Wolverines split with Alaska-Fairbanks

Going 0-for-12 on the power play generally doesn't amount to a win and Michigan proved that theory correct Saturday night in a 4-2 loss to Alaska-Fairbanks.

The two teams split their weekend series at Yost Ice Arena as Michigan (13-7-1, 8-4-1 CCHA)blanked the Nanooks, 4-0, Friday night.

"We knew they would come out strong, trying to get some revenge over last night's game," U-M head coach Red Berenson said. "We knew that, and we thought we were ready for them, but we weren't. They scored a goal early and they took advantage of that lead from there on out."

Chad Kolarik and Tim Miller scored Michigan's goals, but UAF raced out to a 3-0 first-period lead in the first eight minutes and never looked back.

Billy Sauer stopped 20 shots in defeat.

"Preparation," said Michigan defenseman Matt Hunwick on what the difference was from Friday. "We weren't ready to play. You could see that right off the bat. They scored three goals and we couldn't recover from that. We couldn't get back into it and that was the story of the game. Their power play outplayed our power play; their penalty kill was better than our penalty kill."

Friday night, Sauer made 26 saves in his first collegiate shutout.

"Our team played a lot of defense," said Sauer. "Honestly, I really didn't have to make too many big saves. Our team kept a lot of them on the outside, so I just had to be there. I knew I had to make some good saves, but I didn't have to do anything too outstanding in the game."

Danny Fardig, Jason Bailey, Kolarik and Hunwick scored for the Wolverines, all at even strength.

Kevin Porter chipped in with two assists.

The Wolverines also received a huge boost when their four World Junior Championship players returned from Vancouver.

"When (Mark) Mitera and (Jack) Johnson came back on defense, all of the sudden our defense looked like a Division I defense again, no question," Berenson said. "When Porter and (Andrew) Cogliano stepped on the ice as solid forwards, our demeanor changed. We were just a better team."

Cogliano won gold as a member of Team Canada.

The Wolverines have just a lone exhibition game next weekend on Friday when the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 Team ventures across Ann Arbor. U-M returns to regular-season play with a road contest at Michigan State on Jan. 17.

Photo by Eric Bronson, © Wolverine Photo

MSU sweeps WSU, allows just two goals

Michigan State rebounded from their loss in the finals of the Great Lakes Invitational last week to allow just two goals in their weekend sweep at home against Wayne State.

The Spartans (10-8-5) took a 3-1 win Friday night and then a 5-1 victory Saturday night.

"Obviously it was a much needed sweep," Michigan State head coach Rick Comley said. "You want (the team) to leave feeling like they've accomplished something and they're building on something. Wayne State is a tough team to play against. They're not pretty, they do what they can do, and in the third period, both nights, I thought they tried to play a little bit more. I was encouraged by the fact that they got back into the game and we came back and put the game away."

Freshman Jeff Lerg (above right) earned the win both nights for the Spartans.

In the finale Saturday night, captain Drew Miller and David Booth each scored twice to pace the MSU attack in a 5-1 win.

Justin Abdelkader scored the opening goal for MSU while Daniel Vukovic and Nick Sucharski added two assists apiece. Lerg stopped 24 shots and at the other end, Matt Kelly turned aside 42 for the Warriors (4-12-2).

Nate Higgins scored WSU's lone goal on a second-period power play.

"I thought tonight we played with a lot of intensity," WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson said. "We couldn't capitalize on some of the mistakes Michigan State made and they didn't make many."

Friday night, Lerg made 18 saves and allowed just a late first-period goal to Warriors' freshman Derek Punches.

Corey Potter, Jared Nightingale and Sucharski scored for MSU while Ethan Graham's assist on Sucharski's goal was his first point in 10 games.

Kelly finished with 38 saves for Wayne State.

"It is just so important for these kids to leave the building in a good frame of mind," added Comley.

Next up for the Spartans is a two-game CCHA set with Alaska-Fairbanks at Munn Ice Arena next weekend. Wayne State travels to Bemidji State for a pair of CHA contests.

Former OU icer Webb adjusting to pros

Former Oakland University forward Ryan Webb was released by the Flint Generals of the United Hockey League last month, but was immediately scooped up by the Jacksonville Barracudas of the Southern Professional Hockey League, where he has three goals and six assists and 13 penalty minutes in seven games played.

"I think it is outstanding that a former Grizzly is putting up points like that in a pro league," stated OU head coach Sean Hogan. "This really goes to show that we are putting a good product on the ice and people are starting to take notice."

