Lakers get Scrymgeour for next fall

The St. Michael's Buzzers of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League have announced forward John Scrymgeour has committed to Lake Superior State University for the 2006-2007 season.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Scrymgeour joined the Buzzers this past off-season after playing for the Pickering Panthers for the previous two years. In his last year as a Panther, he scored a 7-10--17 line in 32 games, but has dwarfed that with his performance thus far in 2005-2006 with a 16-15--31 line in 25 games.

His stellar performance on the ice wasn't the only aspect of his game getting him attention with the NCAA scouts. His leadership skills, intense work ethic and low-key demeanor have been assets in an otherwise very young squad. That very same approach to the game earned the respect of his peers and coaching staff, with Scrymgeour, 19, being an alternate captain on away games.

Scrymgeour, in his humble fashion, attributes his dramatic rise and his new opportunity with LSSU to "the staff and exposure I was granted by the Buzzers. I can't express my gratitude enough for helping make this happen. This doesn't happen anywhere else other than with St. Mike's."

Lake Superior coach fined $1,000

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association has reprimanded Lake Superior State University head coach Jim Roque and fined him $1,000 for a violation of the conference’s ‘Good Conduct Regulations.'

The Lakers’ coach was cited for published comments he made following his team’s game at Ohio State University on Nov. 19.

CCHA regulations stipulate, in part, that, ‘No employee (e.g., coaches, athletic staff members, etc.) or student-athlete of a member institution shall make derogatory remarks to the press or public about opponents or officials.’

The comments from Roque can be read HERE.

Up North Recap

How do you define a bad weekend?
How about 3 teams equaling 5 losses?

BOWLING GREEN, OH--- The Northern Michigan Wildcats (6-6-0, 3-5-0 CCHA) broke a four-game slide as they split with the Falcons last weekend at Bowling Green.

Friday night Darin Olver notched the game winner and assist and Derek Janzen recorded 35 saves as the ‘Cats rolled to a 6-3 win at the BGSU Ice Arena. The six goals was a season high and pushed the Wildcats a game over the .500 mark.

NMU came back to earth and got a taste of their own medicine in the finale as the Falcons unloaded six goals in the opening twenty minutes en route to an 8-4 victory. Andrew Contois scored a pair and Janzen allowed 4 goals in 13 shots in the loss.

COLUMBUS, OH--- The Lake Superior State Lakers (4-5-3, 3-5-2 CCHA) experienced an ugly road trip as they were swept in a two-game set by the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Value City Arena.

Friday night the Lakers were blanked 3-0 and Saturday LSSU went down 4-0 to mark their third shutout loss in four games.

Junior netminder Jeff Jakaitis took both losses in net, but was the hero of the weekend making a combined 55 saves.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO--- Colorado College was not kind to their visitors as they didn’t allow a goal in sweeping the Michigan Tech Huskies (2-11-1, 1-6-1 WCHA) at the Colorado Springs World Arena.

Friday night the Tigers out gunned the Huskies 37-19 en route to a 5-0 win. Michael-Lee Teslak endured the barrage in the MTU net and finished the night with 32 saves.

Rob Nolan stepped into the Huskies net on Saturday and stopped 30 shots in a 3-0 loss.

Since Chris Conner’s overtime winner against St. Cloud State on November 11th, the Huskies have been outscored 15-0 and lost three straight contests.

CHA honors Wayne women

Three Wayne State freshmen received CHA honors this week.

Sam Poyton, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, was named the Offensive Player of the week. Poyton has been a critical playmaker for the Warriors, a role exemplified by her performance at Cornell last weekend. Saturday's game was on the brink as Wayne trailed by a goal, but Poyton hammered in two goals in as many minutes to seal the victory for the Warriors--adding to a goal and assist she'd recorded earlier in the game. She currently leads the team--and the league--with nine goals.

Tina Vanderhoeven (pictured), a blueliner from London, Ontario, shared Defensive Player of the Week honors with Niagara's Allison Rutledge. She had three assists and one goal in the Warriors' series with Cornell. Vanderhoeven leads the CHA's defensemen in both assists (5) and points (6).

Rookie of the Week honors were earned by Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ontario) for the second straight week. Boal, like Poyton, has been a potent offensive weapon for the Warriors--she has scored seven goals and tallied eleven assists to date. She leads the league in assists and total points. Boal is particularly crucial on special teams: she's netted four of her goals on the power play, and six of her setups have been during Warrior advantages. Her power-play goal, assist, and point totals all lead the CHA.

Warriors ink Bernardi for '06-07

Wayne State University signed one student-athlete to a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period as defenseman Ryan Bernardi will join the Warriors next fall.

Bernardi, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound native of Etobicoke, Ont., is currently in his third year with the Milton Ice Hawks of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League. In 18 games this year, he has two goals and seven assists for nine points with a plus-minus rating of +11 as the Ice Hawks have compiled 16-2-1-1 mark.

"Ryan brings great intensity and enthusiasm for the game," WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson said. "He is a good-skating defenseman with great vision on the ice. Ryan will add speed and puck skills to our defensive corps."

