WSU's Toys for Tots drive a success

The Wayne State University Department of Athletics has completed its annual "Toys for Tots" drive.

The WSU Athletic Department offered free admission at athletic events to those who donated a toy to the program. Through the generosity of Warrior fans, Wayne State Athletics was able to collect over 500 toys this year. Key contributors to the drive this year were the Wayne State Department of Communications and the WSU women's hockey team who worked very hard to support the cause this year.

The objectives of the Toys for Tots program are to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable natural resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

Cogliano named to Canadian world junior squad

Michigan freshman forward Andrew Cogliano has been selected to play for Team Canada at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

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.

Cogliano was one of 34 participants at Hockey Canada's National Junior Selection Camp held Dec. 11-15 in Vancouver. The roster was pared down yesterday to 22 players -- 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies.

Through the first half of the U-M season, Cogliano is tied for third on the Wolverines in points with 19. He has eight goals and 11 assists. Michigan previously has been represented on Team Canada a total of 10 times by six players.

Cogliano is one of four players on Team Canada's 2006 roster who play college hockey. The others are Dan Bertram (Boston College), Sasha Pokulok (Cornell) and Jonathan Toews (North Dakota).

Cogliano and Team USA members Kevin Porter, Jack Johnson and Mark Mitera will miss No. 6 Michigan's next two games, when the Wolverines participate in the 41st Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit on Dec. 29-30. U-M faces No. 7 Colorado College at 8 p.m. on Dec. 29. Michigan will oppose either Michigan State or Michigan Tech on Dec. 30.

Hockey Canada Release on Cogliano and Team Canada

Ex-MSU captain faces hometown team

From Wednesday's Detroit Free Press...

SPARTY ON: Atlanta rookie center Jim Slater, who grew up in Lapeer and played at Michigan State, was happy to face the Red Wings in Tuesday night's game. But he was a little bummed out that he couldn't face (Steve) Yzerman, whom he admired as a youngster.

"It would have been nice to play him, but that's how things happen," Slater said before the game. "I was looking forward to it, but ... every kid has a childhood team they grew up watching and dreaming of playing for, playing against. The Red Wings were my team."

Slater has three goals, five assists and 27 hits in 25 games this season. He had one shot on goal and won three face-offs Tuesday in 4:42 of ice time, 4:49 below his average. The Thrashers beat Detroit, 7-6, Tuesday night.

"He gives us a lot of energy on the ice," said Atlanta general manager Don Waddell (a former defenseman at Northern Michigan from 1976-1980). "He's a player that every shift he goes out, something happens. To me, he's going to have a good NHL career."

CCHA & CHA honor three of Michigan's best

Lake Superior State University junior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis (left) earned his second Central Collegiate Hockey Association Goaltender of the Week honor for 2005-06 after blocking 66 of 69 shots (.956) during last weekend's non-conference series at Bemidji State.

Jakaitis, who had his first 40-save peformance since last February, totaled 25 saves in Friday's 2-1 victory and 41 saves in Saturday's 2-2 tie.

Jakaitis is currently ranked 10th nationally in goals-against at 2.01 and 17th in save percentage (.918). He was also named CCHA Goaltender of the Week on Nov. 7 following the Lakers' sweep at Western Michigan. He has received the award three times.

Other CCHA player of the week honors went to Michigan's Brandon Kaleniecki (offensive), Ohio State's Sean Collins (defenseman) and Notre Dame's Erik Condra (rookie), a Livonia native.

Kaleniecki had two goals and three assists as the Wolverines swept Nebraska-Omaha during the weekend series at Yost Ice Arena.

The CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honor is the second of Kaleniecki's career. He previously won the award two seasons ago on Jan. 26, 2004. Kaleniecki, an alternate captain, had his best weekend of the season as his five points (2-3-5) vs. UNO more than doubled his season point total to nine points. His cumulative plus/minus rating of +4 during the sweep buoyed his season rating to +2.

