Husky Talk: Hot Hand

Michigan Tech travels to Colorado this weekend for a first round battle with the Tigers of Colorado College. Sophomore forward Justin St. Louis has a hot hand as of late and he took time away from his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us here at Michigan College Hockey (MiCHO). In the last four games, St. Louis has scored five goals, including a hat trick against No. 2 Minnesota, guiding the Huskies to a 5-4 win. During that four-game period, the team is 3-1-0.


MiCHO: How does it feel to get a hat trick against one of the top teams in the country, on their home ice?

JS: Heading into the playoffs it feels really good to help the team end the regular season on a high note. With the win at the University of Minnesota it really gives our team a big confidence boost at the right time knowing that we can win on the road. Personally, it couldn’t have come at a better time as we head into playoffs this weekend against Colorado College.

MCH: At the beginning of the year, you were hit and miss in the line-up, but in the last few series, you have made your presence know, what do you see as the main reason for the good play as of late?

JS: As of late I’m starting to feel a lot more confident which helps me to relax and just enjoy the game instead of worrying about what I can’t control. A lot of credit has to given to the players around me and the opportunities we create for one another.

MCH: What do you feel are your best attributes you bring to the team?

JS: I believe that my speed is my strongest asset I bring to the team, with that I try to create opportunities and chances for the players around me in all areas of the ice.

MCH: In the DU series, you had a heated discussion with a member of the Pioneers, can you comment on what was said and how you were able to keep your cool while he was not?

JS: With the DU series there was an altercation in which I had to put the team first over my emotions. At that point in the season when all points are vital, I wasn’t willing to put myself before the team.

MCH: What are the keys for success in the upcoming series against CC and can we plan on seeing you in the line up all weekend?

JS: This coming weekend against CC on the big ice sheet, angles are going to be very important. As a team we can’t pull ourselves out of position and allow Colorado to take advantage of our mistakes. Colorado is a transition team so we need to protect the middle of the ice and limit our mistakes. I’m going to take it game by game, work hard every shift and not think too far ahead.

MCH: What are you and the team going to miss with the current senior class leaving? What will the team gain with the incoming freshman class?

JS: With our graduating seniors we will be missing some key roles. Mike Batovanja is the heart and soul of our team, it’s hard to find a player with his leadership qualities and effort that he brings to the rink every day. Lars Helminen is one of the most skilled defensemen in our league and his presence on the back end will be missed as well. Tyler Skworchinski has taken on a large leadership role this year and his in your face style of play is going to be missed at the center position as he is also one of our top face off men.

With what I know of the incoming freshman class they are very highly touted and are going to bring a great amount of skill to our team both on offense and defense. This is going to create a healthy level of competition throughout our team.

MCH: What types of conditioning do you do in the off season?

JS: During the off-season we do a mix of weights and dynamics. Monday through Friday we have two days where we concentrate on upper body, another two where we concentrate on lower body, and one day where it is strictly quick feet and plyometric exercises. I try to make gains in my speed, strength, and size without compromising too much in one area. To do this I try to keep and even amount of time necessary for all areas along with a healthy diet. I also get on the ice at least 3 – 4 times a week, then gradually get more intense as the summer comes to an end in preparation for the coming season.

Hensick, Santorelli finalists for CCHA's best

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced the top three finalists for six of the major individual awards that will be presented on Thursday, March 15 at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit.

Michigan senior forward T.J. Hensick, Northern Michigan junior forward Mike Santorelli and Notre Dame senior goaltender David Brown are the three finalists for the RBC Finanical Group CCHA Player of the Year award. Hensick, who was a finalist for the award in 2005, leads the CCHA in conference and overall scoring while placing second in the nation with 56 points in 36 games. The Colorado Avalanche draft pick also leads the NCAA in assists with 39. Santorelli finished the regular season as the CCHA leader in goals with 23 in 28 conference games, including a league-best nine scores on the power play. The Nashville Predators draft pick ranks second among NCAA skaters with 29 goals in 38 games. Brown leads the nation with a 1.68 goals-against average in 33 games and placed second in the CCHA with a .922 save percentage in 28 conference contests. The Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick recorded 25 wins and five shutouts this season, which were both Irish school records. In 2004, Brown and Hensick were both finalists for the CCHA Rookie of the Year award, which Hensick won.

