Hensick to make NHL debut Friday

The Colorado Avalanche announced today that it has recalled center T.J. Hensick from the Lake Erie Monsters, the team’s American Hockey League affiliate. He will be available to play tomorrow night when the Avalanche meets the San Jose Sharks.

Hensick, 21, leads Lake Erie in scoring this season with 13 points (5g/8a) in 18 games, including a seven-game scoring streak from November 10-23 (3g/6a).

After being drafted by the Avalanche in the third round (88th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft, Hensick registered 69 points (23g/46a) in 41 games during his remarkable senior season at Michigan last year, earning him the Central Collegiate Hockey Association scoring title. In addition to being a Hobey Baker Award finalist, Hensick was also a consensus first-team All-American.

He led the country in assists, assists-per-game (1.12) and points per game (1.68) in his final campaign with the Wolverines.

Hensick's four-year teammate with the Wolverines, defenseman Matt Hunwick, made his NHL debut earlier this season with the Boston Bruins, as did former teammates Mike Brown with the Vancouver Canucks and forward Andrew Cogliano with the Edmonton Oilers.

40 Years Ago Today...

Nov. 29, 1967: Adding two quality performers to their expansion roster in exchange for two veterans who don't figure in their plans, the St. Louis Blues acquire center Red Berenson and defenseman Barclay Plager from the New York Rangers for Ron Stewart and Ron Attwell.

Stewart's best days are long gone and Attwell will play exactly four games for the Rangers, but Berenson and Plager will become two of the mainstays of the St. Louis club.

Berenson, nicknamed the "Red Baron," will score 172 goals in eight seasons with the Blues, separated by a stint with Detroit.

Plager steps right into the defensive leadership as the Blues advance to three straight Stanley Cup finals (1968-1970).

MTU signs six for '08-09 and '09-10

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan Tech signed a half dozen players during the early signing period that concluded last week.

Forwards Seth Soley (Omaha Lancers/United States Hockey League), Brett Olson (Waterloo Black Hawks/USHL), Bryce Reddick (Cowichan Valley Capitals/British Columbia Hockey League), Evan Witt (Vernon Vipers/BCHL) and Jacob Johnstone (Green Bay Gamblers/USHL) and defenseman Ricky Doriott (Sioux City Musketeers/USHL) have all signed their letters of intent.

All will play for the Huskies next year, except for Witt and Johnstone, who will join the 2009-2010 class that includes Anthony Schooley, a forward with Waterloo.

The 2008-2009 class also includes forwards Jake Hauswirth (Omaha) and Alex Macleod (Penticton Vees/BCHL).

For more info on MTU’s newest recruits, click here.

Florek headlines '08-09 NMU freshmen

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Northern Michigan University has signed four players who will skate for the Wildcats starting next season.

Joining the program will be three forwards and a defenseman.

The forwards are Andrew Cherniwchan, Justin Florek and Tyler Gron with Cory Pritz the lone defenseman.

“I can tell you I am extremely pleased,” said NMU head coach Walt Kyle. “It takes a lot of work to get these guys. In my opinion, these are some real top-end players.”

Florek is perhaps the biggest recruit in many years for the Wildcats as the Marquette native is in his second year with the United States National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor .

He was ranked in the NHL’s Central Scouting early list with an ‘A’ ranking. The ranking identifies a player who is predicted to be a potential first- or second-round draft selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

“Justin is a guy that has enormous potential,” Kyle said. “He is a guy who cares about Northern hockey and being part of this program. I expect huge things from him.”

Cherniwchan (Drayton Valley Thunder/Alberta Junior Hockey League), Gron (Fort McMurray Oil Barons/AJHL) and Pritz (Westside Warriors/British Columbia Hockey League) are all from western Canada.

For more, click here for the official NMU release.

MiCHO Power Poll 11.28.2007

So what else is new? Another week and another pair of wins from the Michigan Wolverines has the Maize and Blue on the pinnacle of the MiCHO Power Poll for the seventh week in a row.

The nationally second-ranked Wolverines swept the College Hockey Showcase for the first time since 2002 and the fifth time in the tournament’s 15-year history.