On Friday, Kaleniecki had his first multi-point effort of the season with a goal and two assists. His power-play goal tied the game at 1-1, and he assisted on the go-ahead, shorthanded goal minutes later. Finally he assisted on the empty-net goal to clinch the 4-2 win in the series opener. On Saturday, his power-play goal in the first period tied the game at 1-1. He later assisted on the go-ahead goal late in the first frame to make it 3-2.

Kaleniecki is riding three-game goal and point streaks that began on Dec. 3 at Miami. He has three goals and three assists during his streaks.

In the CHA, Wayne State University freshman defenseman Matt Krug was selected Rookie of the Week for his performance in WSU's sweep of Merrimack this past weekend.

Krug assisted on the first goal in Friday's 3-2 victory and finished the game with a plus/minus rating of +1.

In Saturday's contest, he assisted on Wayne State's first goal which tied the game at one. He assisted on two consecutive Warrior power-play goals late in the second period for his first career multiple-assist game.

ACHA Weekend Round-Up, Dec. 12

Oakland University took two road wins last weekend as the Grizzlies beat both Michigan and Grand Valley State.

Friday night, Oakland traveled to Michigan and defeated the club Wolverines, 6-2, behind two goals from Will McMahon and two assists from Jordan Ingram. Others scoring were Steve Schaeffler, Jon Paul Ferrari, captain Brandon Lipari and John Parrish.

"It was good to see some other forwards get into the scoring," commented assistant coach J.R. Dunn. "Hopefully, it can carry over into next semester."

Chris Joswiak continued his stellar play between the pipes turning aside 45 U-M scoring opportunities. Joswiak played 118:46 of shutout hockey dating back to Nov. 18 against Indiana.

Saturday, OU made the two-hour trip to Allendale to take on the much-improved Lakers and skated away with a 7-4 win. The Grizzlies would strike fast, scoring just 43 seconds into the game on a goal from Ingram. The Grizzlies would net three in the first to take on 3-1 lead after one.

"Between periods, we told the guys to play old fashioned road game hockey," OU head coach Sean Hogan said. "Keep your shifts short, finish your checks and we can get out of here with a win."

It would be the Lakers that would score first, just nine seconds into the period and again four minutes later to knot the score up at three.

"I knew the next goal could make or break this game," senior OU forward Dan Oleksy said. "We needed it to get the momentum back."

Oleksy would do just that in netting his second of the game on a great feed from Jeff Einheuser to regain the lead for the Grizzlies. Adam Chornoby would score his first goal of the season to give the Grizzly icers a 5-3 lead after two periods of play.

The Lakers would not go away without a fight scoring first in the third on a shorthanded goal, the first the Grizzlies have given up all season. It would not be enough as Oakland would pocket two more third period goals to skate away with a 7-4 victory.

Andrew Hansen made 25 saves for the Grizzlies.

News and Notes:
OU's record of 17-3-0 is the best in school history through 20 games…McMahon leads all OU point getters with 39 goals 25 assists for 64 points…Others on top of the charts are Brent Cooper (24-29-53), Brandon Lipari (13-19-32), Jordan Ingram (11-13-24) and Dan Oleksy (11-5-16)…OU is currently ranked No. 1 in the latest poll. The next poll is due out this week.

Next Up:
OU comes back home to the friendly confines of the Onyx to take on ACHA DI rival Western Michigan on Friday, Jan. 6 at 8:30 p.m.

Lakers Start Weekend with Tough Loss
by Chris Moore

The Lakers continued their first period woes Friday, starting out slow against Michigan State, falling down 3-1 after the first.

Jeff Tejchma added a goal for Grand Valley to tie the game 1-1, but GV played sloppy in their own zone and allowed MSU to control the play in the first.

Coming out a different team in the second, the Lakers controlled the play but strong goaltending on each side kept the game 3-1.

GVSU finally cashed in during the third, with a snipe by Dean Watkins early, and then with just a few minutes remaining, freshman center Robb Higgins scored for the Lakers to send the game into overtime 3-3.

Both team had a few chances in OT, and it looked like the game would end in a tie, until 5 seconds left, MSU sent a cross crease pass to a wide open Spartan player who slapped it in to win it 4-3 in OT for MSU.