Michigan ties from Bucs' future collegians

The Des Moines Buccaneers are sending three players to college with Michigan ties in forwards Colin Vock, Aaron Palushaj and Trevor Lewis.

Vock, a native of Plymouth, came to the Buccaneers last season via a trade with the Indiana Ice. He will suit up for Vermont next year.

Palushaj (right) and Lewis are future Michigan Wolverines.

"Colin has paid his dues and now he's reaping the benefits by going to an excellent school and hockey program," said Des Moines coach-GM Regg Simon. "Vermont is getting not only a good player, but more importantly, a good person. We couldn't be happier for Colin."

"I chose Vermont because I liked the campus and facilities. I was also very comfortable with the coaching staff and the players," Vock said. "I just felt like it was the best fit for me academically and athletically."

Lewis, a native of Murray, Utah, will join the Wolverines for the 2006-07 season. He is currently leading the Buccaneers in goals (19) and points (35). He is also second on the team and in league with a plus/minus rating of +20.

"This was one of the toughest decisions of my life," said Lewis of his decision to go to choose Michigan. "All of the schools that recruited me (Boston College, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio State) have outstanding hockey programs, but my gut feeling was to go to Michigan."

Palushaj, a native of Northville, is also performing well for the Buccaneers. He has recorded 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) as well as being among the top in the league in plus/minus with a +16. He will play another season for the Buccaneers before joining the Wolverines in 2007.

"Michigan has the academics and hockey program I was hoping to play for," said Palushaj. "The fact that I could be close to my home and family was a big part of the decision."

Simon said the two players have worked hard for the honor and will be missed in Des Moines.

"Both Trevor and Aaron are going to get a world class education and play at one of the most storied college hockey programs in the nation," said Simon. "Our entire organization is proud of them."

WSU's Higgins earns weekly CHA honor

Wayne State University junior forward Nate Higgins has been selected College Hockey America Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

Higgins scored a tournament-best three goals as the Warriors placed third in the 2005 Badger Showdown this past weekend in Madison, Wis.

His power-play goal early in the third period of Friday's setback to Northern Michigan pulled WSU within three at 5-2.

With Wayne State leading Western Michigan 2-0 early in the second period of Saturday's third-place game, Higgins outraced two Bronco defenders to the puck, after a long rebound, and beat WMU goalie Daniel Bellissimo high to the blocker side with a back-hand.

The Warriors held a precarious 4-2 lead early in the third period, following back-to-back Bronco goals, but Higgins scored an even-strength marker for a 5-2 WSU advantage.

Higgins was the lone Wayne State player named to the all-tournament team.

Despite missing the first two games of the season due to a pre-season injury, Higgins still leads the Warriors with eight goals, including six in the last five contests. During Wayne State's 4-2 December record, Higgins had 10 points on six goals and four assists.

WSU plays a pair of non-league contests this Friday and Saturday at Michigan State. Both games can be heard on the radio (WDTK - 1400 AM) or online at www.wdtkam.com with Andy Sanzotta calling the action.

Ferris State takes third in Wells Fargo Denver Cup

Last weekend, Ferris State University competed in the 14th Annual Wells Fargo Denver Cup. The Bulldogs nearly beat eventual champions Boston College, who seized Friday's win in a shootout after the teams skated to a 3-3 tie. Ferris State then defeated host and two-time defending national champion Denver in Saturday's consolation game.

Friday: Boston College entered Friday's game ranked 4th in the nation by both USCHO and USA Today/US Hockey Magazine. However, Ferris State took control of the game early on, outshooting the Eagles 14-7 in the scoreless first period.

Ferris sophomore goalie Derek MacIntyre (pictured left above), demonstrated his mettle in the second period. He staved off an additional 20 BC shots en route to stopping 43 over the course of the night. The offense held up their end of things as well. Greg Rallo notched a power-play goal less than a minute into the period, assisted by Matt Stephanishion, and Mark Bomersback put the Bulldogs up by two with a shorthanded goal at 8:23.

BC fought back in the third period with a shorthanded goal of their own, courtesy of senior Chris Collins. Brian O'Hanley scored less than a minute later, and Andrew Orpick capitalized on a power play at 6:15. The Eagles' defense held Ferris to only three shots in the final period, but luckily for the Bulldogs, Corey Couturier's shot found the net. Eric Vesely and Matt Frank were credited with assists.

After a scoreless five-minute overtime period, the two teams went to a shootout to determine advancement to the finals. Boston College earned three goals and Ferris managed only two and had to settle for facing the Pioneers for the third-place game.