Coach of the Year finalists include Michigan’s Red Berenson, Notre Dame’s Jeff Jackson and Western Michigan’s Jim Culhane. Berenson became only the eighth coach in college hockey history to record 600 career wins this season while leading the Wolverines to a 23-12-1 record. Jackson oversaw an Irish team that won 14 more games than last season and is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation. Culhane led Western Michigan, picked to finish last in the 2006-07 CCHA preseason media and coaches polls, to a 14-13-1 record and a sixth-place finish in the conference standings.

Freshmen played key roles in the success enjoyed by Notre Dame and Western Michigan. Forwards Ryan Thang of the Irish and Mark Letestu of the Broncos, along with forward Jarod Palmer of Miami, are finalists for the CCHA Rookie of the Year award. Letestu and Thang finished first and second in conference rookie scoring, with Letestu tallying 18 goals and 16 assists and Thang registering 11 goals and 14 assists in 28 games. Palmer finished fourth with nine goals and 13 assists.

Lake Superior junior Derek A. Smith, Michigan sophomore Jack Johnson and Ohio State senior Sean Collins were named as finalists for the CCHA Offensive Defenseman of the Year award. Smith recorded a career-best 26 points in 39 games this season, including 16 in 28 conference contests. Johnson, a 2005-06 finalist for this award, led all CCHA defensemen in conference scoring with 25 points in 25 games and in overall scoring with 31 points in 31 games. Collins places second in the conference in overall scoring with 28 points in 37 games.

Collins is also nominated for the CCHA Defensive Defenseman of Year award, along with Michigan senior Matt Hunwick and Notre Dame junior defenseman Brock Sheahan. Hunwick’s plus-14 in 28 conference games places him in a tie for sixth among CCHA skaters, while Sheahan helped anchor an Irish defense that posted a conference-leading .919 penalty kill average and a 1.82 goals-against average.

CCHA Defensive Forward of the Year nominees include Miami junior Nathan Davis, Michigan senior David Rohlfs and Western Michigan sophomore Jeff LoVecchio. Davis spearheaded a Miami penalty kill that ranked second in the conference with a .899 efficiency. Rohlfs finished second in the conference with a plus-18 in 28 conference games, while LoVecchio placed fourth with a plus-15.

Keserich gives nod to Northern Michigan

The Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League announced Thursday that goaltender Ian Keserich has committed to play his college hockey at Northern Michigan University.

Keserich, who came to the Storm this season after two years at Ohio State University, will join Northern Michigan beginning next fall. Keserich has appeared in 32 games this season and has recorded a 16-10-4 record, a 2.55 goals-against average and a save percentage of .903.

With the Wildcats, Keserich will be teammates with current Storm captain Mario Lamoureux.

Keserich is the 14th Storm player to earn a Division I scholarship this season.

Adams adds to WSU blueline corps

Second-year Fargo-Moorhead Jets defenseman Ryan Adams has committed to Wayne State University for next season.

"I'm thrilled to know I have a place to play college hockey and reaching the Division I level is a fulfillment of my goal coming to play with the FM Jets," said Adams, a native of Deloraine, Manitoba.

In 51 games, Adams has 39 points, including 10 goals, and is second among defensemen in scoring in the North American Hockey League.

Michigan Tech ready for CC, WCHA playoffs

Michigan Tech heads west to take on Colorado College in a best-of-three series with the Tigers. The Huskies' task is very difficult as they have never beaten CC at their new arena. In fact, the last game the Tigers played at their old rink was the last time the Huskies won, in the 1994 playoffs.

Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell said, "We have a quiet confidence about ourselves. We feel that we can beat any team in the country on any given night, in any arena."

The Huskies will need that confidence if it is to do what it hasn't done since the 1994-95 season and that's advance to the WCHA final five.

Looking back at the season, MTU has had one of its best in a long time. The team is ranked in the top ten in scoring defense and in penalty killing. They have finished above .500 for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Tech has played the best at home this season, going undefeated in 2007. Tech has also played their best against the best, posting a 14-8-3 record against teams ranked in the top 20.

Also on the line in the series is a possible bid for the NCAA tournament. Both teams are sitting around the 16 rank in the PairWise (ranking system used to determine the 16 team field in NCAA tournament). A series win will most likely put that team into the NCAA tournament.

The other WCHA pairings for the first round of the playoffs are:

(10) Alaska-Anchorage vs. (1) Minnesota
(9) Minnesota-Duluth vs. (2) St. Cloud State
(8) Minnesota State vs. (3) North Dakota
(7) Wisconsin vs. (4) Denver
(6) Michigan Tech vs. (5) Colorado College

Three Wolverines on CCHA First Team

Michigan senior forward T.J. Hensick and Nebraska-Omaha senior forward Scott Parse (Portage) were both named to their third Central Collegiate Hockey Association First Team All-Conference squad, making them the seventh and eighth players in conference history to earn such recognition. Hensick also became the third CCHA player and first forward to earn either First or Second Team honors in each of his four years in college, joining former St. Louis defenseman Kent Jackson (1975-78) and former Bowling Green defenseman Ken Morrow (1976-79).

Parse, the 2005-06 CCHA Player of the Year, is the first forward to appear on the First Team in three consecutive seasons since former Michigan forward Brendan Morrison (1995-97).

Hensick (pictured), who led the CCHA in conference scoring with 42 points in 28 games, is joined by two Michigan teammates, sophomore defenseman Jack Johnson and senior defenseman Matt Hunwick, on the First Team. Johnson received 10 first-place votes, the most of any player on the ballot, while Hunwick made the CCHA First Team All-Conference squad for the first time after receving Second Team honors in his sophomore and junior years.

Northern Michigan junior forward Mike Santorelli, the CCHA’s leader in regular-season goals with 23, and Notre Dame senior goaltender David Brown, whose 25 wins set an Irish school record, were also selected to the First Team.

Both Miami and Lake Superior State have two representatives on the CCHA All-Conference Second Team. Junior forward Nathan Davis, who was fourth in conference scoring with 16-19-35, and classmate Ryan Jones, a member of the 2005-06 CCHA All-Conference Second Team, are joined by Lake Superior junior defenseman Derek A. Smith and senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis, the conference-leader in save percentage at .932. Completing the squad are Michigan junior forward Kevin Porter, second in the CCHA with 38 points in 28 conference games, and Ohio State senior defenseman Sean Collins, who is making his first appearance on an All-Conference team.

In addition to the 12 players chosen for the First and Second Team accolades, the next six-highest vote getters, regardless of position, received Honorable Mention recognition.

First Team
Forward, T.J. Hensick, SR, Michigan

Forward, Mike Santorelli, JR, Northern Michigan

Forward, Scott Parse, SR, Nebraska-Omaha

Defense, Jack Johnson, SO, Michigan

Defense, Matt Hunwick, SR, Michigan

Goaltender, David Brown, SR, Notre Dame

Second Team
Forward, Nathan Davis, JR, Miami

Forward, Kevin Porter, JR, Michigan

Forward, Ryan Jones, JR, Miami

Defense, Sean Collins, SR, Ohio State

Defense, Derek A. Smith, JR, Lake Superior State

Goaltender, Jeff Jakaitis, SR, Lake Superior State

Honorable Mention (next six point totals, regardless of position with first team votes in parentheses): Alec Martinez, SO, D, Miami; Erik Condra, SO, F, Notre Dame; Kyle Greentree, JR, F, Alaska; Andrew Cogliano, SO, F, Michigan; Jeff Zatkoff, SO, G, Miami; Noah Babin, SR, D, Notre Dame.