GVSU lost star forward Mike Johnson in the game to injury.

It was a disappointing loss for the Lakers as Chris Moore played strong and had 37 saves in the game.

GVSU has the break to regroup before they face Robert Morris Springfield at home Jan 6th and 7th.

Around the ACHA...

D-1

Michigan-Dearborn and Eastern Michigan split a two game weekend bill and have both clinched playoff berths. They join Ohio, Iowa State, Illinois, Robert Morris, and Western Michigan (Host Team) as qualifiers for the CSCHL Playoffs. The final spot will be contested between Kent State and Saint Louis.

#8 MICHIGAN-DEARBORN 4, #18 Eastern Michigan 2 [2 point game]
#8 Michigan-Dearborn 7, #18 EASTERN MICHIGAN 6 [2 point game]

D-2

Central Michigan 4, Robert Morris (Chicago) Maroon 8

Ohio State 1, Davenport 5
Ohio State 4, Davenport 9

Michigan State 4, Grand Valley 3
Oakland 7, Grand Valley 4

D-3

Hope 7, Ferris State 5
Northwood 3, Hope 3

Kalamazoo College 3, Lawrence Tech 8

Women

Robert Morris 6, Western Michigan 1
Robert Morris 9, Western Michigan 0

Wayne women earn one point at Princeton

The Wayne State women's team was on the road in Princeton, N.J. last weekend, where they lost to the seventh-ranked Tigers 5-2 on Friday, but managed a 2-2 tie on Saturday.

On Friday, Princeton sneaked an early goal past Valery Turcotte to get on the board first. Later in the period, captain Jessica Snelgrove capitalized on a power play to earn her first tally of the season. Freshman Amanda Hungle was credited with an assist. However, Princeton scored two additional goals before the end of the first stanza, and two more within the first ten minutes of the second period. With the score 5-1 in favor of the Tigers, Warriors coach Jim Fetter opted to replace Turcotte with sophomore goaltender Tiffany Thompson (pictured left).

While Thompson would shut out the Tigers for the rest of the game, en route to earning the starting slot the next evening, Princeton's damage was done. The Warriors made an impressive effort, outshooting the Tigers 10-6 in the third, but their only goal came when Melissa Boal and Sarah Campbell set up freshman blueliner Tina Vanderhoeven on a power play at 12:52 of the period.

On Saturday, Thompson was Wayne's MVP for the first two periods, shutting out the Tigers and allowing Lindsey DiPietro's power-play goal--assisted by Vanderhoeven and Sam Poyton--to stand as the game's only tally. Princeton opened the third stanza by scoring two consecutive goals: the first on a power play and the second during a four-on-four stretch.

Poyton evened the score at 12:52 of the third period--her 13th of the season--with some help from Boal and Danielle Wilson. Princeton fired most of their 16 third period shots in the latter portion of the period, but they could not rattle Thompson, whose rock-solid effort gave the Warriors a chance in overtime.

Both the Warriors and the Tigers managed three shots in overtime, but both goalies held steady, and the game ended in a 2-2 tie. Thompson finished with 33 saves in the game.

The Warriors are idle until January 6-7 when they will host the Wisconsin Badgers.

Lake Superior takes home Peters/Mason Cup

Lake Superior State University skated away with the inaugural offering of the Peters/Mason Cup after taking three points from Bemidji State University over the weekend.

Friday night, the Lakers where able to extend their winning streak to five games with a 2-1 win over the Beavers. The Lakers where able to get on the board first after two scoreless periods in Bemidji with Sault native Marty Gurnoe scoring his first college goal. Bemidji was able to tie the game with Rob Sirianni scoring on the power play, but senior Laker forward Mike Adamek scored the game-winning goal in his first outing of the year.

Laker goalie Jeff Jakaitis stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced including 5 of 6 while shorthanded. BSU goaltender Matt Climie allowed 2 goals on 23 shots.

Saturday evening the Lakers again held the Beavers of Bemidji State scoreless in the first two periods. The Lakers were able to take a 1-0 lead into the locker room after the second period thanks to a short handed goal by Kory Scoran. BSU fought back in the third period and tied the game at 1-1 before Colin Nicholson scored a top shelf backhander to put the Lakers up with just over two minutes remaining.