Saturday: The Bulldogs got another solid performance from MacIntyre on Saturday, as well as point contributions from seven different players.

On the Bulldogs' second power play of the game, Zac Pearson and Stephanishion set up Bomersback to light the lamp in the final minute of the first period. The team capitalized on the extra-man opportunity again when Rallo scored at 2:42 of the second period. Chris Zarb and Jim Jorgensen earned assists on Rallo's goal.

Denver cut Ferris's lead to one at 15:44 of the second with a power play goal. The Bulldogs retaliated quickly, as Pearson set up Adam Miller for his seventh goal of the season less than a minute later. Although Denver struck again to come within a goal, MacIntyre and the defense held steady and the Bulldogs maintained their 3-2 lead through the final whistle.

MacIntyre finished with 45 saves and was named the game's first star. The Denver goalie, Farmington Hills native Peter Mannino (pictured left) stopped a season-high 42 shots and was named the game's second star. Rallo earned third-star honors.

Ferris State improves its record to 9-6-5 (4-4-4 CCHA), and is idle until January 13-14, when they will face Northern Michigan on the road.

Warriors battle to third-place Badger finish

The Wayne State Warriors recent resurgence was on display over the weekend as they put together a solid effort and came away with a third-place finish at the Badger Showdown in Madison, WI. After starting the season 0-8-2, the Green and Gold have won four of their last six contests to improve to 4-10-2 (1-4-1 CHA) on the year.

Friday- Wayne State’s short two-game winning streak was halted in the Showdown opener as they dropped a 6-2 decision to the Northern Michigan Wildcats.

The ‘Cats dominated play for most of the game, out shooting their in-state rivals 43-24.

Northern’s second line of Pat Bateman, Mike Santorelli, and Darin Olver each scored a goal and two assists while Derek Janzen steered aside 22 shots for the win.

Jason Bloomingburg and Nate Higgins (pictured) each scored power-play goals for the Warriors. Will Hooper was peppered in net and stopped 37 blasts in a losing effort.

Northern’s win moved them into the Showdown’s championship game against host Wisconsin, who dismantled Western Michigan 4-1 in Friday’s late game.

Wayne State loss regulated them to Saturday’s consolation game against Western.

Saturday- After seven years at Wayne State, head coach Bill Wilkinson finally got a chance face his old team on Saturday and made the best of it as the Warriors doubled up the Broncos 6-3.

Wilkinson had a brilliant 17 year career at Western, coaching the team to over 300 wins, a CCHA Tournament Championship and 3 NCAA Tournament berths.

The Warriors worked hard for their coach in the consolation game using markers by Bloomingburg, Jon Grabarek, Higgins, and Matt Krug to jump out to a 4-0 lead by 7:57 of the second period.

Daryl Moore and Paul Szczechura scored for Western before the period was out to cut the Wayne State lead in half.

Higgins scored his second of the night and third of the Showdown at 6:45 of the third to put the Warriors back up by three goals.

With the extra attacker on, the Broncos got a goal from their leader Brent Walton at 17:10 to make it a 5-3 game.

The Warriors iced the game and locked up third-place with just 3 ticks left on the clock when Adam Krug scored his second of the season.

Senior Matt Kelly started in net for the Warriors at stopped 21 of 24 shots to pull his personal mark up to 3-4-2 on the year.

Daniel Bellissimo dropped to 4-10-3 after surrendering 5 goals on 27 shots.

Wayne State moves to begin an arduous four-game road trip, starting with two non-conference battles against the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing next weekend.

Western returns to CCHA play with the pair of games “up north” against the Lake Superior State Lakers next Friday and Saturday.

Badger Showdown Championship Game- The host Wisconsin Badgers had little trouble in capturing their ninth tournament crown as they cruised past the NMU Wildcats 5-1. in Saturday's late game.

Nathan Oystrick scored the ‘Cats lone goal and Bill Zaniboni stopped 37 shots in the loss.

Northern returns to the ice next weekend with two games against the CCHA conference leading Miami RedHawks at the Goggin Arena in Oxford, Ohio.

2005 Badger Hockey Showdown All-Tournament Team

Forwards:

Nate Higgins, Wayne State

Joe Pavelski, Wisconsin

Mike Santorelli, Northern Michigan

Defensemen:

Nathan Oystrick, Northern Michigan

Jeff Likens, Wisconsin

Goalie:

Brian Elliott, Wisconsin

Tournament MVP:

Brian Elliott, Wisconsin