Collegiate hockey season in Dearborn is off to a nice start as the University of Michigan-Dearborn Wolves have reached an overall current record of 13-6. So far, the local icers have done well in the beginning stage of the 2012-13 season.
Playing at the varsity club hockey level, UM-D has been making some noise with earlier victories over Wayne State University, U-Toledo and Kent State. The Wolves won the opening game of their 2012 Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey Tournament in November, beating Saginaw Valley, before losing to Eastern Michigan during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Assistant coach Chris Haltinner likes the general spirit being displayed by the players.
“We have a solid team that should continue to do well in our league competition this season,” Haltinner said. “We have been ranked 25th out of 60-plus teams that are a part of the American College Hockey Association.”
The Wolves are a member team in the Great Lakes Hockey League, a Division of the ACHA.
UM-D will host Eastern Michigan Friday. Faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the UM-D Fieldhouse, on Evergreen across from the Fairlane Town Center.
Three Dearborn area players dot the Wolves’ roster. Mathew Knezek is a senior on defense and gets his share of ice time. Casey McLogan and Nezar Habhab are junior forwards who make steady contributions during their shifts on the ice.
With the NHL in a lockout, hockey fans can see some local college hockey as a constructive alternative to the games being missed at Joe Louis Arena. The Wolves’ final regular season home game is scheduled for Feb. 9 against Eastern Michigan.