During the 2004-05 campaign, Bernardi recorded 29 points on seven goals and 22 assists in 48 games with 108 penalty minutes. The previous year, he had three goals and 16 assists for 19 points in 45 games with 67 penalty minutes. He was a combined +59 (+24 in 2004-05 and +35 in 2003-04) during his first two seasons of juniors.

Born April 30, 1987, Bernardi was also a 2003 Ontario Hockey League draft selection of the Guelph Storm as he went in the ninth round, 163rd overall.

Wayne State loses four seniors to graduation following the 2005-06 campaign: goalie Matt Kelly, forward John May and defensemen Steve Kovalchik and Greg Poupard.

ACHA Weekend Round-Up, Nov. 21

By Matt Mackinder

The Oakland Golden Grizzlies (12-3-0 overall, 7-2-0 GMHL) scored 15 goals in two games as they defeated the Indiana Hoosiers, 8-3, Friday and 7-3 on Saturday.

Friday, the Grizzlies were led by forward Brent Cooper (four goals, two assists), Will McMahon (two goals, three assists) and Jordan Ingram (two goals). OU goaltender Chris Joswiak made 27 saves.

"It was a good win," OU assistant coach J.R. Dunn said. "I felt this weekend was key for us to stay in the hunt for the GMHL regular-season title."

Saturday, Oakland fired on all cylinders out of the gate to take a 5-1 lead heading into the first intermission. IU would score the next two goals, one in the second and one at the beginning of the third, to make it interesting. However, with IU on the power play with less than two minutes remaining Oakland would get two short-handed goals, one from Cooper and one from McMahon to seal the Grizzly victory.

Oakland was again lead by Cooper, pictured above left, (three goals, assist) and McMahon (two goals, two assists). Jonah Rogowski ended the night with two goals and Ingram finished with three assists. Others getting on the scoresheet for the Grizzlies included captain Brandon Lipari (two assists), Dan Oleksy (assist) and Adam Charnoby (assist). Goaltender Andrew Hansen made 26 saves.

The Grizzlies were phenomenal on this weekend's power play opportunities going a combined 5-for-12, brining their season total to 30-for-118 or about 25 percent.

OU will have a much-needed weekend off before heading to Mt. Pleasant on Dec. 2 to take on Central Michigan University.

ACHA Wrap Up

D-1

WESTERN MICHIGAN 7, #7 Michigan-Dearborn 5
#7 Michigan-Dearborn 4, WESTERN MICHIGAN 2

#17 EASTERN MICHIGAN 8, Saint Louis 3
#17 EASTERN MICHIGAN 6, Saint Louis 3

D-2

Central Michigan 4, Davenport 5

Michigan State 4, Ferris State 4

Illinois 5, Grand Valley 5
Illinois 0, Grand Valley 4

Bowling Green 4, Michigan 2

D-3

Muskegon CC 20, Oklahoma State 2 (D-3 Showcase, Wichita, KS)
Muskegon CC 5, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical 3 (D-3 Showcase)
Muskegon CC 1, Middle Tennessee State 10 (D-3 Showcase, Championship Game)

Albion 0, Lansing CC 9
Oakland 12, Albion 1

Hope 5, Oakland 2
Hope 9, Florida Atlantic 2

Alpena CC 2, Northwood 5
Northwood 4, Lansing CC 0

Calvin 7, Florida Atlantic 5
Lawrence Tech 2, Calvin 5

Women

Robert Morris 4, Michigan State-Green 0

Michigan State-White 0, Western Michigan 12
Michigan State-White 0, Western Michigan 10

Ferris splits with Bemidji State

Ferris State (5-3-4, 3-1-4 CCHA) earned a win against Bemidji State (8-2-0, 3-1-0 CHA) on Friday, but gave up a lead on Saturday to split the series.

Friday's contest, a 6-1 trouncing by the Bulldogs, allowed a plethora of players to improve their statistics. Twelve different players earned points over the course of the evening.

Zac Pearson got the action started, scoring less than a minute into the contest off of an Adam Miller assist. Bemidji State evened things up later in the period, but the Bulldogs then scored five unanswered goals to seal Bemidji's fate.

In the second period, Dan Riedel (reigning CCHA Rookie of the Week) and Adam Welch set up Mark Bomersback for a power-play goal. Then, with just 12 seconds left in the period, Pearson and Chris Zarb again capitalized on an extra-man opportunity to set up Matt Verdone for the Bulldogs' third of the game.

The scoring flurry continued in the final period: Nick Scheible netted his second of the season (Corey Couturier and Joe Van Culin were credited with the assists). Couturier got a goal of his own with some help from Welch and Brendan Connolly and then Scheible set up Jim Jorgensen for a power-play goal with 20 seconds left in the game.

Bulldogs goalie Derek MacIntyre (pictured above) finished with 25 saves.

Bemidji State proved a more formidable challenge on Saturday, though not necessarily in the first period. Bomersback set up reigning CCHA Offensive Player of the Week Greg Rallo for a power-play goal at 3:27 and then Couturier scored off of a pass from Andrew Winnick to give the Bulldogs a two-goal advantage going into the second period.