The Lakers joy was short lived with Bemidji State’s Rob Sirianni scoring less than a minute later to force overtime. Neither team was able to score during the 5 minute overtime stanza, and the Lakers where awarded the Peters/Mason challenge cup following the game.

Laker goalie Jeff Jakaitis stopped 41 of the 43 shots he faced including all 4 shots he faced during overtime. BSU goaltender Layne Sedevie allowed 2 goals on 24 shots.

Lake Superior State is now 5-3-2 against nationally ranked opponents.

“I’ll tell you something Lake Superior State is a good hockey team; I’m glad we only play then twice this year.” Bemidji State University head coach Tom Serratore said after the game.

LSSU will square off against former coach Jeff Jackson Saturday and Sunday at Notre Dame. The teams play at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday and 2:05 on Sunday.

'Cats and 'Dogs split in Big Rapids

The Ferris State Bulldogs welcomed the Northern Michigan Wildcats to Big Rapids this weekend, and each team walked away with a victory.

The Cats struck first on Friday night at 10:10 of the first period. Mike Santorelli and Nathan Oystrick set up Pat Bateman to score. Matt Verdone (pictured) took advantage of a power play to even the score less than two minutes later (Jeremy Scherlinck and Alex Spezia assisted). Scherlinck picked up a goal of his own before the end of the period, with a little help from Corey Couturier. Both teams lit the lamp twice in the second period: Northern tied up the game twice, and each time Ferris struck back to regain the lead. After Andrew Contois, assisted by Zach Tarkir and Matt Maunu scored for the Cats, Greg Rallo and Chris Zarb set up Matt Stephanishion for the Bulldogs' third goal of the night and second on the power-play. Northern's Dusty Collins then got some help from Jamie Milam to light the lamp for the Cats, and the Bulldogs retaliated when Rallo earned his tenth goal of the season in the waning minute of the second period off assists by Stephanishion and Mark Bomersback.

Northern held Ferris to only four shots in the final period, and pulled their goalie near the end of the game to attempt a tie. But the only last minute scoring would be by Bomersback, who notched an empty net goal off an Adam Welch pass. Goalie Mitch O'Keefe had 25 saves in the Bulldogs' 5-3 victory. Derek Janzen finished with 21 saves for Northern.

On Saturday, Northern started with the offensive advantage, outshooting Ferris 14-8 in the first period, but managed only one goal by the first intermission--Bateman and Santorelli set up Matt Siddall to score. Ferris increased their aggression in the second period, peppering Northern goalie Bill Zaniboni with sixteen shots, but to no avail.

Ferris got their chance on a power play, when Stephanishion finally scored at 3:20 of the third period (Zarb and Jim Jorgensen assisted). Midway through the period, Oystrick scored the game-winner for Northern, off assists by Milam and Geoff Waugh. Despite pulling O'Keefe in the last minute, Ferris could not tie the game, and Northern earned the 2-1 victory. Zaniboni finished with 34 saves; O'Keefe stopped 25.

Ferris idle next week; Northern will welcome Western Michigan to Marquette next weekend.

Lions take combined 3 of 4 on weekend

The Finlandia men swept Minnesota-Crookston while their female counterparts won in overtime, but then lost to Wisconsin-River Falls.

The men took a 7-4 win Friday night and an 8-4 victory Saturday night at home.

Friday night, Corey Blake scored twice and Josh Paquette (two assists), Jamie Leffler, Ryan Sullivan, Mike Parks and Joe Lewis netted the others. Jason Aldrich and Brad Van Tassel each chipped in with two assists and goaltender Joe Juntilla made 25 stops.

Saturday, Paquette has two goals and three assists and Juntilla finished with 29 saves. Lewis added two goals and two assists and Aldrich scored a pair. Van Tassel and Blake scored the other goals and Joe Welgos recorded two assists.

Also at home, the women won, 4-3 in overtime Saturday, on a Danielle Syrowik goal. Sara Sleik scored twice and Katie O'Brien a single in the 4-3 win. Corinne Czekaj and Katie Markovich combined for 18 saves.

