Husky Talk: A Different View

Former MTU captain Colin Murphy and family

Welcome back all Michigan College Hockey fans! We once again get ready for a great season of college hockey. I am beyond excited for the season to start. I had an interview with MTU's ex-captain Colin Murphy (CM) a while back. Murphy is with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and looking forward to the upcoming year. I asked him a bit about the AHL and also what he thought of this year's Huskies.

(MCH) What do you think of the incoming class this year at Michigan Tech? If you had to choose one, which one will have the quickest and biggest impact?

(CM) I'm not too familiar with the incoming freshman this year at MTU. I know the coaching staff did a great job recruiting and that the freshman class is going to be pretty strong. If I had to choose one I would say Rob Nolan will have a major impact in net this year for the Huskies. He's an Alberta kid and heard a lot of great things about him.

(MCH) Do you have any plans on returning throughout the year to watch the Huskies?

(CM) I will always be following the Huskies after every weekend. With my schedule as a pro, I'm not too sure I'll have the time to get back too see them play. Maybe I can get down to the GLI as Detroit is only three hours away from Toronto. You always remember what got you to where you are today, as far as Michigan Tech goes I will be a fan of the program, players and staff for many years.

(MCH) What do you think is a realistic finish for the Huskies this year?

(CM) The WCHA is a very tough league. In order for the Huskies to finish in the top five and gain home ice advantage for playoffs they will have to work very hard to accomplish that goal together. But I definitely think they can reach home ice for the playoffs. From there anything is possible.

(MCH) I see that you are re-united with Brett Engelhardt. Have you had the opportunity to play with or against other teammates yet?

(CM) It was nice to see a familiar face in a brand new atmosphere. It is tough switching teams ina matter of a week and Brett made my transition a lot easier. I dont think I have played against any other teammates yet, but I'm sure next year that oppurtunity will be there.

(MCH) What is the biggest difference between NCAA and AHL?

(CM) The biggest difference between the NCAA and the AHL is first of all the age and maturity of the players. The pro game is a fast pace game where you dont have alot of time to make decisions with the puck. You must know in advance where your going with it before the puck gets to you. As far as the speed of the game I think the NCAA is a very competitiveand fast game. The players in NCAA work very hard with thier respective programs that get them into shape together. The NCAA prepares you in every way to make that jump to the next level whether it be the NHL, AHL, ECHL, UHL, CHL. The good thing about the pro game is no face shields and you can fight without getting suspended. I'm sure a lot of college players look forward to that after being dry for four years of college.

(MCH) I saw that you were in a fight in one of your early games last year, did you win?

(CM) Suprisingly I did get into a few fights and did fairly well. Not being in a fight since junior I was a little hestitant to drop the gloves. Luckly the first guy was a lot smaller and probably not much of a fighter.

(MCH) Will we see you in the NHL this year?

(CM) Good question. Obviously, I am doing all I can this summer to become bigger, faster and stronger. I have been up in Houghton training with a few guys and the strength coach at Tech and am starting to make great strides. Whether or not it will be good enough to get the NHL this year is up to the management in Toronto. I will be at camp in mid-September and will do all I can to accomplish my dream. If I end up in the AHL thats fine, it gives me another year to adjust to the pro game and prepare for the NHL if that time comes.

Good luck to Colin Murphy and all his teammates and we hope to see him in the NHL. Look for a little preview of MTU hockey next week and more interviews as the year goes on. If you have any ideas for my Husky Talk write-ups, please Email me.

Spartans get commitment from Sprague

Indiana Ice forward Jay Sprague has committed to play collegiate hockey for the Michigan State Spartans in 2006-07, the USHL team has announced.

Sprague, a native of Georgetown, Ont., played in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League last year and was drafted by the Ice in last spring's USHL draft.

"Jay Sprague was a player our staff was fortunate to see during the regular season and playoffs last year in Ontario," said Ice president-GM Paul Skjodt. "Michigan State wanted to see him play at the USHL level and his performance at the Buc Bowl sealed the deal. Jay is a consummate pro both on and off the ice. We believe he will be an impact player for the Ice this year and a great addition to the Michigan State hockey program in 2006-07."

The 19-year-old Sprague will suit up for the storied program that has produced numerous NHL players such as Mike York (NY Islanders), Anson Carter (Vancouver), Bryan Smolinski (Ottawa), John Michael Liles (Colorado) and Carolina Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour.