Michigan received a bit of a scare on Friday night before holding off the Wisconsin Badgers, 3-2, at Yost. Saturday the Wolverines breezed to a 5-1 victory over the stumbling Minnesota Golden Gophers. Senior Chad Kolarik enjoyed the Showcase maybe more than anyone, racking up 3 goals and 3 assists in two games.

Michigan State's winless streak reached four games as the Spartans tied the Gophers 3-3 on Friday and knotted up the Badgers 4-4 on Saturday at Munn.

Elsewhere, Northern Michigan swept rival Lake Superior in an “Up North” home-and home series, Western Michigan split with Ohio State at the Lawson Arena, and Wayne State went on the road and grabbed 3 of 4 points from St. Lawrence.

Complete Poll

1) Michigan, 13-1-0 (beat #13 Wisc. and #14 Minn.)
2) Michigan State, 8-3-2 (tied #14 Minn. and #13 Wisc. )
3) Michigan Tech, 5-6-1 (idle)
4) Ferris State, 5-6-1 (idle)
5) Northern Michigan, 5-9-0 (swept LSSU)
6) Western Michigan,4-8-0 (split w/ OSU)
7) Wayne State, 3-7-2 (took 3 pts. at SLU)
8) Lake Superior, 2-9-1 (swept by NMU)

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 . (National rankings and rankings in parenthesis reflect the USCHO/CSTV Division I Men's Poll)

NMU sweeps Lakers in home-and-home

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Northern Michigan swept Lake Superior State in a home-and-home set last weekend.

Friday, Northern Michigan extended its conference-leading short-handed goals total to six on Matt Siddall's game-winner in the second period at Lakeview Arena.

Siddall's goal gave NMU a 3-2 lead at 13:18 of the second period. NMU went on to beat LSSU 4-2 in Game 1 of the Cappo Cup series.

Lake Superior State led twice in the first period. John Scrymgeour scored at 10:02 to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead, but NMU points leader Nick Sirota tied it with a power-play goal at 11:31. LSSU regained the one-goal lead on Dan Eves' power-play goal at 13:18 of the opening period.

Mark Olver and Siddall scored in the second period for NMU and Gregor Hanson rounded out the scoring at 13:42 of the third period.

LSSU goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson totaled 17 saves, while NMU's Reid Ellingson stopped 26.

Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena, Northern Michigan scored two goals during a 1:38 span in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and beat Lake Superior State, 3-1.

The Laker line of Eves, Rick Schofield and Zac MacVoy extended its goal-scoring streak to four games when Eves tallied LSSU's only goal during a power play at 5:27 of the first period.

Olver tied the game 1-1 with a power-play goal at 19:08 of the first period. Hanson scored what proved to be the game-winner at 9:31 of the third period and Olver added his second goal of the game at 11:08.

Ellingson finished with 19 saves and Mahoney-Wilson had 21 stops.

Northern Michigan (5-9-0, 4-8-0 CCHA) travels to Alaska this weekend, while LSSU (2-9-1, 0-6-0 CCHA) hosts Michigan State.

Wayne State women split at Colgate

By Susannah Nichols/ WSU Women’s Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors secured a 4-2 triumph over Colgate last Friday night, but suffered a 7-3 loss on Saturday.

The Warriors started Friday’s game down 2-0, but got on the board by capitalizing on a 5-on-3 power play. Sam Poyton and Lindsay DiPietro (pictured right) set up blueliner Tina Vanderhoeven for her second goal of the season.

Poyton followed with the tying goal at the end of the second period, and the go-ahead goal at the start of the third. DiPietro assisted on both of Poyton’s goals. Ashley King and Christine Jefferson also contributed assists on individual goals. Janet Babchishin rounded out the Warriors’ scoring with some help from King and Emily Berzins.

Senior goalie Tiffany Thompson earned her fifth consecutive win with 35 saves.

Thompson also started in Saturday’s contest, but was replaced by Valery Turcotte after Colgate amassed a 4-0 lead.