Others receiving votes: Forwards — Mark Letestu, FR, Western Michigan; Paul Szczechura, SR, Western Michigan; Bryan Lerg, JR, Michigan State; Curtis Fraser, SR, Alaska; Jonathan Matsumoto, JR, Bowling Green; Justin Abdelkader, SO, Michigan State. Defense — Mitch Ganzak, JR, Miami; Kyle Lawson, FR, Notre Dame; Tyler Eckford, SO, Alaska; Ryan Mahrle, SR, Western Michigan; Jason DeSantis, JR, Ohio State; Juha Uotila, SO, Nebraska-Omaha; Darcy Campbell, JR, Alaska; Daniel Vukovic, JR, Michigan State. Goaltenders — Jeff Lerg, SO, Michigan State.

Photo (2006 CCHA Finals) by Matt Mackinder

Trio of Warriors named to All-Rookie Team

Three Wayne State men's hockey student-athletes have been named to the College Hockey America All-Rookie Team - forward Jared Katz, defenseman Jeff Caister and goaltender Brett Bothwell.

Katz, a unanimous selection to the squad by the league's head and assistant coaches, leads all CHA rookies with 11 goals and is second with 22 points. He has averaged a point per game over the last 17 games, as he tallied 16 of his 22 points in conference play. Katz ranks in the top 10 all-time among rookies at WSU in points, goals and assists.

Caister is second overall on the WSU squad with 14 assists and second among Warrior blueliners with 16 points. He also ranks fifth among CHA rookies in points and has totaled seven assists and eight points in conference play with a +4 plus/minus rating. Caister is fifth all-time at WSU in assists by a rookie and tenth in assists by a defenseman in a single season.

Bothwell, another unanimous selection to the team, has an overall record of 8-9-1 on the season, including a 5-5-1 mark in CHA games, and ranks third in the league in overall winning percentage (.472). He made 30 or more saves in five starts, including the first four of his collegiate career, and went unbeaten in his last three starts, all against league opponents. Bothwell set a school record for most saves in a period, totaling 25 in the first 20 minutes at Alabama-Huntsville on Oct. 21, and ranks in the top 10 in most single-season goaltending categories at Wayne State.

Bothwell photo by Mark Hicks/Westside Photo.

CCHA names scholar-athletes squad

Twelve outstanding student-athletes have been designated as their team's 2006-07 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be chosen from among the group of nominees with the winner announced at the 2007 CCHA Awards on Thursday, March 15.

2006-07 CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nominees (Michigan schools)

Eric Vesely, Sr., Forward, Ferris State, Surveying Engineer Technology
Jeff Jakaitis, Sr., Goaltender, Lake Superior State, Business
Tim Cook, Sr., Defenseman, Michigan, History
Jeff Lerg, So., Goaltender, Michigan State, Human Resources Management
Matt Maunu, Sr., Defenseman, Northern Michigan, Accounting/Financial Planning
Ryan Mahrle, Sr., Defenseman, Western Michigan, Finance

The faculty athletic representative at each school, in consultation with the head coach, selected the institution’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Each school’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year serves as the school’s nominee for CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Nominees must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 through the fall term of the selection year to receive the school’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. The CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year is selected by the 12 faculty representatives. Voting is based on a system that awards five points for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote and one point for a third-place vote.

Two Broncos named to CCHA rookie squad

The University of Notre Dame had three freshmen named to the 2006-07 Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie Team, while Western Michigan University had two players chosen and the University of Nebraska-Omaha had one.

The Irish become just the third CCHA team to have three or more players make the all-rookie team since freshmen were first recognized in 1989-90. Michigan has done it five times with a record four honorees in 1993-94 and Michigan State accomplished it once in 1989-90.

