MTU surprises nation's top team

Michigan Tech stunned the entire nation with an unthinkable win over the top ranked Wisconsin Badgers, 4-2, Friday night. Wisconsin was 12-0-2 in the last 14 games and were coming off an impressive road sweep of Minnesota. MTU, on the other hand, were losers of the last five and only were able to put up three goals in those games. In the end, it was special teams that won it for MTU, scoring two shorthanded goals and one on the power play.

MTU started the scoring on Wisconsin's first power play, when Jake Wilkens found Chris Conner on a shorthanded breakaway. Michael Lee-Teslak was able to keep the Badgers out of the net.

The game was tied early in the second when UW put one past Teslak, one that he had a good look at. In the same period, Conner made a nice move shorthanded and found fellow senior Brandon Schwartz (above right) open in front of the net and MTU was back on top, 2-1.

In the third, MTU rang first, on a power play, five minutes in when Nick Anderson put home a rebound of a Lars Helminen shot, Schwartz was creditted with the second assist. UW brought it within one at the 10-minute mark. MTU added an empty-netter from Schwartz with 30 seconds to go to seal the win.

The game ended with the crowd of 12,000-plus pretty shocked.

Teslak finished with 31 saves in the win.

The Huskies couldn't finish the job Saturday night as Wisconsin rebounded for a 7-0 win. Teslak started in goal and allowed three goals on 10 shots before Rob Nolan played the final 48:05 and made 25 saves on 29 shots.

It was an ugly game, 150 plus penalty minutes, and 4 game disqualifications, 3 from MTU. MTU will be with out John Schwarz, Jake Wilkens and Mike Botavanja on Friday because of the extra activities they participated in Saturday night.

Up Next...

MTU will host Mankato State in a WCHA series that should be a close contest, both teams are in the bottom half of the league and both need the points.

Wayne sweeps the "other" Warriors

Friday

The Wayne State Warriors (3-9-2) played a solid all around game and held off the Merrimack College Warriors (4-11-2) for a 3-2 win at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum on Friday night.

"As Yogi Berra said, it's never over until it’s over," said WSU head coach Bill Wlkinson after the game. "We had the 3-0 lead and then they come back with a power-play goal, then a mad scramble goal to put the screws a little tighter. I'm pleased though by the way we responded late, got the puck out, and kept our composure and didn’t allow them to get the third one.”

Wayne State forward Jason Bloomingburg opened the scoring as he skated in alone and beat Merrimack goalie Patrick Watson five-hole at 6:49 of the first period.

After a scoreless second, the Green and Gold Warriors made it a 2-0 lead when Jason Baclig (pictured) faked out a Merrimack defender with a pretty through-the-legs move and beat Watson on the short side at 3:50 of the third.

"Things are starting to turn around now," said Baclig. "We're starting to get some team confidence all the way from our goalies, through to the forwards. We're starting to work real hard and we're getting rewarded."

Wayne State chased Watson at 6:42 when Stavros Paskaris notched a 5-on-3 power-play goal. Paskaris banged the puck just over the line for his 4th goal in five games since returning from an injury.

After the goalie change and timeout, Merrimack came out rejuvenated with Matt Johnson scoring a pair of markers to make it a 3-2 game. Merrimack pulled back-up goalie Frank McLaughlin for the final minute of play, but couldn’t get another goal past WSU netminder Will Hooper.

Hooper finished the evening with 19 saves and his first win of the season.

Watson was saddled with the Merrimack loss after stopping 26 shots.

WSU concluded the night with a 1-9 power-play effort and held MC to a 1-6 night.

Saturday

It was a game of momentum as the Wayne State Warriors grabbed a rare, two-game sweep as they clipped the Merrimack Warriors, 6-5, in overtime on Saturday night.

The sweep was WSU’s first on their home ice since taking two from the Canisius Golden Griffs at the Compuware Arena on Oct. 30 and 31 of last year.