King got the Warriors on the board with a power-play goal assisted by Adriana Pfeffer and Chelsea Burnett. Pfeffer notched her first goal of the season, and Poyton scored to bring the Warriors within 6-3, but their efforts were not enough. Colgate added an empty-net goal to seal the final 7-3 score.

Poyton’s performance was a bright spot in the Warriors’ loss as her goal allowed her to extend her point streak to 12 games, breaking the school record of 11, set by Poyton herself last season.

Becky Sonn, Amanda Hungle, Tina Vanderhoeven and Jenny Cameron added assists in Saturday’s game.

The Warriors’ record now stands at 8-5-1. The team is idle until the New Year when they face Minnesota on January 5-6.

MSU knots Gophers and Badgers

By Matt Mackinder / Michigan State Beat Writer

The Michigan State Spartans had to settle for two ties last weekend on home ice during the College Hockey Showcase against Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Tim Kennedy netted a shorthanded goal with 7:19 left in the game to even the score and force a 3-3 tie with Minnesota on Friday night.

“I thought the kids reacted well and they worked very hard,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said. “We had a lot of good scoring chances, as did they, but I thought it was a good game. They are a good team, minus a few really good players. They get up the ice quick, but I thought we got even better as the game went on.”

Andrew Rowe and Chris Mueller scored the other goals for MSU and Jeff Lerg made 19 saves.

Saturday night, senior captain Bryan Lerg and Matt Schepke scored two goals apiece and Chris Mueller and Dustin Gazley recorded two assists each as Michigan tied Wisconsin, 4-4, after having a 4-2 third-period advantage.

“You're up 4-2 with ten minutes to go and when you don't get it done, it's pretty frustrating,” Bryan Lerg said. “We had a really good first two periods, and then the third period. I think we registered maybe four shots and that is something we can't have. We have to have the third period be our best period.”

Jeff Lerg stopped 33 for the Spartans.

Michigan State (8-3-2, 4-2-0 CCHA) heads to Lake Superior State this weekend.

Wolverines take both at Showcase

By Matt Mackinder / Michigan Beat Writer

Michigan is now on a 12-game winning streak after winning both games of the College Hockey Showcase last weekend at Yost Ice Arena against Wisconsin and Minnesota from the WCHA.

Friday night, Michigan beat Wisconsin, 3-2. Chad Kolarik scored shorthanded in the first period, senior captain Kevin Porter and Max Pacioretty found the back of the net, both on the power-play, in the middle frame. Kolarik assisted on both tallies.

The Badgers threatened late in the third period with goals 18 seconds apart.

"It was a game where the momentum really changed late in the game,” said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. “I thought the third period wasn’t going anywhere, and then we had a couple of shifts where we had three or four point-blank chances and the puck didn’t go in. Then we had a couple of penalties and all of a sudden we're on our heels. The puck went in for them and they got a life. Then they got a second goal, when we made one bad mistake, and it was a new game. We did a lot of good things in the game, but we didn’t finish them off in the third period and I can't remember the last time we lost a third period like that."

Billy Sauer stopped 24 shots for the Wolverines.

Porter tallied four points (two goals, two assists) and now has a nation-best 16 goals on the year and Kolarik had his second straight three-point contest to lead Michigan to a 5-1 victory over Minnesota Saturday night.

"I think it was just one of those nights where we were clicking,” Porter said. “We were finding each other and things just happened to go our way. We got a couple lucky bounces and it worked out."

Kolarik scored the first two goals of the game and Porter added a third before Minnesota could respond.

Ben Winnett chipped in a third-period goal for the Wolverines and Sauer stopped 26 shots en route to his 13th win.

Michigan (12-1-0, 8-0-0 CCHA) suffered its lone loss of the season to the Gophers on Oct. 13 and swept the College Hockey Showcase for the first time since 2002 and the fifth time in the tournament’s 15-year history.

Broncos split series with Ohio State

By Tom Morelli/WMU Beat Writer

Western Michigan’s series with Ohio State University last weekend came with some good news and bad news.

