Da Yooper Report Week 2, Eh?

Jamie Milam, playing as a forward, scored two goals last weekend for Northern.
(photo courtesy of Northern Michigan University Athletic Dept.)

Wildcats Outstanding in CCHA Sweep of Spartans; Huskies, Lakers Stumble

by Brandon Craig
MiCHO Upper Peninsula Correspondent

MARQUETTE, Mich. – Posting a 4-1 win Saturday over the Michigan State Spartans, the Northern Michigan Wildcats completed the sweep of the visiting Spartans behind stellar special teams efforts and outstanding plays in net by Bill Zaniboni and Tuomas Tarkki.

On Friday the ‘Cats (3-1-0, 2-0-0 CCHA) skated to a 3-2 decision over the Spartans (1-3-0, 0-2-0 CCHA) behind two goals by freshman Clayton Lainsbury. Lainsbury, playing in his first collegiate game, was in the lineup to fill in for some of NMU’s injured players. Andrew Contois picked up the other goal on Friday. Zaniboni picked up the win with 27 saves.

Saturday, the Wildcats steamrolled over the Spartans with their special teams clicking. Northern went 3-for-8 on the powerplay and dominated the penalty kill, allowing MSU one conversion in ten opportunities. Tarkki finished the victory with 37 saves.

NMU has now won seven of their last ten meetings with MSU as well as winning the last four meetings.

Northern travels to South Bend, Ind. next weekend for a road series against Notre Dame.

MADISON, Wis. – Sixth ranked Wisconsin proved to be too much for the visiting Michigan Tech Huskies as the Badgers swept MTU 7-3 Friday night and 3-0 Saturday.
Sophomore goalie Bryce Luker was solid in between the pipes despite being upended by UW. The Badgers outshot the Huskies 43-13.

The Huskies (0-4-0, 0-4-0 WCHA) actually got out to a 2-0 lead Friday before squandering the 7-3 loss to the Badgers. Colin Murphy and Jordan Foote picked up those markers in the first period. Trailing 4-2, the Huskies seemed to get back in it with a late second period goal by Lars Helminen. But the Badgers owned the third period and exploded for three unanswered goals. Goalie Cam Ellsworth finished with 35 saves.

Michigan Tech will host Alaska-Anchorage next weekend at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. and DETROIT – Unfortunately for the Lake Superior State Lakers, the annual home-and-‘Joe’ series with the Michigan Wolverines is never easy. Lake State dropped the weekend series 4-3 at Taffy Abel Arena and 5-2 Saturday at Joe Louis Arena. What the scores don’t tell you is that the Lakers led both games before dropping late leads to the fourth ranked Wolverines.

The Lakers (0-4-0, 0-2-0 CCHA) got out to an early lead Thursday in the Soo behind goals by Steve McJannet and Jon Booras until U-M’s Dave Moss put the Wolverines (4-1-1, 2-0-0 CCHA) on the board. LSSU got on more when Derek Smith picked up a marker midway through the second. But three unanswered goals by the Wolverines sealed the deal for the Maize and Blue. Jeff Jakaitis had 32 saves before leaving the game at the end of the second period. Matt Violin totaled nine saves.

Saturday at the Joe, LSSU took a 2-1 lead early on goals by Alex Dunn and Nathan Ward, but the Wolverines perennial dominance inside Joe Louis Arena took the wind out of the Lakers sails. U-M knocked in four unanswered goals for their fourth win of the season.

The Lakers are on the road next weekend with a pair of games against Bowling Green in Ohio.