Merrimack’s weekend superstar Matt Johnson started the scoring with a power-play goal at 4:02 of the opening period, but from there until the third period the game was dominated by Wayne State.

Mike Forgie started a WSU onslaught when he tied the game at 6:01. Then senior blueliner Steve Kovalchik netted his first of the season with a wrist shot from just inside the blueline on the power-play at 11:53 to give the Green and Gold a 2-1 lead.

The power-play barrage continued at 16:13 on the second when Jason Bloomingburg rifled a shot in up high for his fourth of the year.

Still up a man, Nate Higgins followed up with his team high fifth of the year 31-seconds later to make a 4-1 Wayne State lead.

Then Mark Nebus put the Wayne Warriors up by a seemingly unobtainable 4-goal lead when he recorded his third of the year, also on the power-play, at 18:23 of the third period.

The momentum shifted back quickly in the third with Merrimack outgunning Wayne 19-5 and ripping off four straight goals to tie the game at 5-5.

Bryan Schmidt started the swing at 4:10. Johnson added his second of the night and fourth of the weekend on the power-play at 8:02. John Goebel scored 26 seconds later to make it a one goal game. Then at 17:44, Goebel added his second of the night to send the game into overtime.

Merrimack looked to have the edge again in overtime as they held a 4-1 shooting edge into the final seconds of the game.

Wayne State used their speed to their advantage though as Jason Baclig picked off an errant Merrimack pass and flew into the MC zone. Baclig fired a pass to a waiting Forgie on the right side of the net who banged in a one-timer for the win and Wayne’s first regulation overtime game winner since January 11, 2003.

Matt Kelly started the game in net for Wayne and turned aside 29 shots for his second win of the year.

Merrimack played every goalie on their roster, giving each about 20 minutes between the pipes.

Frank McLaughlin started and stopped 7 of 9. Jim Healey suited up in the second and steered away 9 of 12 shots. Friday’s starter Patrick Watson, returned in the third period and overtime on Saturday and took the loss after stopping 7 of 8.

With four straight extra-man goals, Wayne State finished the night with a 4 for 11 power-play effort. Merrimack went 2 for 9 on the night.

Up next…

The Warriors will take the next two weeks off for finals and will resume action in the 2005 Badger Showdown on Dec. 30-31 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The Warriors will battle in state rival Northern Michigan in the first semifinal, while the host Badgers play Western Michigan in the Dec. 30 nightcap. Wayne State's Dec. 30 game can be heard on WDTK (1400AM) or via the Internet at wdtkam.com.

Krug brothers together at Wayne State

Having a player come home to play college hockey is becoming commonplace in the game these days, and it's on display twice as much in Detroit as Adam and Matt Krug are teammates on Wayne State.

Adam (right), a sophomore forward, and Matt (left), a freshman defenseman, haven't been teammates since the 1999-2000 school year when both played for Livonia (Mich.) Churchill High School in suburban Detroit. But now, both are back home after going far from the Motor City for their junior hockey.

Read the rest of the story here.

West Side Round-Up

Ferris swept by UNO; Western splits with Notre Dame

Ferris State was defeated twice on the road last weekend, losing 5-2 to the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks on Friday, and dropping a 5-3 decision on Sunday.

Though the Bulldogs outshot the Mavericks 34-29, only Nebraska-Omaha could find the net, scoring three goals on tender Mitch O'Keefe in the first period (Derek MacIntyre replaced O'Keefe after the first intermission). Matt Frank started a mini-comeback, scoring off of a Nick Scheible assist at 3:02 of the third period. Adam Miller then set up Zac Pearson to bring Ferris within one. However, Maverick Bill Thomas scored a pair of goals in the last six minutes to seal the Maverick 5-2 victory.

