Wildcats beat Team USA in overtime Friday

Northern Michigan beat the U.S. National Under-18 Team Friday night in overtime at the Berry Events Center in an exhibition game.

Mike Santorelli's goal at 4:31 of the extra session gave the Wildcats a 5-4 win.

Senior Josh Hatinger (pictured), NMU's third goaltender behind Bill Zaniboni and Brian Stewart, made the most of his time on the ice and turned away 22 shots and assisted on Santorelli's game-winner as well.

"I just drove wide and beat their guy (goalie Josh Unice) and luckily got it over his shoulder," Santorelli said.

Nick Sirota, Zach Tarkir, Andrew Sarauer and Darin Olver (game-tying goal at 17:32 of the third period) also scored for NMU, who had assistant coach John Kyle behind the bench with head coach Walt Kyle and assistant coach John Olver away recruiting.

For Hatinger, it was the first time in his NMU career that he played a whole game.

"It felt really good to get a win," said Hattinger. "Especially Mike (Santorelli) is my roommate and got the game-winning goal. I just really appreciate all the support the fans give me."

NMU will take some time off for Christmas and then jump back into conference play Dec. 30-31. The 'Cats will take on Notre Dame after the break. The game on the 30th will be played in Ft. Wayne, Ind. before moving to South Bend on the 31st.

Cogliano cracks Team Canada lineup

Michigan sophomore forward Andrew Cogliano has made Team Canada for the second straight year at the World Junior Championship.

Final cuts were made today in Calgary and Cogliano, from Woodbridge, Ontario, was on the final roster for this year's tournament in Leskand and Mora, Sweeden. Canada's first game is Dec. 26 against the host country.

Cogliano is one of three NCAA players on the roster along with Boston College forward Dan Bertram and North Dakota forward Jonathan Toews.

St. Louis defenseman scoots off to U-M

St. Louis Bandits' defenseman Charles "Scooter" Vaughan has committed to the University of Michigan for the fall of 2007.

The 17-year-old Vaughan, who came out of the powerhouse Oak Park-based Honeybaked organization, has one goal and 10 assists for the Bandits this season.

"Having the opportunity to play for Coach Berenson and the University of Michigan has always been a dream of mine," said Vaughan. "I am both thrilled and honored they thought high enough of me and the Bandit organization to bring me in."

"I am really happy for Scooter and his family because representing the University of Michigan was always a goal for him," St. Louis head coach Jon Cooper said. "He is a first-class kid both on and off the ice. They will love him."

Photo by Robert Meyer

CCHA commish gets 5-year extension

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that commissioner Tom Anastos has agreed to a five-year contract extension that runs through the 2011-12 season.

The announcement was made by Tom Nevala, Notre Dame's associate athletic director for business operations, who served as chairperson of the CCHA Executive Committee during the renewal process.

"The members of the CCHA have the utmost confidence in Tom's leadership, and we look forward to his continued good stewardship of our league during these years to come," said Nevala in making the announcement.

Anastos, recognized by The Hockey News as No. 81 on the list of the 100 most influential and powerful people in the sport, is in his ninth season as commissioner, having been named to the post on March 18, 1998.

Some of the most notable accomplishments during his tenure include:

-- Spearheading the emphasis, prior to the 2004-05 season, to eliminate obstruction in the college game, a move that has subsequently been followed by all levels throughout North America.

-- Leading the initiative to bring the 2010 Frozen Four to Detroit's Ford Field where college hockey's marquee event will be held in a non-traditional hockey arena for the first time.

-- Creating 'Hockey Day in Michigan,' a statewide celebration of the sport, in collaboration with FSN Detroit and the Detroit Red Wings.

-- Broadening television coverage through agreements with FSN Detroit, CSTV, ESPNU and Toronto-based Leafs TV.

-- Facilitating entry of the highly successful Nebraska-Omaha program into the CCHA in 1999-2000.

"It's been my pleasure to work for, and with, such a terrific group of people and universities," commented Anastos. "I appreciate their support and confidence. Together, we can look forward to pursuing some ambitious objectives for our league during the next five years."

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a 12-team, Division-I hockey conference, with offices based in Farmington Hills. Founded in 1971, the league has won seven NCAA championships in the past 22 years.

MiCHO Power Poll 12.12.06

The Michigan Wolverines were swept over the weekend by Notre Dame and are clinging to the top spot in the MiCHO Power Poll for the sixth straight week. Lake Superior State is unbeaten in their last four games and hold on to the second spot after taking three of four points on the road at Ferris State. Michigan State got back on the winning track and holds on to the No. 3 ranking after a sweep of Northern Michigan in Marquette.

