Michigan

Michigan sweeps Notre Dame hockey; road playoff series next for Irish

Published

2 years ago

February 25, 2024

Press Room

Michigan sweeps Notre Dame hockey; road playoff series next for Irish

John Fineran
| Tribune Correspondent

Notre Dame’s recent lucky charm of success playing at Michigan’s Yost Ice Arena ran out Saturday night.

Marshall Warren, a graduate-transfer defenseman from Boston College, beat Notre Dame goaltender Ryan Bischel with a slapshot while skating across the deep slot with 2:57 remaining in regulation to give the No. 16 Wolverines a 2-1 victory and two-game sweep of their Big Ten series Saturday night.

Prior to the series, coach Jeff Jackson’s Fighting Irish (15-17-2 overall, 9-13-2 Big Ten) were 8-1-1 in their last 10 games at Yost dating back to the 2018-19 season. But the sweep (Michigan won Friday 4-0) allowed coach Brandon Naurato’s Wolverines (17-12-3 overall, 10-10-2 Big Ten) to move past the Irish into solo fourth place with a 34-31 edge in points with two games in hand.

The home sweep of the Irish was the first by the Wolverines since the 1996-97 season when alumnus Gordon “Red” Berenson, whose signature is on the Yost ice surface, was the head coach during a 33-year tenure.

Friday night: No. 16 Michigan puts serious dent in Irish home-ice playoff hopes with 4-0 victory

The Wolverines now set their sights on finishing ahead of third-place Minnesota, which has 37 points, when the two teams meet next weekend in Minneapolis. If Michigan does finish third, Notre Dame will play at Minnesota March 8-10. If the Gophers prevail, however, it’s back to Yost for the Irish.

Saturday night, Michigan’s Jake Barczewski, who had 22 saves in the Friday victory, and Bischel stood their ground in a matchup of graduate goaltenders. Both finished with 28 saves for the game, with Bischel stopping 14 of the 15 shots launched in the final period by Michigan, which started the final period with a 13-0 shot advantage.

Indeed, Tyler Carpenter’s slapshot which Barczewski, a grad transfer from Canisius, stopped at 13:58 of the third period was Notre Dame’s first shot on goal in 15½ minutes going back into the second period. The Irish finished with 10 shots in the final period, all of them in the final 6:02.

Notre Dame’s only goal of the game was scored at 3:05 of the first period on the power play when freshman center Danny Nelson beat Barczewski from the left faceoff dot after being set up by Cole Knuble and Ryan Siedem. It came with Michigan skating short a man after receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at 1:34 when Irish defenseman Jack Boltman, checked into the Wolverine bench, was restrained from getting back into the action.

Nelson later was assisted off the ice at 8:32 of the third period after colliding with Michigan’s Mark Estapa, who later received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for sending ice shavings up into Bischel at 11:12 after the Irish goalie made a save just before the media timeout. There was no word to the extent of Nelson’s injury.

Notre Dame goaltender Bischel named Big Ten First Star of Week

Like the Irish in the third period, Michigan started slowly on their Senior Night, not getting off its first shot at Bischel until Rutger McGroarty’s effort was turned aside at 8:56 of the first period. Twenty seconds later, it appeared the Wolverines had tied it at 1-1 on a goal by defenseman Seamus Casey. But Jackson challenged the possession, believing Michigan had entered the Irish zone offsides, and a review showed that T.J. Hughes of Michigan indeed had, wiping out the goal.

But Michigan’s tenacity continued, and speedy Gavin Brindley tied the game with his 20^th goal of the season, beating Bischel high over his gloved (left) hand at 10:40. Warren and Ethan Edwards received assists.

The Irish later killed off a tripping penalty to Grand Silianoff, and the teams would skate four aside for two minutes beginning at 15:06 with no further scoring.

Late in the period, McGroarty hit Carter Slaggert from behind at the Irish bench, and after a review, the Michigan player went off for boarding at 18:35. Barczewski made four saves until the period ended, allowing the Irish to outshoot the Wolverines 8-7 in the period. Notre Dame’s defense, meanwhile, blocked 11 other Michigan shots from getting to Bischel.

Barczewski had the first four saves of the second period and finished with 11 as neither team scored in the middle session. Bischel turned away eight shots in the period and again got help from his teammates, who had another 11 blocked shots on his way to 27 for the night.