Determined by a vote of the conference head coaches, the team will be honored at the 2007 CCHA Awards on Thursday, March 15, at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.

2006-07 CCHA All-Rookie Team
Kevin Deeth, Forward, University of Notre Dame
Mark Letestu, Forward, Western Michigan University
Ryan Thang, Forward, University of Notre Dame
Eddie Del Grosso, Defenseman, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Kyle Lawson, Defenseman, University of Notre Dame (New Hudson)
Riley Gill, Goaltender, Western Michigan University

Mark Letestu, a 22-year-old forward from Elk Point, Alta., and Western Michigan University, led the CCHA in rookie scoring and tied for fifth among all skaters with 34 points in 28 conference games, including a tie for second place in goals with 18. Letestu also finished with five shorthanded markers, which led the nation.

Kyle Lawson, a 20-year-old defenseman from New Hudson and the University of Notre Dame, tied for 13th in conference scoring (3-11-14) among defensemen, despite missing two games while representing the U.S. in the World Junior Championships. Lawson, a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick, led the Irish defensemen with a plus-14 rating in conference games.

Riley Gill, a 22-year-old goaltender from Northfield, Minn., and Western Michigan University, posted a 10-5-1 record in conference games and placed third among netminders with a .656 winning percentage. Gill’s .908 save percentage placed him fifth in the conference.

Honorable mentions
Forward— Dion Knelsen, UA; Jarod Palmer, MIA; Nathan Perkovich, LSSU. Defense— Marc Bernier, UNO; Tyler Ludwig, WMU; Kyle Page (Wixom), BGSU; Michael Ratchuk, MSU; Chris Summers, UM. Goaltender— Jeremie Dupont, UNO; Joseph Palmer, OSU; Pat Inglis, LSSU

Michigan Tech finishes sixth in WCHA

Michigan Tech ended the season above .500 for the first time since the 1997-98 season by splitting with Minnesota over the weekend. They are also seeded sixth in the WCHA, the best finish since the '97-98 season, for the league tournament.

Friday night saw MTU lose a close game, 3-1. All the goals were scored in the second period, as Malcolm Gwilliam got the scoring started. From there, the Gophers put in three goals in eight minutes and never looked back.

Michael-Lee Teslak ended the game with 28 saves and earned a chance for redemption the following night.

MTU came back Saturday and grabbed a 5-4 win. MTU got out to a two-goal lead with Justin St. Louis (right) getting both goals, one a shorthanded one. UM got one by Teslak before the end of the first stanza.

In the second, the Huskies were able to move to a 5-1 lead, as St. Louis capped off the spectacular night with a third goal to get his first hat trick of his career. Tyler Shelast and Jimmy Kerr each added a goal to bring the lead to 5-1. The Gophers, however, netted two quick goals and the Huskies saw their lead slip away to 5-3 going into the third.

In the third, MTU held strong, killing off three penalties. It wasn't until inside the last minute that Minnesota got its fourthth goal as they beat Teslak with the extra attacker. Teslak made 26 saves and held them off the rest of the game to get his Huskies a much-needed two points.

After a split with then No. 4 Minnesota, MTU (16-15-5,11-12-5 WCHA) just missed home ice and will now travel to Colorado College for the first round.

The winner of this series will not only move on to the WCHA final five, but will most likely get the conference's fifth bid to the NCAA Tournament.

More to come this week about MTU and the WCHA playoffs.

LSSU advances, Broncos, Bulldogs ousted

Both Lake Superior State and Western Michigan took their first-round series to the deciding Game 3 yesterday, but only the Lakers advanced.

LSSU eliminated Ferris State, while the Broncos were derailed by Alaska.

The Lakers are off to face Miami in the CCHA quarterfinals this weekend.