1) Michigan, 12-7-0 (swept by Notre Dame)
2) Lake Superior State, 11-5-2 (took three points at FSU)
3) Michigan State, 9-7-1 (swept NMU)
4) Michigan Tech, 6-8-2 (swept by Minnesota)
5) Western Michigan, 6-7-1 (idle)
6) Northern Michigan, 7-10-2 (swept by MSU)
7) Ferris State, 4-11-2 (tie and loss vs. LSSU)
8) Wayne State, 3-14-0 (swept at Niagara)

Each week, MichiganCollegeHockey.com editors Matt Mackinder and Tom Balog will compile the MiCHO Power Poll. The poll will comprise the eight Division I teams in the state of Michigan.

Wolverines swept away by Notre Dame

Michigan was swept by Notre Dame last weekend in a home-and-home series.

Friday saw a final score of 7-3 in Ann Arbor and Sunday had U-M blowing a 3-2 third-period lead and losing 4-3.

Andrew Cogliano, Brandon Naurato and Chad Kolarik scored in Friday's loss and goaltender Billy Sauer took the loss making 11 saves on 16 shots through 40 minutes. Steve Jakiel mopped up and stopped four of six shots in the third period.

"I cannot tell you what his psyche is right now," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said of Sauer. "It was a tough game for him. He only had four shots in the first period and two were goals. That is frustrating for a goalie. Then in the second period, it got worse. I cannot tell you what his psyche is, but obviously the puck is going in too easily."

On Sunday in South Bend, Ind., Travis Turnbull had a goal and two assists, but U-M couldn't hold the lead in the third period as Notre Dame scored twice in a 30-second span (7:13, 7:43).

Kevin Porter and Mark Mitera tallied the other Michigan goals. Sauer finished with 25 saves in the loss.

The Wolverines (12-7-0, 8-5-0 CCHA) will not see game action for nearly three weeks until they participate in the 42nd annual Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. U-M plays Michigan Tech on Friday, Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. The third-place and championship games are on Saturday, Dec. 30. The other teams in the tournament are Michigan State and Harvard.

Michigan State sweeps Northern Michigan

The Michigan State Spartans ventured to Northern Michigan last weekend and came away with a road sweep.

Friday night, Michigan State withstood a wild final minute of play and emerged with a 3-2 victory. Chris Mueller (pictured) had a pair of goals - the second time he's accomplished that feat in three games - and goaltender Jeff Lerg stopped 21 shots for the win in goal.

Mueller's second goal was a penalty shot.

Justin Abdelkader scored MSU's other goal.

"I thought we fought hard tonight," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "They had a lot of jump early and I thought we handled it. It was a game where there was a lot of special teams play and we had to kill a lot of penalties. Overall, I think it was a good road win."

Matt Maunu and Pat Bateman tallied for NMU and Bill Zanoboni made 19 saves for the Wildcats.

"I thought it was a real good game," NMU head coach Walt Kyle said. "It was a very competitive game. Both goalies played well. Both teams played well."

Saturday night, Northern Michigan lost their fifth straight game as the Spartans found the back of the net twice in the final 20 minutes to take another 3-2 win.

"We are finding ways in my opinion to do the other thing," Kyle said. "Each night is kind of a different thing right now. Hopefully we get through it soon."

Nick Sucharski and Bryan Lerg came up with third-period tallies and Jeff Lerg made 27 saves to help Michigan State come from behind for the win. The sweep of Northern Michigan is the first CCHA sweep for the Spartans this season and secured Comley his 100th victory at Michigan State. The Spartans enter the holiday break with a 9-7-1 overall mark and 7-5-1 in CCHA.

Brandon Warner also scored for MSU and Tyler Howells added two assists.

Andrew Sarauer and Mike Santorelli tallied for the Wildcats and Zaniboni stopped 17 shots in defeat.

The Spartans will now have a 19-day hiatus for exams and the holidays and will return to action on Dec. 29 at the Great Lakes Invitational. Michigan State tangles with Harvard, and former MSU goalie Justin Tobe, in the semifinals of the tournament.

NMU (7-10-2, 4-7-1 CCHA) will play an exhibition game at the Berry Events Center against the U.S. Under-18 Team on Friday night.

Finlandia men roll, women stumble

The Finlandia men's team wallopped Minnesota-Crookston on the road last weekend, outscoring the Golden Eagles 14-4 in the process.

