KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Health just hasn't been a strong point for our favorite college hockey team this season.
Hunter Lellig was lost for basically the whole season in late October (he hasn't returned and I don't know that he's even skating, so it seems like a redshirt is in his future at this point). Dylan Samberg (two separate times), Nick Swaney, Nick Wolff, Tanner Laderoute, Koby Bender, and Quinn Olson have all missed at least one full game (everyone except Wolff missed more than one full game) because of injury.
Now you can add Jackson Cates to the list, after this hit early in the second period Friday.
As I wrote on Twitter, I just don't see a penalty here. Jackson tries to avoid some of the hit by leaving his feet, but Paul Washe of Western Michigan simply finishes his check, which he is perfectly within his rights to do here. It's not late (looking at this in slow motion, I completely understand fans who think it was late, but live action, that argument doesn't hold water). It's not to the head. It's not some reckless intent to injure. It's an unfortunate outcome to a hockey hit. Hopefully, Jackson Cates is not out terribly long (we don't know anything about a prognosis at this time), and don't mistake my “This isn't a penalty” stance as some lack of sympathy or whatever. That would be ridiculous. Just being honest in how I'm trying to assess this play.
If you count Lellig's injury (which we probably should here for the purposes of this exercise, since he was unquestionably among UMD's top six defensemen as the season got going), the Bulldogs have not been able to field their preferred lineup one time this season. Bender missed the UMass-Lowell series, then Olson was gone when he came back, Laderoute missed time after that, and Lellig was gone.
If you're of the mind that UMD has moved on at this point, and it is what it is when it comes to Lellig's injury, the Bulldogs have been missing a player due to injury in 15 of 30 games (counting this one since Jackson Cates is out). UMD is 8-6 in the previous 14 games, in case you're wondering, including a 5-1 record in the NCHC.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Olson – Cates (Noah) – Swaney
Koepke – Richards – Laderoute
Roth – Miller – Bender
Almquist – Jacques – Loheit
UMD defense
Wolff – Perunovich
Samberg – Roehl
Anderson – Hilderman
Rosenbaum
UMD goalies
Shepard – Patt – Fanti
WMU forwards
Kingston – McGing – Gallant
Passolt – Worrad – Frank
DiPietro – Rueschhoff – Allison
Courtnall – Washe – Polin
WMU defense
Lee – Bafia
Kucharek – Joyaux
Samuelsson – Attard
Bennett
WMU goalies
Blacker – Bussi – Massey
(This is where I remind you that Western Michigan lists their goalies however they want and the starter isn't always listed first.)
