Celebrate the Legacy Team of the Week
2008 CCHA Champions - Michigan Wolverines
Led by senior forwards Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik, junior defenseman Mark Mitera and freshman forward Max Pacioretty, Michigan finished the 2007-08 regular season in first place (20-4-4), a point ahead of second-place Miami.
The Red Berenson-coached Wolverines earned a bye in the first round of the CCHA playoffs, then knocked off eighth-seeded Nebraska-Omaha, 10-1 and 2-1, in a best-of-three quarterfinal series in Ann Arbor to earn their 18th straight trip to Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena to face Northern Michigan in the CCHA semifinals. Michigan then knocked off the Wildcats, 6-4, behind two goals each from junior forwards Tim Miller and Travis Turnbull. Behind Bill Sauer’s 25-save performance, and goals from freshman forward Aaron Palushaj and junior forward Brandon Naurato, the Wolverines defeated the RedHawks, 2-1, in the final to capture their eighth CCHA playoff title.
That season Michigan beat Niagara and Clarkston in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Notre Dame, 5-4 in overtime, in the Frozen Four national semifinal. The Wolverines also won the GLI and defeated Minnesota in the College Hockey Showcase to take home the Mariucci- Renfrew Coaches Trophy, named after legendary Michigan coach Al Renfrew and Minnesota coach John Mariucci.
As part of the ‘Celebrate the Legacy’ final season, the CCHA is looking for all the players who have their name engraved on the Mason Cup, the CCHA’s playoff championship trophy.