Team opens league season with losses

The IU ice hockey team started the Great Midwest Hockey League season with a pair of road losses against the University of Michigan and Oakland University.\nThe Hoosiers struck at the end of the first period on Friday against Michigan when freshman forward Pete Johnson scored his fourth of the year on a pass from sophomore defenseman Todd Lorenger.\nMichigan responded immediately, less than two minutes into the period. Junior forward Matt Howard again put the Hoosiers ahead in the second, but Michigan answered shortly after with a powerplay goal and added another powerplay goal to go up 3-2 in the third.\nGraduate forward Tom Orr tied the score with just five minutes remaining in the game. Coach Rich Holdeman said he expected the game to end in a tie after Orr's goal.\n"When we tied it 3-3 with five to go, I thought it would end a tie, but they really turned it up a notch and our guys kind of lost composure," he said.\nMichigan scored the game-winner with just 2:21 to go in the third, giving the Wolverines a 4-3 victory over IU.\n"They (Michigan) are a good team up and down," Holdeman said "They've got a lot of guys who can score. But I didn't feel that we were outmanned at all, it was a pretty even game."\nOakland presented a different challenge to IU Saturday. The Grizzlies went up early in the first and added another before sophomore forward Matt Ritz gave IU its lone goal in the second. The Hoosiers lost 1-4. Holdeman said Oakland used a trap-style of play that waited for IU to make turnovers.\n"They played a smart game," Holdeman said "They sat back, looked for turnovers and capitalized on their chances."\nHoldeman said the common theme in both games was a lack of composure for the young Hoosier team. He said IU lost confidence after senior goalie Charlie Pulley misplayed a puck that resulted in a 3-1 lead for Oakland. IU has played in five games decided by two goals or less and has lost three of those.\nIU will try to avoid an 0-4 GMHL start next weekend at home against Michigan Friday and Ferris State Saturday.