MICHIGAN 2, NOTRE DAME 1

At Red Berenson Rink in Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Notre Dame | 1 | 0 | 0—1

Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1—2

First Period—Scoring: 1. Notre Dame, Danny Nelson 9 (Cole Knuble, Ryan Siedem) PP 3:05; 2. Michigan, Gavin Brindley 20 (Marshall Warren, Ethan Edwards) EV 10:40. Penalties: Notre Dame 2-4, Michigan 3-6.

Second Period—Scoring: None. Penalties: Notre Dame 0-0 (2-4), Michigan 0-0 (3-6).

Third Period—Scoring: 3. Michigan, Marshall Warren 2 (Gavin Brindley, Rutger McGroarty) EV 17:03. Penalties: Notre Dame 2-4 (4-8), Michigan 2-4 (5-10).

Shots on goal: Notre Dame 29 (8-11-10), Michigan 30 (7-8-15). Goalie saves: Notre Dame, Ryan Bischel 28 (6-8-14); Michigan, Jake Barczewski 28 (7-11-10).

Power-play opportunities: Notre Dame 1 of 3, Michigan 0 of 2. Faceoffs won: Notre Dame 34 (13-13-8), Michigan 22 (7-8-7). Blocked shots: Notre Dame 27 (11-11-5), Michigan 18 (5-7-6).

Referees: Barry Pochmara and Tony Czech. Linesmen: Pat Richardson and Samuel Shikowsky. A: 5,800 (5,800).

Big Ten standings: 1. Michigan State 15-5-2, 49 points (21-8-3 overall); 2. Wisconsin 15-6-1, 47 points (24-8-2 overall); 3. Minnesota 12-6-4, 37 points (19-8-5 overall); 4. Michigan 10-10-2, 34 points (17-12-3 overall); 5. Notre Dame 9-13-2, 31 points (15-17-2 overall); 6. Penn State 5-14-3, 21 points (13-16-3 overall); 7. Ohio State 4-16-2, 15 points (12-16-4 overall).

Saturday’s games: Michigan 2, Notre Dame 1; Michigan State 5, Ohio State 2; Wisconsin 3, Penn State 2 (OT).

Friday’s results: Michigan 4, Notre Dame 0; Ohio State 6, Michigan State 2; Wisconsin 6, Penn State 0.

March 1-2 series: Michigan at Minnesota; Penn State at Ohio State; Michigan State at Wisconsin; Notre Dame-idle.

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Michigan

List of active weather alerts as severe weather moves through Southeast Michigan

Published

11 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

List of active weather alerts as severe weather moves through Southeast Michigan

Severe storms bring risk of tornadoes, hail, flooding

4Warn Weather – The severe thunderstorm warnings in Monroe and Lenawee counties have expired.

A ground stoppage has also been deployed.

Click here for the latest forecast from our 4Warn Weather team.

Here’s a list of the alerts by county.

Wayne County

No active weather alerts.

Oakland County

No active weather alerts.

Macomb County

No active weather alerts.

Washtenaw County

No active weather alerts.

Monroe County

Severe thunderstorm warning expired at 8 p.m.

Livingston County

No active weather alerts.

Lenawee County

Severe thunderstorm warning expired at 7:45 p.m.

Lapeer County

No active weather alerts.

Genesee County

No active weather alerts.

St. Clair County

No active weather alerts.

Sanilac County

No active weather alerts.

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Michigan

Michigan football emphasizes return of discipline under new regime

Published

23 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Michigan football emphasizes return of discipline under new regime

The buzzword continued to come up in Schembechler Hall, from each one of the captains.

From Bryce Underwood to Jordan Marshall, Rod Moore to Trey Pierce − Michigan football players around for the previous regime and in the case of the latter two, the one before that too − each said Wednesday, March 25, that there’s a noticeable difference within the program under new coach Kyle Whittingham.

For Moore, a sixth-year player who will likely become a third-time captain when the official leaders are voted on later this summer, he recognized the vibe.

“I would say it’s kind of a similarity to coach Harbaugh’s regimen,” he said. “It’s a lot more strict than the past two years, and the weight room has kind of been a night-and-day difference than the past two years. We feel a lot stronger, a lot more progress.”

The Wolverines finished winter conditioning and Whittingham graded it with an “A+.” Hope is often the dominant mode at this time of year and adding a new coaching staff to what’s generally a positive time creates little surprise that the Wolverines are raving about the new system.

