In Michigan's 4-2 victory over Lake Superior on Saturday, which had 43 penalties among the two teams and fights breaking out every which way, the game was so brutal that someone was bound to get hurt.
And unfortunately for Michigan, someone did.
Bobby Hayes left the game with an injury to his right shoulder. Today, Hayes' prognosis was a slight shoulder separation that makes him doubtful for Friday's game against Maine at Joe Louis Arena.
Hayes should be available for Michigan's contests at Alaska-Fairbanks on Oct. 24-25.
If he's not ready by then, he'll be back the following weekend, Michigan assistant coach Mel Pearson said. But for now, Hayes will not practice.
"I doubt if he'll skate this week," Pearson said. "I think we'll just hold him off unless, Friday or Saturday, he might come out on his own. He's in good enough shape that he won't have to skate too much."
Hayes suffered his injury five minutes into the third period, when he was checked into the boards in front of the Michigan bench.
He immediately dropped his right shoulder, hanging it down a bit, and headed straight for the lockerroom without assistance.
But Hayes didn't make it too far.
As the sophomore center was walking down the hallway in Abel Arena, he suddenly fell to the ground in obvious pain. That's when a Michigan trainer came to his side.
Hayes, who Michigan coach Red Berenson has used as the fourth line center, contributed eight goals and 13 assists last season, including clutch goals in the NCAA tournament.
Turco's revenge: He may not want to say it, but Michigan's victory must have felt much sweeter for the Wolverines' goaltender, Marty Turco.
Returning to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Turco stopped 32 shots en route to the Michigan victory. The victory avenged his two losses at the Soo last season.
On Feb. 23, Lake Superior edged the Wolverines, 5-4, in overtime. And on the following night, Turco was pulled in the Lakers' 7-3 victory.
Turco called it one of the worst moments in his career, but now he has something to replace that memory.
Revenge?
Maybe. But Turco remained humble.
"Now that I have time to think about (redemption), maybe a little bit," Turco said. "Coming into the game, I wasn't really thinking about (revenge) too much. It was a team game, not my game."
Freshman debut: Berenson scratched freshmen Kevin Magnuson and Andrew Merrick, which left Sean Peach as the lone freshman who played against the Lakers.
Peach, who was involved in fracases, had butterflies going into the game.
"I was real nervous at the start, but as the game went on, I felt more comfortable," Peach said. "I found a comfort zone."
The freshman defenseman lost his stick in the second period and had Lakers on him when Michigan's Warren Luhning grabbed one of the players and put him in a headlock.
Peach didn't realize it.
"I just remember holding onto one guy, and he started grabbing on my cage," Peach said. "It's great to have your teammates backing you up in that situation."
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Michigan's Blake Sloan was lucky to survive Saturday's fight-fest between the Wolverines and Lake Superior unharmed. The penalty-infested game did result in one casualty. Bobby Hayes had to leave the game in the third period after being checked into the boards. Hayes suffered a separated right shoulder and will not play against Maine this Friday at the Joe.