12/27 Recap: Compher scores in return; Hurley strikes in debut

J.T. Compher scored a shorthanded goal Friday as #3 Michigan was defeated by Western Michigan 3-2 in overtime in the semifinal of the Great Lakes Invitational at Comerica Park. The helper gives Compher a team-leading 15 points (6+9) through the Wolverines first 15 games, but perhaps the bigger story is his quick return from a foot injury suffered last Monday that prevented him from participating in the World Junior Championship. Michigan will face rival Michigan State Saturday in the GLI third place game. Puck drops at 3:30 ET.



Elsewhere, Jake McCabe (+2, 1 SOG) notched an assist as #15 Wisconsin blanked Alabama-Huntsville 5-0. Brad Navin (+1, 2 SOG) was unable to get a point in the win. The two clubs complete the non-conference set Saturday in Madison.

In the USHL, Connor Hurley scored in his first game in a Green Bay uniform as the Gamblers downed Dubuque 7-5. The goal snaps a 14-game goal drought for the Notre Dame commit. Green Bay hosts Dubuque on Saturday.

Judd Peterson scored the game winning goal with 2:46 to play as Cedar Rapids edged Des Moines 5-4. Peterson has 11 goals in 23 games this season, connecting on 31.8% of his shots along the way. The RoughRiders visit Waterloo on Saturday.

Cal Petersen stopped 27 shots to earn the game's number three star as Waterloo held on for a 2-1 victory over Chicago. Petersen had a shutout going until the Steel put out the extra attacker and scored with 41 seconds left in regulation. The performance gives the Notre Dame commit win in 14 of 16 starts this season.

In the WHL, Victoria's leading point man Logan Nelson went without a point in his return to action as the Royals pasted Prince George 8-1. The Minnesota native had previously missed five games while recovering from an upper-body injury. The two clubs play it back on Saturday.

Over in Europe, Phil Varone, Luke Adam, and Joel Armia connected for goals but the Rochester Americans gave up a pair in the the final twenty minutes en route to losing 4-3 to CSKA Moscow in their second game of the 2013 Spengler Cup. Matt Hackett made 34 saves for the Amerks, who are off until Sunday when they face the second-place finisher of the opposite division.On Thursday, Hackett stopped 32 shots as Rochester opened the tourney with a 5-0 loss to Geneve Servette.



In ECHL action, reigning Goaltender of the Week Connor Knapp made 28 saves as Greenville dropped a 3-2 decision to South Carolina. The Road Warriors face Elmira on Saturday.

Andrey Makarov stopped 18 of 21 shots as Fort Wayne earned a 4-3 win over Toledo. Shawn Szydlowski produced one assist for the Komets, who take on Evansville on Saturday.

Jonathan Parker recorded three shots on goal as Colorado lost to Utah 2-1. The Eagles and Grizzlies will go back at it on Saturday.