But beyond the platitudes and clichés, there are tangible examples. Take Pierce: The projected starting defensive tackle has trimmed his weight to 300 pounds while adding muscle mass to his overall frame.

“Something new that we have now is that whenever we start meetings, there’s like a loud air horn that goes off throughout the whole building,” Moore said. “The past two years, we would start the meeting at 2:30, but now we start the meeting at 2:25, even though it’s a 2:30 meeting. Just everyone being five minutes early. The coaches are holding everyone accountable in the meetings, going to class.

“Just the little things that makes a team great, not just the big, broad things that everyone sees.”

There was an implication from everyone, though nothing said explicitly, that the past two seasons featured little enforcement. Most players would show up on time for lifts, but there were those who didn’t, with few repercussions.

“It’s the little things,” Pierce said. “Guys being late for lifts, guys not being where they’re supposed to be, whether it’s [missing] class. Just enforcing that a little bit heavier, that type of thing. … A lot of coaches say that when you’re being recruited in front of your parents. But for [Whittingham] to say that in front of the huddle after practice and say, ‘That’s why I’m here,’ I would say, ‘OK, he cares. He gets it.’”

Throughout the offseason, some who’ve spent time inside the facility said the weightlifting sessions had notably more juice. The past two years felt like a carryover of the previous years in terms of style, but accountability and discipline wavered.

Now, with Doug Elisaia leading the strength and conditioning room, there are different philosophies.

Practices are a bit shorter these days – two hours – but as Marshall said, “I don’t stop moving at practice, like, we’re always doing something that’s not only going to help with us competing with teams, but our conditioning.”

Marshall believes it can take the Wolverines to the next level, he said.

Just more than a week into spring ball, players are oozing confidence. Not just in their skills − the running back room is deep, the wide receiver room has as much raw talent as at any point the past decade, the offensive line returned multiple key pieces, the secondary added depth and the defensive tackles feel underrated − but in mindset.

U-M had early, demanding lifting sessions during winter conditioning, with a clear organization.

“It introduces that factor of toughness, like we’ve been through this at 6:30 a.m., 6:15 a.m., all these days in the grind together,” Pierce said. “It improves team bonding, and puts you in the headspace of, we’ve done harder stuff than this, and nothing can break us.”

The difference between winning and losing can often be razor-thin. Will this pay off when it counts during the season?

“If I can trust you to do things maybe you don’t want to do,” Marshall said, “then I can trust you on the field when it’s the fourth quarter and we have one minute left.”

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

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Michigan school bus driver wins national hero award

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Michigan school bus driver wins national hero award

LANSING, Mich. (InvestigateTV) — A Lansing school bus driver has won a national award for going above and beyond behind the wheel.

Jackie Wilkerson-Brown, known as Miss Jackie by students, transports children to and from Lansing’s Gardner and Lewton schools. She recently became the first recipient of the 2025 School Bus Driver Hero Award.

“I was like, seriously, seriously, seriously, and I just started crying,” Wilkerson-Brown said.

The award was presented by School Bus Fleet Magazine. Teachers and parents nominated Wilkerson-Brown for the honor.

Known for being fun and firm

Wilkerson-Brown is known for being fun and firm with students. She hands out candy and leads students in games like the name game on rides home.

“Being a mirror bus driver is just sitting in your bus and, ‘Sit down, stop doing that, stop jumping over the seat,’” Wilkerson-Brown said. “You have to sometimes get up out of your seat and face-to-face with your children.”

Posters of positivity line the inside of her bus.

“I keep it on my bus, and I just try to remind the kids that, you know, smile,” she said. “Kind vibes, happy lives.”

‘Unbelievable honor’

Patrick Dean, president of Dean Transportation, said the recognition is significant.

“This is an unbelievable honor for Jackie,” Dean said. “Jackie exemplifies everything it means to be a superhero bus driver.”

Todd Sharp, operations manager for Dean Transportation, said Wilkerson-Brown treats students as her own.

“When those students step up on her bus, she treats them as her own. They’re her children while they’re in her care,” Sharp said.

Wilkerson-Brown said she loves her job.

“I’m trying not to get emotional, because I love my job, I love what I do,” she said. “If you call my phone right now, the message is going to say, ‘Hey I’m busy being awesome.’ So, because I am awesome, I am awesome, and then to receive this award, and then it came and I’m employed by Dean Transportation, oh, my God, it doesn’t get any better than that.”