mo.; Springfield, Mass.; and Providence, R.I. The Frozen Four is April 11-13 at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.

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Gophers goalie Justen Close kept his team in the game, making 29 saves. Jimmy Snuggerud scored Minnesota’s only goal, with 1:29 left in the third and Close pulled for an extra attacker. The Gophers pushed for the equalizer but came up short.

Throughout the game, Minnesota had trouble generating offense as Michigan pushed the Gophers to the perimeter and had sticks in passing lanes. Minnesota’s play was by no means crisp, with several errant passes and puck battles lost.

Michigan won 36 faceoffs in the game to the Gophers’ 20.

The Gophers came out fast, getting three shots on goal in the opening 1:11. Michigan, however, got on the scoreboard first on its second shot of the game when Draper slammed a rebound of a Chase Pletzke shot past Close for a 1-0 lead at 3:12.

Michigan appeared to stretch the lead to 2-0 at 6:32 of the first when Phillipe Lapointe fed Fantilli with a backhand pass in front of the net that Fantilli fired past Close. Gophers coach Bob Motzko challenged the play for offsides, and after a video review, officials waved off the goal.

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Close kept it a one-goal deficit at 14:58 of the first with a poke check against Garrett Schifsky just in front of the net. The Gophers had a push at the 16:50 mark when Luke Mittelstadt and Mike Koster forced Barczewski to make a pair of saves two seconds apart.

Outshot 10-7 in the first period, Michigan turned up the pressure early in the second, putting the Gophers on their heels and forcing Close to make four saves by the 3:37 mark.

Michigan’s pressure paid off with the game’s first power play when Pitlick was called for hooking at 4:26. The Wolverines, whose power play operates at a nation’s-best 35.6%, spent the full two minutes in the Minnesota zone. Close made four saves, and defensemen Carl Fish and Sam Rinzel each had a key blocked

Michigan boosted the lead to 2-0 at 18:36 of the second when Brindley, on a rush, beat Close with a shot from the right circle.

The Gophers got their first power play of the game at 3:15 of the third when Ethan Edwards was called for interference. Minnesota got two shots on goal during the man advantage, with Barczewski robbing Aaron Huglen with a glove save

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Michigan groom sentenced for killing his best friend on his wedding night

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Michigan groom sentenced for killing his best friend on his wedding night


FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A man in Michigan who got married and then ran over his best friend that same day, killing him, after an alcohol-fueled argument was sentenced Monday to least 30 years in prison.

“The only thing I can do for the rest of my life is express my apology and remorse. … I will forever be sorry,” James Shirah said in Genesee County court.

Shirah, 24, was driving when his vehicle struck Terry Taylor Jr. in Flint, about an hour’s drive northwest of Detroit, on Aug. 30, 2024. He and Savanah Collier were married earlier that day and the celebration had moved to a house.

James Shirah is sentenced to at least 30 years in prison during a hearing, Monday, May 11, 2026 in Flint, Mich. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

Shirah’s attorney had argued that the crash was not intentional. Prosecutors, however, said Shirah had left the scene and had time to reflect before returning and striking Taylor, MLive.com reported.

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“Mr. Shirah, I believe that you are not a criminal. You are, however, a killer,” Judge Khary Hanible said.

In April, Shirah pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and other offenses. He will be eligible for parole after 30 years.

“I hope that they throw the book at you,” Taylor’s cousin, Eren Taylor, said before Shirah received his sentence.

Shirah’s wife will be sentenced later in May for being an accessory.

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SW Michigan show returns as growing destination for vinyl collectors

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SW Michigan show returns as growing destination for vinyl collectors


BENTON HARBOR — Vinyl collectors and music fans are invited to dig through thousands of records and music collectibles at the Southwest Michigan Record Show.

The event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 16 at Grand Upton Hall inside Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center in Benton Harbor, according to a press release.

Now in its fourth season, the show features 25 vendors from five states, offering 70 tables filled with vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, record supplies and music memorabilia.

Free admission begins at 10 a.m.

General admission is free starting at 10 a.m., while early entry is available at 8:30 a.m. for $5. Door prize drawings are planned for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., including $25 shopping certificates and record supplies from BCW Supplies. The first 75 attendees will receive free tote bags.

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A food truck will be on site, and cash is preferred for purchases. Some vendors may accept cards, PayPal, Venmo and other payment methods, but there is no ATM on site.

Vendors from across the Midwest and beyond

The show is expected to feature a wide selection of music genres, including classic rock, pop, ’80s, metal, punk, jazz, blues, R&B, country and soundtracks.

“This show is still being discovered, and that’s part of what makes it exciting,” event organizer Jeremy D. Bonfiglio said in the release. “We’ve built a strong group of experienced vendors, so whether you’re just getting into vinyl or digging for something rare, there’s a real opportunity here to find something unexpected.”

Free parking is available near the entrance of Mendel Center, 2755 Napier Ave.

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Future dates planned

The Southwest Michigan Record Show is also scheduled to return Sept. 19.

For more information, visit southwestmichiganrecordshow.com or follow the event on Facebook.

This story was created by reporter Cheryl Morey, with the assistance of artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing.



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Yes, you can play curling in West Michigan

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Yes, you can play curling in West Michigan


ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The spirit of curling is one of friendship.

While memory of the Winter Olympics may have long melted away in the minds of many Americans, there some whose curiousness for the sport of curling has extended all the way into the springtime.

“Everybody’s having fun,” said Paul Curran, league manager for the Grand Rapids Curling Club. “It’s a really weird sport in that it’s really friendly.”

The club, which plays at the Cedar Rock Sportsplex in Algoma Township, has seen a recent spike in interest in its beginners leagues and learn to curl classes.

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“We’re all here to curl and learn,” said beginner Aaron Schwieterman. “Everyone’s making mistakes, but still having a great time learning the sport and trying to mimic what the professionals do at the Olympics.”

“I recommend it to anybody who wants to try something different,” said beginner Margaret Steketee. “If I can do it, anybody can do it.”

For a period of time on the ice, these newcomers to the sport turn into competitors. Then, at the conclusions of their games, they revert to being friends.

“Largely, what you’ll find with curlers is that when they’re done curling, they want to be friendly and hang out,” Curran said. “Which is what our league is doing right now.”

As long as people are interested, Curran says the club will continue to put on beginners leagues and lessons.

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“The more people we get out here curling, the better,” he said.

For more information on ways to play and learn how to curl in West Michigan, visit the Grand Rapids Curling Club’s website.

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