With a depleted lineup, University of Michigan uses goalie as a forward

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
With a depleted lineup, University of Michigan uses goalie as a forward

Well, that’s a new one.

With an illness creating havoc in the lineup, the University of Michigan had to use third-string goaltender Tyler Shea as a left winger to help fill out the roster against the University of Minnesota on Thursday.

Minnesota easily won the game 5-2, with Shea serving a delay of game penalty after the Wolverines were late to the ice to start the third period. Once the penalty was over, he rushed to the bench and didn’t play again.

Shea, 21, is a freshman with Michigan after spending last year in the BCHL with the Wenatchee Wild. He hasn’t played for Michigan in net yet this season, meaning his college debut… was as a forward.

We’ve heard players move from skater to goaltender in the past – Connor Crisp, a former OHLer, was forced to play as an emergency goaltender for the Erie Otters back in 2012, losing 13-4. But this is a rare moment in high-level hockey to see a goaltender forced into a forward position.

So, that’s pretty different.

Adam Fantilli, Nolan Moyle, TJ Hughes, Jacob Truscott and Steven Holtz were forced to sit the game out due to a virus. According to Holtz’s month, the senior defenseman was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and was placed on a ventilator at the school’s ICU.

The school houses a host of quality NHL prospects, including defensemen Seamus Casey, Ethan Edwards and Luke Hughes (all New Jersey), Ruger McGroarty (Winnipeg) and Frank Nazar (Chicago), as well as one of the top 2023 NHL Draft prospects in Fantilli.

The two teams will meet again on Friday before Michigan takes a week off ahead of a two-game set with Harvard next weekend.

Definitely an odd moment in the college hockey world. But, most importantly, we’re hoping everyone heals up and gets back to full health.

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