Sunday afternoon, Tina Purri scored FU's only goal as the Lions fell, 5-1. Czekaj stopped 21 shots.

Both teams are off until after the New Year.

Wolverines sweep past Nebraska-Omaha

Michigan broke their four-game losing skid with a weekend sweep at home against Nebraska-Omaha.

The Wolverines, once ranked No. 1 in the country, had fallen to No. 7 heading into last week's games with the Mavericks.

On Friday, Brandon Kaleniecki and captain Andrew Ebbett each recorded a goal and two assists as the Wolverines took a 4-2 triumph over UNO.

After the Mavericks took a 1-0 lead 6:07 into the game, Kaleniecki tallied the equalizer on the power play five minutes later, and Jason Dest scored shorthanded at 17:31 to give U-M the lead for good. Travis Turnbull also lit the lamp for the Wolverines, who got a 27-save performance from goalie Billy Sauer.

"I cannot tell you that there was a big difference between the teams out there tonight," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "I think we got some important goals at the right time. Obviously, the power-play goal got us back in the game, and the shorthanded goal by Dest was a big goal. The goals came at the right time and we needed them. We had a good battle; they are a really good team. It seems like everybody we play against is a really good team. You saw their top line; they could have lit it up. Billy Sauer gave us a chance. There were times in the first, second and third periods where they had the puck and they had good scoring chances and he was solid. This was a very close game and I feel fortunate that we came out ahead."

Saturday night, Ebbett (goal, two assists) and Jason Bailey (two goals, assist) each had three-point nights to lead the Wolverines to a 7-3 win. Both T.J. Hensick and David Rohlfs each earned two helpers in the game, while Sauer picked up the win making 14 saves in two periods. Noah Ruden played the third period and stopped 15 of 16 shots.

"It was getting a little rough, but I think we kept our cool for the most part," Bailey said. "We did a good job and finished it of with a big win. We're happy."

With just under two minutes left in the game, Rohlfs and UNO's Dan Knapp earned fighting majors and game disqualifications. Both will miss their team's next games.

Kaleniecki, Kevin Porter, Jack Johnson and Andrew Cogliano also scored for U-M (11-5-1, 7-3-1 CCHA).

"You hate to go home with a sour taste in your mouth," added Berenson. "And this was a real good bounce-back weekend for our team and for a lot of individuals."

The Wolverines take an 18-day break and then move on to face Colorado College in the Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena on Dec. 29. Faceoff is at 8 p.m.

Photo by Amir Gamzu, © Wolverine Photo

MSU plays Nanooks to tie, shutout

Michigan State made the journey to Alaska-Fairbanks last weekend and came away with a tie Friday night and a 3-0 shutout Saturday night.

A late Nanook goal ended Michigan State's hopes of a road victory Friday night as the Spartans were forced to settle for the 4-4 tie. MSU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but let UAF back into the game in a sloppy second period. Senior forward Colton Fretter, junior captain Drew Miller and sophomore forward Jim McKenzie all collected two points on the night.

Bryan Lerg, David Booth, Justin Abdelkader and Fretter all scored for MSU and goalie Jeff Lerg made 32 saves for the Spartans.

Kyle Jones had a hat trick for UAF.

Saturday night, goaltender Dominic Vicari (pictured above left) posted his second shutout in three games (and fourth this year) to backstop Michigan State to a 3-0 win. The Spartans, who have struggled at length in recent weeks, are now 2-1-1 in their last four contests after capturing their first CCHA road win of the season.

Abdelkader, Lerg and Zak McClellan scored for MSU while Vicari stopped all 32 shots he faced. Vicari currently leads the nation in shutouts and boasts 16 for his Michigan State career, second all-time to Ryan Miller's 26.

Michigan State (7-7-5, 4-5-4 CCHA) returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 29, when they make their 31st appearance in the Great Lakes Invitational following a 19-day holiday layoff. MSU will lace up the skates with host Michigan Tech at 4:35 p.m to open the tourney.