Happy Holidays from Michigan College Hockey!

From our family to yours, have a very happy and safe holiday season!

To our loyal readers, check back next week for holiday tournament recaps and photos involving Michigan teams, including the Great Lakes Invitational featuring Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech and Colorado College that emanates from Joe Louis Arena in Detroit!

Sincerely,

The MiCHO Staff

Lake Superior State’s unbeaten streak ends at 7

Notre Dame University was able to end Lake Superior State University’s unbeaten streak at seven, after beating the Lakers on Sunday in a series dominated by referee Mark Wilkins calling 27 penalties during the weekend. Saturday night, LSSU junior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis earned his third shutout win of the season, while the Lakers where able to go 3-for 8 on the power play, and score four goals on the night to beat ND, 4-0.

LSSU's Derek A. Smith scored his second goal of the season during a 5-on-3 power-play advantage to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead. Barnabas Birkeland and Troy Schwab assisted on the goal. Colin Nicholson added a power-play goal to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead. Kory Scoran and captain Steve McJannet assisted on Nicholson's fourth goal of the season, which came at 10:30 of the opening period.

Alex Dunn increased his team's lead to three by scoring 30 seconds into the second period as Nathan Ward drew the lone assist. Senior forward Mike Adamek scored the Lakers' only even-strength goal of the game at 12:01 of the third period, giving LSSU a 4-0 lead. Schwab and Josh Sim assisted on the goal.

Sunday afternoon, LSSU fell behind early when Notre Dame's Tim Wallace scored 41 seconds into the game. Wallace gave the Irish a two-goal lead by scoring his second goal of the game on a power play at 14:35. Notre Dame took advantage of a power play opportunity halfway through the second period to build a three-goal advantage with Noah Babin scoring.

Junior forward Trent Campbell scored the Lakers' first goal of the game at 14:09 of the second period. Ward and McJannet drew the assists. At 2:46 of the third period, Mike Walsh increased Notre Dame's lead to 4-1, scoring his team's third power-play goal. Adamek scored his second goal of the weekend, and third goal in four games, at 10:02 of the third period, trimming ND's lead to 4-2. Birkeland and Schwab assisted on the goal.

The Lakers had an empty net again with 2:53 to go. Ward scored his third goal of the year, with Jakaitis on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, to bring them within a goal of the Irish. Scoran and McJannet had the assists.

The Lakers again pulled Jakaitis, but failed to tie the score during the game's closing minute.

Lake Superior State plays three exhibition games next week in three days - at Lakehead Wednesday, vs. Calgary Thursday and vs. St. Francis Xavier Friday night.

After 0-0 tie, Northern takes a win from Western

Northern Michigan University (9-8-1, 6-7-1 CCHA) and Western Michigan University (4-9-3, 4-6-2 CCHA) faced off last weekend in Marquette. While Northern had the most reasons to celebrate in earning a tie Saturday and a win Sunday, both teams ended Saturday's contest pleased as the score was a 0-0 tie. The game served as a showcase for both teams' defensive skills.

“It was a great game by both teams,” commented WMU coach Jim Culhane. “I thought our five defensemen did a good job killing penalties and both goaltenders played well.”

While both teams exhibited excellent shut-down efforts (Western killed ten power plays and Northern, seven), it was Western goaltender Daniel Bellissimo (pictured) who put on perhaps the best show of all, stopping 31 Northern shots, including one in overtime. With the tie, Bellissimo earned his first collegiate shutout.

Northern goalie Bill Zaniboni finished the game with 18 saves, including two in overtime.

Sunday's matinee game was a different contest from the beginning: Northern lit the lamp just 18 seconds into the game on a Pat Bateman goal. Nathan Oystrick and Zaniboni earned the assists. Jamie Milam put the Wildcats up by two with some help from Andrew Sarauer and Dusty Collins. And in the closing moments of the first period, Spencer Dillon and Rob Lehtinen set up Nick Sirota for the Cats' third goal, and the first of Sirota's career.

"After scoring that goal it was a huge adrenaline rush,” Sirota said.

Brent Walton got the Broncos on the board at 8:47 of the second period. His power-play goal was assisted by Ryan Mahrle. Paul Szczechura made it a one-goal game for Western early in the third period. Nathan Ansell picked up the assist on Szczechura's short-handed goal.

But Northern, who outshot Western 29-21 over the course of the game, widened their lead at the end of the third period. Darin Oliver added a goal for Northern with Bateman and Mike Santorelli assisting. At 17:20 of the third, Dirk Southern took passes from Milam and Zach Tarkir to seal the Northern victory with a 5-2 score.

Zaniboni finished with 19 saves and Bellissimo finished with 24 saves.

“I was pleased with our defensive effort,” NMU coach Walt Kyle said. “For us to be able to hang in there and finish the job late. I though that was impressive.”

The teams may have a rematch next week. Both the Broncos and the Wildcats will be at the Badger Showdown that begins in Madison on Dec. 30. Western will face Wisconsin on the first night while Northern will face off with Wayne State.

Huskies split with WCHA foe

Michigan Tech split last weekend's series with Minnesota State.

MSU won Friday, 5-4, and MTU won Saturday, 3-2. It was a series that saw the Huskies score early in both games, but the lead was short-lived both nights as Minnesota State tied it up in the first on both games. Both teams did earn two big points in the WCHA. Chris Conner (right) was the Superior Player of the Game Saturday and the No. 2 star Friday. He ended the weekend with three points on two goals and an assist.

Friday...

Taggart Desmet started the scoring, just 10 seconds into the contest as he was able to take the faceoff in right away and put one past the Maverick's netminder. MSU then tallied the next three goals ending the first at 3-1.

Only one goal was scored in the second, by junior defenseman Lars Helminen at the two-minute mark. The Huskies went into the third down, 3-2.

MSUM scored first in the final frame, making it 4-2. Then Tech scored two unanswered goals. The first came off the stick of freshman Ryan Angelow on a quick wrister that beat Mankato goalie Dan Tormey gloveside. The second was by Conner, MTU's goal-scoring leader. Desmet found him on a partial break and Conner did the rest. It looked as it would head to overtime, but Rob Rankin was able to get a shot on goal and MTU goalie Rob Nolan seemed to screened and the puck went in with 44 seconds to go.

Nolan ended the night with 34 saves.

Saturday...

MTU again came out strong and Brandon Schwartz got a goal on a rebound by a Mike Batovanja shot.

Minnesota State tied it up early in the second at 1. There was no scoring until the last two minutes of the second when John Scott found Conner heading up ice. Conner had company, Tyler Skworchinski, who was streaking in on goal. Conner found him and Schorchinski did not miss his oppurtunity, giving the home team a 2-1 advanage going into the third.

MTU got there first two-goal lead when Batovanja found the shortie expert, Conner, making a break for the net. Conner skated in all alone and made one of his patented moves to get it by Tormey. MSU did get one back, but then relied on the pads of Michael-Lee Teslak.

Teslak ended the night with 41 saves, making him the game's No. 1 star.

Upcoming...

MTU will now head to Detroit to partake in the 41st annual Great Lakes Invitational. Tech will start with Michigan State on Dec. 29 in the tournament opener at 4:30 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena. The winner plays the winner of the Michigan-Colorado College matchup.