Michigan State is a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), which has accounted for 16 of the 56 NCAA Frozen Four participants from 1992-2005. The conference includes national powerhouses such as the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Spartans are coached by Rick Comley, who ranks seventh on the all-time NCAA hockey coach's wins list with 643 victories.

Grand Valley sweeps into the season

Phil Murray roared into the
season with a 4-goal series at NMU

By Chris Moore
ACHA Staff Writer

Grand Valley State University (2-0-0 ACHA) made the long trip to Marquette this past weekend to take on the Northern Michigan University Wildcats (2-2-0 ACHA).

In the first game, GVSU started out slow and sloppy, falling behind 1-0 after the first, but with help of goals from Nate Morang and two from Phil Murray, the Lakers prevailed in their season opener, 3-1. Robert Divoricek was spectacular in net for NMU, but couldn't hold on against the constant Laker pressure.

In the second game, things went a little better for the Lakers, jumping up 3-0 halfway through the first period and keeping up the pressure throughout the game to win easily 10-0. Murray again added two goals, along with Rick Lehman and Tim Hillebrand. Goaltender Chris Moore kept the shutout with 26 saves.

The Lakers travel down to Bowling Green next weekend to face the Falcons in two league games. Last year, GVSU swept the Falcons in two close games.

WSU officially back home at Fairgrounds

After six years, the "Boys are Back in Town"

Wayne State University director of athletics Rob Fournier announced today the Warrior men's hockey team will play its home games for the next three seasons at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum starting this fall.

"As we continue to look for that `home' away from campus, the Coliseum at the Fairgrounds offers us proximity, a classic venue and familiarity," said Fournier. "Hopefully our fans will quickly transition back to the Fairgrounds to create the atmosphere a top-tier college program should play before."

WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson begins his seventh season behind the Warrior bench in the same arena Wayne State hosted its first hockey game, the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The inaugural home game was Nov. 5, 1999 - an 8-4 loss to Western Ontario.

"We are excited to be back at the Fairgrounds," commented Wilkinson. "The Coliseum has a great aura. It will be nice to practice and play at the same building. Hopefully this location will allow our students to attend on a more regular basis. Playing in a centrally located arena will be a bonus for our fans in metro Detroit."

After playing its inaugural campaign at the Coliseum, WSU played the next three seasons at the Great Lakes Sports City Arena in Fraser followed by two seasons at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth. The third season in Fraser also saw WSU play two homes game at Joe Louis Arena, Taylor SportsPlex and Compuware.

In addition to serving as the home arena for Warrior men's hockey in 2005-06, the Coliseum will be the site of the 2006 College Hockey America men's and women's conference tournaments March 9-12.

The first action for the men comes Oct. 4 as WSU hosts the Oakland University club team in an exhibition contest at 7:05 p.m.

Golden Grizzlies sweep opening weekend

OU superstar Will McMahon

(Photo courtesy of Jim Selleck)

Two-time ACHA Division II Player of the Year Will McMahon started the season off with a bang collecting 10 points on five goals and five assists in two games this past weekend as Oakland defeated the University of Michigan, 7-2, on Friday and the University of Michigan-Dearborn, 7-5, on Saturday.

Friday's contest was all OU as the Grizzlies fired on all cylinders to take an early 3-0 lead after one period.

"I was very pleased to see the guys come out the way they did," said OU head coach Sean Hogan. "It showed we were ready for the season and the team was ready to play."

Several new faces appeared on the score sheet Friday as OU had two goals from Brandon Lipari and a goal each from NCAA transfer Brent Cooper and freshman Jeff Einhauser. Defenseman Scott Elder rounded out the scoring for the Grizzlies.

Saturday's game was a different story for the Grizzlies as OU came out flat and were down 5-2 in the second period.

"We were getting pushed around out there and getting beat to the puck for two periods," Hogan said. "The guys finally realized it was time to step it up. Wins like this build a team."

With just under ten seconds remaining in the second period OU got the break it needed with a goal from McMahon on a great feed from Cooper.

"Between periods I shook up the lines to see if we could get some more scoring and let the guys know that we can't let games like this slip away," stated Hogan.

The third period the Grizzlies did just that scoring four unanswered goals to take a 7-5 win back to the Onyx for next week's showdown with the St. Clair College Saints. McMahon ended the night with a hat trick and OU received two goals from Ronnie Teasdale and single goals from Lipari and Cooper.