It’s always slightly bugged me how that move is internationally become known as “The Michigan”.
For one, the name sounds incomplete.
I feel like it’s missing something.
And what about the Michigan player who actually made the move?
It’s Mike Legg.
And Mike Legg didn’t invent the move either.
He learned it from a guy named Bill Armstrong who used to play for Western Michigan.
Armstrong reportedly scored 4 goals using the move with the minor league Albany River Rats.
ESPN actually has a pretty interesting interview where the two of them talk about it.
ESPN- While Legg’s lacrosse-style shot made him famous, he didn’t invent the move.
Nor was he the first hockey player to use it in an official game.
“LEGG: “I learned it from Bill Armstrong.
He was in the New Jersey Devils organization.
“ARMSTRONG: “We’re both from London.
You work out, scrimmage.
I was doing the move out there in those [pickup] games.
“LEGG: “It was the summer before my freshman year of college [1993].
You get there early, skate around, no real goalies.
“ARMSTRONG: “As a pro, you’re on the ice a lot.
I learned to pick up the puck pretty well on my stick.
It was almost second nature.
I thought, ‘Jeez, that might be something I could actually use in a game.
‘“LEGG: “Bill has great hands.
Then, you attempt to tip the puck back so it’s on its back edge.
Most people from this point give a shot to turn their wrist to pick the puck up.
But you need leverage.
It’s all about feel.
“LEGG: “It was the move.
I’m like, ‘Oh, my goodness, I have to see this again.
‘“ARMSTRONG: “I worked on it in my spare time.
Worked on it at hockey schools while the kids were practicing plays.
I was playing in Hershey, Pa.
I didn’t want to try it in a game and miss.
When I was traded to the Devils, I played in Albany, N.Y., with the River Rats.
I did it for fun in our East-West games.
I finally had permission.
“LEGG: “At first, I didn’t really have the nerve to talk to Bill.
I would just watch him.
“ARMSTRONG: “In Albany, I scored four goals with the move.
The fans there got to know it because they ran a piece on local television.
We called the shot the ‘do it.’
When I went to the IHL, they asked me what to call it.
I said, ‘I guess you call it the high wrap.
‘“LEGG: “I finally asked Bill, ‘How do you do that?
“LEGG: “I just fell in love with it.
“ARMSTRONG: “Mike picked it up pretty quick.
I said, ‘Yeah, you’re not going to try it.’
[Laughs].”
I’d imagine the move had been done in several other places as well.
That’s not the point.
Just a personal grievance of mine.
You’re behind the net.
The puck falls into perfect position.
All you have to do is pick it up and tuck it behind the goalie’s shoulder.
For a trip to the Frozen Four no less.
It would have been the goal of his life.
He would have gone down-ish in college hockey history.
In UConn hockey history at least.
Like Penn State, UConn had never made the Frozen Four either.
This was the first UConn hockey team to make the NCAA Tournament at all.
He was so damn close.
Which is carrying the puck through a high traffic area with your head buried in the ice.
His full concentration was on the puck.
Immediately following that hit, Penn State went on a rush of their own and nearly scored.
But luckily for him, Penn State didn’t score right there.
They at least gave him the courtesy of waiting 8 minutes.
I watched that whole game.
It was an even battle throughout.
But Penn State was gassed in OT.
UConn was clearly the more well-conditioned team.
It was starting to look like UConn had an extra skater out there.
It felt like UConn scoring was inevitable.
it’s possible for you to even see it on Penn State’s game winning goal.
But somehow he did.
Also… #28 from UConn isn’t gonna sleep tonight.
If you watch that play back, he gets walked bad at the blue line.
I’ll let you make that determination for yourself..
Hell of a game from start to finish.
By far the best madness of the day.
Where college basketball has lacked this post-season, college hockey has been there to pick up the slack.
Frozen Four starts next Thursday night in St. Louis.
It’s been a great hockey tournament so far.
I highly recommend it.