Two Bemidji goals within the first five minutes of the second period tied up the game. Welch and Bomersback set up Rallo for his second power-play goal of the night to give the Bulldogs the lead before the second intermission.

Bemidji tied the game seven minutes into the third period and the Bulldogs could only generate seven shots in the last third of the game, despite a late-game power play. A heartbreaking Bemidji goal with twenty seconds remaining gave them the 4-3 win.

Mitch O'Keefe, who was awarded CCHA Goalie of the Week honors last week, finished Saturday's game with 24 saves.

Ferris travels to Mercyhurst this weekend.

Warrior women split close games with Cornell

The Wayne State women's team (4-8-2) turned in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Cornell (2-4-0) on Saturday. However, a blown third-period lead and subsequent overtime goal prevented them from completing the sweep on Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, it was once again the Warrior youngsters leading the charge. Melissa Boal got things started with a power-play goal midway through the first, assisted by fellow freshmen Sam Poyton and Tina Vanderhoeven. Vanderhoeven also chipped in on the second goal of the game, helping captain Jessica Snelgrove set up defenseman Sarah Campbell for the Warriors' second power-play tally of the game.

Cornell pulled even by the end of the second on a power-play and an even-strength goal. But special teams again paid off for the Warriors, as Vanderhoeven notched her first collegiate goal off assists from Poyton and Campbell. Cornell then scored two straight goals to take the lead midway through the third stanza.

The offensive energy of Poyton fueled the Warriors' comeback effort. She scored at 16:23 of the third to tie the game (Lindsay DiPietro (pictured above right) and Boal were credited with the assists) and again less than two minutes later to seal the win for Wayne State. DiPietro and Kristi Thome earned the assists on Poyton's second goal, her seventh of the season.

Goalie Valery Turcotte finished with 22 saves and the win.

The penalty-kill unit - up until now, a potent part of the Wayne arsenal - again wobbled in Sunday's rematch. Cornell stole the game on an overtime power-play goal.

The Warriors appeared in control early on as goalie Tiffany Thompson allowed just one goal through 37 minutes and Poyton (with help from Boal and DiPietro) tied the game. Cornell then scored two power-play goals to regain the lead.

Boal pulled the Warriors within one on an unassisted goal and two rapid-fire goals - Poyton assisted DiPietro, then DiPietro assisted Poyton - gave the Warriors the lead with less than four minutes remaining in the contest. But Cornell pulled their goalie and was able to even the score with just over a minute left in regulation.

In overtime, Cornell earned a power play and the Wayne penalty kill unit could not stop the Big Red from capitalizing on the opportunity and winning, 5-4.

Thompson finished with 31 saves.

The Warriors will welcome St. Cloud State to Detroit for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday.

Broncos take 3 of 4 points from MSU

Western Michigan goalie Daniel Bellissimo

Michigan State squandered a late 3-2 lead Friday night at home and then never had a lead Saturday night as Western Michigan took three of four points from the Spartans in a home-and-home series.

"It has been a frustrating stretch for us," Michigan State head coach Rick Comley said. "Right now, we are just trying to turn losses and ties into wins."

Friday night at Munn Ice Arena, Brent Walton scored with 4:09 remaining in the third period to give WMU the 3-3 tie. Jeff Pierce and captain Mike Erickson also scored for the Broncos, who got a 28-save outing from Daniel Bellissimo.

Jeff Lerg made 21 saves for MSU and Chris Mueller had two goal and an assist, a career-best, with Colton Fretter scoring the third Spartan goal. Tim Crowder assisted on Mueller's first goal for his first collegiate assist.

“We played hard tonight and earned a well deserved point,” said WMU head coach Jim Culhane. “I thought Dan played great tonight, making big saves at crucial times.”

At Lawson Ice Arena Saturday night, the Spartans outshot the Broncos, 39-24, but Bellissimo made 36 saves in a 5-3 win.

"I thought we skated very hard tonight and took advantage of our opportunities," said Culhane. "We overcame some adversity in the first period and put together a nice effort for the second straight night."

Western Michigan was assessed two five-minute major checking from behind penalties, including one to defenseman Ryan Mahrle just 25 seconds into the game. MSU could only score once on the man-advantages as Corey Potter made it 1-0 early. Sean Weaver got the other checking from behind gate.

Mike Lesperance scored twice, his first two goals of the season, and Erickson a single to put WMU ahead, 3-1, after 20 minutes. Walton and Chris Frank added power-play goals in the second period while Fretter and Crowder finished out the scoring for the Spartans.

Dominic Vicari started in goal for MSU and was yanked after Walton's goal 3:50 into the second period. He made seven saves on 11 shots. Lerg finished up and made 12 saves.

With the loss, Michigan State drops to 5-5-3 overall and 2-4-3 in CCHA play, while the Broncos improve to 3-6-1 and 2-4-2. MSU is also on a six-game winless skid (0-4-2).

MSU returns to the ice this weekend for the College Hockey Showcase, featuring Wisconsin (Friday) and Minnesota (Saturday) at Munn. The Broncos travel to Colgate Nov. 25-26 for a pair of nonconference games.