The Bulldogs hoped to turn the tide on Friday--Matt Verdone nailed a power play goal early in the first period (Pearson and Jim Jorgensen were credited with assists). Despite managing only five shots in the first stanza, the Bulldogs ended the period 2-1, courtesy of Verdone and Matt Stephanishion's unassisted goal. But the Mavericks scored early in the second to tie the score and then dominated the second period, outshooting Ferris 17-5. Greg Rallo, with some help from Mark Bomersback, gave the Bulldogs the lead again at 15:58 of the second. But the third period would belong entirely to the Mavericks, as they scored three unanswered goals to complete their series sweep.

Ferris will face Northern Michigan at home next weekend.

In Kalamazoo, Brent Walton (pictured) scored a hat trick on Friday night to give the Western Michigan Broncos a 4-3 win. Though Notre Dame lit the lamp first, just nine seconds into the game, Daryl Moore retaliated (unassisted) 24 seconds later to even the score. At 3:23 of the first, Walton started his scoring tear, knocking in a power play goal (Ryan Mahrle and goalie Dan Bellissimo were credited with assists). Mahrle set up Walton again late in the second for Walton's second goal of the game; less than a minute later, Walton scored again to put the Broncos up 4-2. Jason Moul and Jonathan Lupa were credited with assists on Walton's third goal. Notre Dame struck twice more before the game's end, but the Broncos held on for the win.

Bellissimo finished with 32 saves.

On Saturday, the Broncos traveled to South Bend to try to complete the sweep. They kept the game scoreless until the opening of the second period, when Notre Dame earned a power play goal. Special teams would be key for the Irish, as another power-play goal would put them up 2-0 early in the third. A third even-strength tally with under three minutes left sealed the fate of the Broncos. Bellissimo finished with 28 saves.

Head coach Jim Culhane credited Notre Dame's versatile special teams, but also expressed pride in his players: “They converted twice on the power play, which was the difference tonight. I thought we competed well against a Notre Dame team that is tough to beat at home.”

The Broncos are idle next weekend and will then travel to Northern Michigan the weekend of December 17-18.

Four Wolverines have World Junior chances

Sophomore forward Kevin Porter and freshman defensemen Jack Johnson and Mark Mitera from the University of Michigan have been chosen to play for Team USA in the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

In addition, freshman forward Andrew Cogliano has been invited to Canada's selection camp.

The tournament will take place Dec. 26, 2005, through Jan. 5, 2006, in Vancouver, B.C. The world's top players born in 1986 or later will represent their respective national teams.

Porter (pictured) is one of six returners from the 2005 U.S. team that finished in fourth place. Last year in Grand Forks, N.D., Porter had three goals and two assists in seven games.

The head coach for the Americans is Northern Michigan head coach Walt Kyle and many have Team USA pegged as the favorites, even Bob McKenzie of TSN.

Cogliano is one of five U.S. college players selected to tryout for Team Canada.

Michigan has had 22 players named to the U.S. World Junior Championship team a total of 33 times, beginning in 1980. Dating back to the 1999 tournament, at least one Wolverine has been on the U.S. roster each year. With three players being named to the U.S. World Junior team, Michigan ties Minnesota and North Dakota for having the most players representing its school.

Schwab named CCHA Rookie of the Week

Lake Superior State freshman forward Troy Schwab was named Central Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Week after helping the Lakers to a sweep over Alaska Fairbanks last weekend.

Schwab (4-5--9) had an assist on Friday and a third-period goal on Saturday as the Lakers have now won four in a row for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

Last season, Schwab was the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Top Scorer and received the E.E. Henning Memorial Trophy for being the SJHL's Most Valuable Player after totaling 25 goals and 60 assists in 51 games for the Kindersley Klippers. Schwab also finished second on the team in penalty minutes with 162 and was twice named SJHL Player of the Week during his final Junior A season. Troy spent four seasons with the Klippers and teamed with current Laker forward Josh Sim to win the Anavet Cup in 2003-04.

The LSSU line of senior Nathan Ward, junior Trent Campbell and Schwab was responsible for three of the the Lakers' seven goals for the weekend.