WMU photo courtesy GS Photo

NMU defeats OSU, moves on in playoffs

Guided by an unfamiliar face, the Northern Michigan Wildcats shocked the Ohio State Buckeyes, two games to one, and advance to the second round of the CCHA Playoffs.

After starting NMU golatender Bill Zaniboni allowed three goals on 22 shots in the first 27:36 of Friday's game, he was pulled and replaced with freshman netminder Brian Stewart, who had played in just eight games all season.

The Wildcats lost 6-2 on Friday and Stewart (pictured) finished out the game by allowing three markers on 21 shots. NMU head coach Walt Kyle said that he didn't like Zaniboni's play on Friday and that he hadn't liked Zaniboni in the last Ohio State series. The decision had been made.

The goalie who was 1-2 on the season and had no collegiate postseason experience took the ice on Saturday night, as well.

"We have a saying we say in our locker room all the time," Kyle said. "If you want to be a big-time player, play in big-time games."

Stewart spent the next two nights being a big-time player.

In arguably the biggest games of his career, Stewart made one athletic save after another, robbing the Buckeyes time and time again. When all was said and done, Stewart had stopped 76 of 80 shots (.950%) between Saturday and Sunday and the Wildcats escaped Columbus with a first-round tournament victory.

"I think the biggest single thing ... is we changed goaltenders," Kyle said. "And that's no slight on Billy [Zaniboni]. We changed goalies and the kid was unbelievable. I mean, he was unbelievable."

Another player who showed his muscle in the playoffs, and much to the dismay of the Buckeye fans, was NMU forward Darin Olver.

After nearly being tossed from Friday night's game for throwing a knee, Olver came back on Saturday night and netted two goals early in the first to give NMU (15-22-2 overall, 10-17-1 CCHA) a 2-0 lead.

Then, leading 2-1 on Saturday, the Buckeyes (15-17-5, 12-12-4) were putting a lot of power-play pressure on Stewart. Olver netted an unlikely shorthanded goal and gave the Wildcats an important 3-1 lead.

"I thought he was phenomenal," Kyle said of Olver. "He was easily our best forward for the weekend, and his line was easily the best line."

The Wildcats have no time to bask in the glow of the first wins in Columbus since 1981. They must prepare once again to play in a hostile playoff atmosphere. Next weekend they will take on the Michigan Wolverines (23-12-1, 18-9-1) in Yost Ice Arena. In their only matchup of the season, the two teams split a pair of games in Ann Arbor.

The Buckeyes season officially ended with the loss on Sunday and they are left to wonder what could have been.

"The toughest part about today is saying goodbye to eight seniors," OSU head coach John Markell said. "I want to say 'thank you' to them for everything they've given us and how they represented Ohio StateUniversity. That's the most important thing right now, making sure that they know what they've given to Ohio State won't be forgotten and they'll forever be a part of our hockey program, and I'm very, very proud of them."

-Quotes via USCHO

Oakland captures ACHA D-I title

Oakland University moved up to Division I this year in the ACHA after a national title last season at the Division II level.

New year, same results.

The No. 10 Golden Grizzlies topped the No. 1-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, 5-1, Sunday behind four goals (two shorthanded) from senior Will McMahon.

"This championship is extra special," said OU head coach Sean Hogan. "Every team we played in this tournament has their own rink on campus. It just proves that all the bells and whistles don't always equate to success. Hard work, character and team work lead to success and we proved that here."

OU had beaten No. 3 Illinois, 3-2, in the semifinals Saturday for the right to play for the championship.

"We always knew that we had the heart to win the big games," Hogan said. "Now we are showing it on the ice."

Brent Cooper added an empty-net against PSU and goaltender Collin Chase made 46 saves.

"I thought we were playing really well and Penn State was having a tough time beating Chase in net," stated McMahon. "I thought if we could just get one we were going to be able to pop in a few more."

"We have done nothing but win here," senior forward Jordan Ingram said. "If you told me that first year, that in four years we would beat Penn State Univeristy for the D-I national title, I'd say you were crazy.

