Michigan
4-0-0
Providence
0-2-0
Michigan Finishes Dominant Weekend with Sweep of No. 7 Providence
10/11/2025 10:25:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Josh Eernisse scored two goals, including the game-winner and a shorthanded tally.
» Malcolm Spence opened the scoring with a nifty shorthanded goal on a breakaway.
» Goaltender Jack Ivankovic allowed just one goal and has given up three through four games.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Depth scoring and productive penalty killing powered the No. 9-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (4-0-0) to a 3-1 victory over No. 7 Providence College (0-2-0) on Saturday night (Oct. 11) inside Schneider Arena. The win secured a weekend sweep of the top-10 non-conference matchup and kept the Wolverines undefeated to open the season.
Freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic turned away 24 of 25 shots to earn his fourth win in as many starts. The standout netminder has now allowed just three goals through his first four collegiate games.
Providence went on the first power play of the night at 8:42 of the opening period after Malcolm Spence was whistled for interference while battling along the wall. Thirty-two seconds later, Josh Eernisse joined Spence in the box for boarding, giving the Friars an extended 5-on-3 opportunity.
Fresh out of the box after Michigan killed off the first infraction, Spence collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and used his speed to glide past a defender for a breakaway chance. He shifted to his backhand and flipped the puck into the top-right corner to give U-M a 1-0 lead at 10:57.
Michigan took its one-goal advantage into the locker room after the first period. The Wolverines held slim edges in shots on goal (6-5) and faceoffs (12-10), while Providence failed to convert on either of its first two power plays.
The Friars earned another power play when Tyler Duke was sent off for holding at 5:45 of the second. Less than a minute later, a delayed penalty on Providence was about to even things up, but Eernisse had other plans. Following Spence's lead, he dashed down the ice to bury a shorthanded goal and double Michigan's lead at 6:35. Luca Fantilli collected the lone assist on the play.
Providence responded quickly with a power-play goal at 7:21, cutting the deficit to 2-1 on a low shot from the slot. The tally marked the first goal allowed this season by Michigan's penalty-kill unit.
Heading into the third period, the Wolverines maintained a 2-1 lead and a 17-13 edge in shots on goal, while the Friars had gained the advantage in faceoffs (25-18).
Just over two minutes into the final frame, Ivankovic made a sharp save to preserve the lead after a shot caromed off the end wall and bounced toward the crease for a Providence chance.
Midway through the third, Eernisse forced a neutral-zone turnover and raced in alone for his second breakaway of the night. The senior winger finished again, extending Michigan's lead to 3-1 with 9:29 left to play. The unassisted tally was Eernisse's sixth career multi-goal game and his first since Feb. 3, 2024, against Ohio State.
The Wolverines poured off the bench at the final horn to celebrate another complete team effort. Providence finished with a 25-23 edge in shots on goal and a 38-24 advantage in faceoffs, but Michigan's efficient special teams and steady defense proved decisive.
Michigan's two shorthanded goals marked the first time the program accomplished the feat since Garrett Schifsky tallied a pair at Arizona State exactly one year ago on Oct. 11, 2024.
The Wolverines return home next weekend to host Robert Morris for a two-game series at Yost Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 17-18). Puck drop for both nights is set for 7 p.m., with live streaming on B1G+.