LSSU plays a non-conference series at Bemidji State on Dec. 9-10.

Michigan stumbles, swept by Miami

There's a reason Miami is now ranked No. 2 in the country.

The RedHawks swept then-No. 2 Michigan last weekend in Oxford, Ohio, and in the process pushed the Wolverines to the seventh spot.

After holding a 2-1 lead, U-M gave up three goals (two shorthanded) over a 2:35 span in the second period in a 4-2 loss Friday night. Kevin Porter and T.J. Hensick (pictured) scored for Michigan while goalie Billy Sauer finished with 42 saves.

"When our power play is turning the puck over and giving up shorthanded goals, it gives the other team a huge life," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "That was part of the game. The other part of the game was we turned the puck over too much all over the ice. Their power play was stronger than ours, their penalty killing was stronger than ours, and their team was stronger than ours."

Saturday night, Michigan was unable to hold on to leads of 2-1 and 3-2 and dropped a 4-3 decision. As a result, the Maize and Blue dropped its fourth straight game for the first time since the 1988-89 season.

Hensick had a goal and an assist and goalie Noah Ruden made 27 saves. Captain Andrew Ebbett and Brandon Kaleniecki scored the other goals for the Wolverines (9-5-1, 5-3-1 CCHA).

The Wolverines return home to Yost Ice Arena this weekend to host Nebraska-Omaha. Both games against the Mavericks will start at 7:35 p.m. and be aired live by Comcast Local. The series will conclude the first half of the season for Michigan.

Spartans settle for split with Bowling Green

Michigan State broke their eight-game winless streak with a 3-0 win at Munn Ice Arena against Bowling Green Friday night, but couldn't finish the sweep and fell, 4-2, Saturday night on the road.

On Friday, sophomore Bryan Lerg (right) recorded his second hat trick of his career, including one on a penalty shot. Dominic Vicari made 24 saves for his third shutout this season and 15th of his career.

"His whole history is that he's done that (scored goals)," MSU head coach Rick Comley said of Lerg. "He led the U.S. program in scoring his last year there, so he's always scored goals. He's had a real good year, he just hasn't scored much. Maybe this will get him going."

Lerg was hooked down by Michael Hodgson on a clear-cut breakaway in the second period and on the ensuing penalty shot, Lerg faked the forehand and BGSU goalie Jon Horrell reacted, going down and moving to his right. Lerg made no mistake and quickly switched to his backhand, roofing his second goal of the evening and extending the Spartan lead to 2-0.

"I pulled that move when I was younger, and I scored on it, so I said why not go for it again," Lerg said. "I was thinking about going down the whole time because Jeff (Lerg), my cousin (and freshman MSU goalie), we always just laugh about that goal. It was one I had when we were younger."

It was also MSU's first penalty shot since last December when Bowling Green's Jordan Sigalet stopped then-Spartans captain Jim Slater.

Saturday night at BGSU Ice Arena, Lerg scored again along with a single from Jim McKenzie. Vicari finished with 24 saves.

Michigan State (6-7-4, 3-5-3 CCHA) returns to action Friday in the first game of a weekend series at Alaska-Fairbanks. The Spartans and Nanooks face-off at 11:05 p.m. EST inside the Carlson Center.

Finlandia men win, tie; women swept

It was a night-and-day weekend for Finlandia as the men won and tied at Lawrence and the women were swept at Wisconsin-Superior.

Friday, the FU men took a 7-5 win on the strength of a Travis Hanson hat trick. Joe Lewis had a goal and two assists and Ryan Sullivan, Josh Paquette and Blake Miller also scored. Jamie Leffler and Joe Beaudry chipped in with two assists each.

Joe Juntilla made 29 saves.

The next night, the Lions needed two third-period goals to escape with a 2-2 draw. Beaudry scored and added an assist on Steve Piccoli's late tally. Juntilla finished with 27 stops.

The men (3-4-1, 3-2-1 MCHA) host Minnesota-Crookston this weekend.