"But we did!"

Wayne State sweeps into playoffs

It might be safe to say that no one in the CHA wants to play Wayne State right now.

Over the weekend, the Warriors (12-20-2, 8-10-2 CHA) swept rival Robert Morris in Pittsburgh to close the year with a seven-game unbeaten streak.

The Warriors never trailed on Friday night as they blew out the Colonials, 5-2, at the Island Sports Center.

Nate Higgins (pictured) led the attack with a pair of goals and assists while Will Hooper stopped 30 of 32 shots in net for WSU.

Tylor Michel, Jon Grabarek and Ryan Bernardi also scored for the Green and Gold.

WSU outshot RMU, 40-32, and finished the night 1-for-8 on the power-play. The Warriors also successfully killed off all three Colonial power plays they faced.

Saturday night was more of the same as the Warriors came away with a 5-4 victory.

Junior Stavros Paskaris powered the Warriors in game two with a pair of markers.

Higgins opened the game with his team high 13th goal of the season.

Michel scored a power play tally in the second and Jared Katz closed the contest with game winner at 3:30 of the third period.

Brett Bothwell got the start in net and stopped 30 of 34 shots.

RMU out-gunned WSU, 34-28.

Wayne finished the night 2-for-4 with the man advantage. Robert Morris was held to a 1-for-5 power play attack.

After starting the season 1-7 in conference play, the Warriors are 7-3-2 in their last 12 conference games.

The Warriors will head into the CHA Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, as the fourth seed and will take on the fifth-seeded Alabama-Huntsville Chargers on Friday night.

Wayne State and UAH split their four game regular season series.

The winner of Friday's game will advance to tangle with the top-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles, the CHA's regular-season champs, in Saturday’s second semifinal game.

Finlandia crowned MCHA champs Sunday

With just 51 seconds to play, Ryan Sullivan scored his second goal of the game to give the Finlandia Lions the MCHA Harris Cup title Sunday afternoon in Hancock over the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

"Wow, this is unbelievable, the feeling is just incredible," Finlandia head coach Joe Burcar said. "I am extremely happy for the players. They have paid their dues and are deserving of this. This is why you play the game."

The Lions were down 2-0 in the first period and saw MSOE tie the game at 3-3 with about six minutes to play, but emerged victorious in front of a packed house at the Houghton County Arena.

"We just kept battling," Burcar said. "This was two great teams on the ice. There were lots of ups and downs, but we kept pushing until we found a way."

Finlandia held a 3-2 lead when Keith Johnstone scored on a power play 11:06 into the third. MSOE never gave up, getting the equalizer when RG Flath scored his second of the day with 6:01 to play to knot the score at 3-3.

Just when everyone was thinking overtime, Sullivan gave his team the lead with a shot from just inside the blue line over the shoulder of the Raider keeper.

Josh Paquette tied the game at 2-2 in the middle of the second period, burying an unassisted goal after a turnover.

Sullivan's heroics earned him MCHA Tournament MVP honors, and he was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Joe Beaudry and Marc Marcotte. MSOE's Jason Woll and Blair Hanberg and Lawrence 's Billy Siers and Andrew Isaac rounded out the squad.

Finlandia beats Marian, off to MCHA finals

Finlandia skunked Marian, 6-3, yesterday in an MCHA semifinal game and will face the Milwaukee School of Engineering in this afternoon's MCHA championship game.

The Lions got goals from six different skaters - Jason Aldrich, Marc Marcotte, Ryan Sullivan, Joe Beaudry, Joe Welgos and Mike Parks - and goaltender Lukas Alberer made 20 saves in the win in front of 300 fans at the Houghton County Arena.

Sullivan also added two assists.

FU split with MSOE two weekends ago at home. The two schools finished 1-2 in the MCHA standings this year with Finlandia coming in second place.

Game time today is 3:00 p.m.