Saturday, the Lions took a 10-2 win as Ryan Sullivan, Mike Parks, Keith Johnstone each scored a pair of goals. Blake Miller, Jason Aldrich, Derek Onkalo and Travis Hanson also tallied and Corey Blake and Tiger Marcotte each chipped in two assists.

Lukas Alberer made 27 saves in net for the win. He allowed just two third-period goals.

Sunday, FU won, 4-2. Parks, Miller, Joe Beaudry and Josh Paquette scored to back Joe Juntilla's 27-save outing.

The Lions (7-3-0, 7-1-0 MCHA) play a single game this weekend at home against Wisconsin-Superior.

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On the women's side, Finlandia managed only two goals in two home losses to Wisconsin-River Falls.

Saturday, Brenda Peterson had a goal and an assist in the 7-2 loss. Jana Riutta scored the other goal. Katie Markovich and Annika Danielson combined for 36 saves.

The Lions were then blanked, 6-0, on Sunday. Corinne Czekaj and Danielson together stopped 33 shots.

FU (3-7-2, 0-5-1 NCHA) is at Hamline this weekend for two games.

Warriors split with 9th-ranked Princeton Tigers

The Wayne State Warriors made history on Friday night as it was their first defeat of a ranked team in their program's history.

Thanks in part to a stunning performance in goal by Valery Turcotte (pictured), the Warriors beat the 9th-ranked Princeton Tigers, 4-2. The Warriors lost to the Tigers 1-0 on Saturday for the split, and their record now stands at 6-10-0.

In Friday's contest, the Tigers took a 2-0 lead midway through the second period. Sam Poyton capitalized on Melissa Boal's rebound to put the Warriors on the board. Freshman Chelsea Burnett was also credited with an assist on Poyton's power-play goal.

In the third period, Turcotte stopped 17 shots, giving her teammates the opportunity to surge past Princeton for the lead. Laura Monk's shot at 3:18 of the period was denied, but Amanda Hungle picked up the rebound and snuck it in to tie the game at two. Five minutes later, freshman Christine Jefferson set up fellow frosh Brandi Frakie for the go-ahead goal. The tally was Frakie's fourth of the season. Poyton contributed a breakaway goal on the empty net to seal the Warriors' victory.

Turcotte finished the night with 37 saves.

Saturday's game was an offensively quiet one. Marykate Oakley scored a shorthanded goal to put Princeton up 1-0 midway through the second period for the game's only goal, despite the Warriors' pulling Turcotte in the last minute for an extra attacker.

Turcotte had 24 saves in Saturday's game.

The Warriors face CHA rival Niagara this weekend in Detroit.

Bulldogs continue to struggle

The scoring futility for the Ferris State Bulldog icers continued this weekend as 92 shots on goal during the two-game series against the Lake Superior State Lakers resulted in the Bulldogs generating only two goals for their efforts.

Lakers' senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis stonewalled the Bulldogs by making 49 saves Friday night and 41 on Saturday for a .978 two-game save percentage leading to a Friday night 1-1 tie and a Saturday 4-1 Lakers victory.

Friday night's contest ended in the tie as the two teams battled for any kind of an edge. The Bulldogs got on the board 11:22 of the first on a Brendan Connolly goal with assists to Dan Riedel and Zac Pearson. The Lakers answered in the second period as Derek A. Smith lit the red light at 9:35 assisted by Josh Sim and Troy Schwab.

The Lakers had the best chances in the third period, ringing three off the pipes, and although the Bulldogs dominated the overtime, neither team could cash in for the victory.

Mitch O'Keefe made 29 saves for FSU.

Saturday it was again quality over quantity as only one of the Bulldogs' 42 shots, an unassisted power-play goal by Jeremy Scherlinck at 9:01 of the first stanza, could find its way past Jakaitis.

The Lakers evened the score at 1-1 with a goal by Jeffrey Rainville at 16:25 and went ahead 2-1 on a Dan Eves goal at 18:34 that would prove to be the game-winner.

The Lakers added to their advantage at 6:18 of the second on a power-play goal by Barnabas Birkeland and scored the final tally of the night at 16:27 on a shorthanded effort by Derek A. Smith, who boosted the Lakers (11-5-2, 6-4-2 CCHA) with a three-point evening.

O'Keefe finished with 16 stops for the Bulldogs.

After a two-week layoff, the Bulldogs (4-11-2, 2-9-2 CCHA) will next skate December 29 against Massachusetts in the first game of the Minnesota Dodge Holiday Classic in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Classic features the host and No. 1-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers and Alabama-Huntsville in the second game.

The Lakers return home to play a single game against the U.S. Under-18 Team on Saturday.