At Wisconsin-Superior, the women fell 6-2 on Friday and 4-2 Saturday.

Sara Sleik and Chaslyn Duffek scored Friday night and Katie Markovich made 28 saves.

Amy Danielson and Brenda Peterson scored Saturday's goals and Corinne Czekaj stopped 37 for the Lions.

The women (6-5-1, 0-4-0 NCHA) host Wisconsin-River Falls this Saturday and Sunday.

Lakers sweep third series of the season

The Lake Superior State Lakers (8-5-3, 5-5-2 CCHA) earned its third sweep of the season in beating 16^th-ranked University of Alaska Fairbanks 4-2 and 3-2 this past weekend.

Friday

After a penalty-filled first period, with former Laker Barry Pochmara calling eight minor penalties, the Lakers found themselves up 1-0 after Dominic Osman was able to score a power-play goal.

Trent Campbell added a power-play goal in the second period and captain Steve McJannet added a shorthanded goal to give the Lakers a three-goal lead. UAF was able get on the board before the end of the second period to bring the score to 3-1.

McJannet added a second goal in the third period to extend the Lakers lead to 4-1 before UAF knocked in a goal while playing 6-on-4 in the last minute of the game.

Laker goalie Jeff Jakaitis stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced including nine of 10 while shorthanded and four of five with UAF having two additional attackers.

Saturday

The Lakers where able to weather the Alaskan storm during the first two periods of Saturday’s game to come away with the victory.

LSSU came back twice from one-goal deficits with goals by Colin Nicholson, in the second period, and Troy Schwab, in the third period, to tie the game at 2-2 in the third period. Nathan Ward scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period and the Lakers were able to hold on for the 3-2 win.

Jakaitis stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced.

Up next…

The Lakers play their next seven games on the road, beginning with a non-conference series Dec. 9-10 in Bemidji, Minn., against old-time rival Bemidji State.

Photo courtesy of www.lssuhockey.com

ACHA Weekend Round-Up, Dec 5

Lakers split tough weekend
By Chris Moore
ACHA Writer

Grand Rapids, Michigan - Grand Valley State University faced two tough opponents this weekend, first traveling to Ferris State for a game against the #8-ranked Bulldogs and then facing local opponent and D-3’s top ranked team, Calvin College at home.

After two weeks off, GVSU started strong on Friday, out shooting Ferris heavily in the first but both teams were unable to tally a goal. Ferris was the first to get on the board, but Tim Hillebrand responded with a breakaway goal of his own. Ferris went ahead 3-1, until Adam Zobl fired a wrist shot by the Ferris netminder. However, the Lakers couldn't bury their chances and Ferris clinched the game with an empty net goal to win 5-2, despite shots being 43-26 in the Lakers favor.

On Saturday, the Lakers returned home to face Calvin. A hard working team, Calvin found themselves surprising the Lakers in the first, going up 2-0 after one. The Lakers fought back in the second, scoring four goals while only allowing one. Tim Hillebrand, Robb Higgins, Phil Murray (pictured) and Nate Morang scored for Grand Valley as they entered the third period up 4-3. Calvin tied the game up early in the 3rd, but Dean Watkins fired in the game winner to put the Lakers up 5-4 and the win. Kevin Chapman started in net for the Lakers and played extremely strong, keeping the Lakers in the game finishing with 30 saves.

The Lakers face off against #1 Oakland and #3 Michigan State next weekend at home.

McMahon and Grizzlies down Chips
by Matt Mackinder

Oakland University defeated Central Michigan Friday night, 3-0, behind two goals from Will McMahon and one from Brent Cooper.

McMahon now has 39 goals on the year.

Captain Brandon Lipari added two assists and netminder Chris Joswiak earned his first shutout as a Grizzly.

"It is great to see Chris get his first shutout," OU assistant coach J.R. Dunn said. "He has been playing great and made a lot of big saves tonight."

