Red Wings Prospects Advance in NCAA Tournament

The Detroit Red Wings’ interests will be represented when the Michigan State faces off against Michigan in the NCAA Regional Final Sunday (6:30, ET, ESPN2) in Maryland Heights, Mo.

Trey Augustine (drafted 41st overall by the Red Wings in 2023) will be in net and Red Savage (drafted 114th overall in 2021) will be at forward for the Spartans, while Kienan Draper (drafted 187th overall in 2020) will be playing for Michigan. He is the son of former Red Wings player and current assistant general manager Kris Draper.

Six days ago, Michigan State and Augustine downed Michigan 5-4 in overtime to win the Big Ten championship. Augustine was the most outstanding player of the tournament. Now the two teams play again for a trip to the Frozen Four.

SPARTANS WIN

We're watching this game-winning goal from Davidson on repeat 🔁#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/KOgMC2NSbC

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 30, 2024

The Spartans and Wolverines both needed to come from behind to win their Friday regional semifinal games. Michigan State erased a 4-2 Western Michigan deficit to win 5-4.  Augustine, considered one of Detroit’s top prospects, made 34 saves and then delivered an outlet pass for an assist on Jeremy Davidson’s game-winning goal. It was Augustine’s first collegiate assist.

With 1,089 saves, Augustine needs just 29 saves tonight to take over the national lead in that statistical category.

Buium and Denver Advance

The Wolverines trailed North Dakota 2-1 going into the third period of their meeting, but netted three third period goals to down the Fighting Hawks, 4-3. Coming into the game, North Dakota was 20-0 when holding a lead after two periods.

Michigan’s win puts Red Wings prospect Dylan James (drafted 40th overall in 2022) out of the NCAA tournament. The Alberta-born left wing shows 10 goals this season for North Dakota.

In another regional in Springfield, Mass., Detroit prospect defenseman Shai Buium (drafted 36th overall in 2021) and his Denver team advanced to a Regional Final against Cornell on Saturday (2 p.m.). To get to the final, Denver knocked off Massachusetts (UMass) 2-1 in double overtime. Buium, coming off a strong junior season, posted four shots on goal and was plus-one on the day.  This was the longest overtime game in Denver’s history.

Buium joined with Grand Rapids Griffins players Antti Tuomisto and Carter Mazur, to help Denver win an NCAA national championship team in 2022.