Playing the Frozen Four in the Xcel Energy Center is a bit of a homecoming for the seniors on this Michigan team. Louie Caporusso, Carl Hagelin, Chad Langlais, Tristin Llewellyn, Matt Rust, Scooter Vaughan and Ben Winnett were freshmen when UM played in the 2007 Ice Breaker Invitational.
“It is interesting that this senior class played their first-ever college game in this building in that Ice Breaker tournament when we played against Boston College and Minnesota,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “I don’t know if there’s any karma there, but it’s interesting.”
Michigan beat BC, 4-3, in overtime Oct. 12 to open the 2007-08 season before losing to Minnesota the following night, 4-3.
“It’s great being back here in Minnesota,” said Caporusso. “I remember it like it was yesterday, being here for our first games against BC. It’s gone by so fast. We’re really excited to be back here and we have a big job ahead of us.”
In that win over Boston College, Hagelin scored the first goal of the season for Michigan — the first of his collegiate career — assisted by Caporusso. Caporusso scored the OT winner, unassisted.
In the loss to Minnesota, Rust scored twice.