The Golden Grizzlies only have two games left in the first semester, both away, Friday at Chelsea versus the University of Michigan and Saturday versus Grand Valley State University. OU is currently ranked No. 1 in the Central Region recieving eight of the 10 first-place votes.

NOTEBOOK: The OU D-III team has been on a streak as of late, winning two in a row last weekend over Muskegon CC and Lansing CC.

Around the ACHA…

D-1
#1 ILLINOIS 7, Michigan 0
#1 ILLINOIS 11, Michigan 3

WESTERN MICHIGAN 6, #5 Iowa State 6 (OT) [TIE]
#5 Iowa State 4, WESTERN MICHIGAN 2

#8 MICHIGAN-DEARBORN 6, #14 Mercyhurst 3 (Empty Net Goal)
#8 MICHIGAN-DEARBORN 3, #14 Mercyhurst 2

Drexel 6, #18 EASTERN MICHIGAN 4 (Empty Net Goal)
#18 EASTERN MICHIGAN 7, Drexel 6 (OT)

D-2
Central Michigan 0, Oakland 3
Ferris State 9, Central Michigan 4

Ohio State 4, Michigan State 9

D-3
Albion 1, CALVIN 14
GRAND VALLEY 5, Calvin 4

ALPENA CC 4, Lake Superior 3 (exhibition)
Alpena CC 4, LAKE SUPERIOR 8 (exhibition)

Lansing CC 3, HOPE 5
Hope 2, Northwood 6

NORTHWOOD 12, Kalamazoo 2

OAKLAND 5, Lansing CC 1
OAKLAND 8, Muskegon CC 5

LAWRENCE TECH 6, Muskegon CC 4

Women
MICHIGAN 5, Northern 2
MICHIGAN 2, Northern 1
Michigan 3, MSU-GREEN 5

MSU-GREEN 2, Western 0

MTU falls to North Dakota, 6-1 and 8-2

Michigan Tech had a week off and was looking to end their three-game scoreless streak with this past weekend's series with North Dakota. Both nights were the same story as MTU came out strong in the first, but were unable to get the first goal of the game.

Jordan Parise, netminder for the Sioux, played excellent all weekend in only giving up three goals on many great oppurtunities by the Huskies.

Friday

The team came out hot on Friday doing everything right except putting the puck in the back of the net. MTU did score on a power play, but the goal was disallowed because of a penalty called on MTU's Tyler Shelast. UND came down on the ensuing 4-on-4 and scored, making it 1-0.

The second period saw MTU get few chances and UND capitalize on three of their chances. The period ended with North Dakota up 4-0.

UND got the first goal of the third and MTU finally got their goal when Chirs Conner fed the puck to Justin St. Louis who found fellow freshmen Ryan Angelow. Angelow did not spoil the oppurtuinty and recorded his first goal as a Husky. UND was able to add one more to end the game at 6-1.

Michael-Lee Teslak was in goal for MTU and made 38 saves on 44 shots.

Saturday

MTU came out stronger than the previous night, but could not solve Parise. UND got on the board first with a shorthanded goal. MTU tied the game early in the second when senior defenseman John Scott (pictured above) scored from the point. UND then scored four more in the second and openned the game up. MTU scored late in the second on a blast from Shelast, on the power play, giving hope that MTU would work their way back into the game.

The third was all UND and all Parise as he let nothing else by, but MTU did. UND put three more past Rob Nolan and ended the game at 8-2.

Nolan ended the game with 23 saves on 31 shots.

Other notes...

Scott made his first appearance of the year after serving his 14-game suspension. He looked good in notching one goal and playing many minutes. He was a pivotal part of the penalty kill unit.

Up next...

MTU will have a tough task of travelling to the country's No. 1 team, Wisconsin, this weekend. MTU will look for more production from the freshmen members of the team, along with the team captains, Brandon Schwatrz, Conner, Mike Botavanja and Lars Helminen.