On a positive note, the Broncos put on an offensive clinic to their counterparts in Friday’s game, as forwards Jeff LoVecchio and Patrick Galivan frequented the stat column. The 4-2 win by Western Michigan was their first conference win since beating Northern Michigan back on November 9th by the same score.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, momentum from the previous game had disappeared, as they were blanked by the Buckeyes, 3-0 on Saturday night.

LoVecchio’s leadership pulled through in the first game, as he was involved in every goal for Western Michigan.

Senior winger Mike Lesperance notched his second goal of the season with five minutes remaining in the opening period. LoVecchio (pictured left) and defenseman Nathan Ansell were credited with the assists.

The offense would settle down through most of the second period, until Galivan took a pass from LoVecchio and Max Campbell, blasting the puck past Buckeyes goalie Joseph Palmer at the 16:18 mark.

Not to be outdone, Ohio State mounted their comeback, thanks to a Tommy Goebel goal on the power play with eight seconds remaining in the middle stanza.

What appeared to be a sure lead for the Broncos vanished less than three minutes into the final period, as John Albert scored a game-tying goal by outmaneuvering goaltender Riley Gill.

Both teams continued to attack each other relentlessly, matching every move like a human game of chess. Galivan (pictured right) broke the stalemate at 15:54 by feeding the puck to LoVecchio, en route to his 12th assist of the season.

The Buckeyes pulled Palmer with under a minute remaining, but LoVecchio made them suffer the consequences for it, scoring an empty-netter with 18 seconds left in regulation for his fourth point of the night.

For Galivan, this was his fifth multi-point game of the 2007-2008 season, and now has a team-best 14 points.

Gill was awarded his fourth win of the season, denying 22 of 24 shots.

Ohio State refused to let Western Michigan earn the weekend sweep in the following contest, putting points on the board early. With 2:46 elapsed in the first period, Brad Gorham chipped the puck past Gill, which remained the only score for nearly another 40 minutes.

The Buckeyes added an insurance goal with a minute gone by in the third period, as Mathieu Picard earned his second lamp-lighter of the year.

Kyle Reed put an end to any hope for a Broncos comeback at the 14:22 mark, giving Ohio State a three-goal cushion and a shutout for Palmer.

Gill fell to 4-6-0 as a starter, stopping 26 shots on net.

The weekend split moves the Broncos to a 4-8-0 overall record (2-6-0 CCHA), with a chance for improvement against Ferris State University next weekend.

Western Michigan will travel to Big Rapids, Michigan on Friday November 30th, and then host the Bulldogs at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo the following night.

WSU beats up St. Lawrence

By Tom Balog / WSU Beat Writer

Wayne State fans received their best Thanksgiving present in recent years as the Warriors went into St. Lawrence over the weekend and nabbed three of four points from the Saints.

Jordan Inglis’ first collegiate goal was the game winner on Friday night as the Warriors squeaked out a 3-2 victory at the Appleton Arena.

Captain Mike Forgie and Tyler Ruel also scored as WSU (3-7-2, 1-3-0 CHA) recorded their first road win of the season.

Wayne State was outgunned 44-17 in the shot department, but Brett Bothwell turned aside 42 shots and picked up his second straight win between the pipes.

Blueliner Jeff Caister also helped out the winning effort with a career-high 3 assists.

Wayne State was heavily outnumbered in shots again on Saturday, but fought out a tough 2-2 tie.

Down 2-0 midway through the third period, WSU got goals from Matt Krug and Stavros Paskaris less than two minutes apart to tie the score.

Kyle Funkenhauser notched 37 saves in net to preserve the tie.

Since starting the season with an 0-6-1 record, the Warriors have gone 3-1-1 in their last five contests.

The Warriors will return to action this weekend with a home-and-home series against the Bowling Green Falcons. The series will begin on Friday night at the Coliseum in Detroit before heading down I-75 for Saturday's finale at Bowling Green.

ICE CHIPS…

-- Jeff Caister picked up four assists during the weekend against SLU. The sophomore defenseman leads the team with 9 assists and 10 points in 12 games.

-- Wayne State head coach Bill Wilkinson was awarded a St. Lawrence jersey with his name on the back prior to Saturday’s game with the Saints. Wilkinson was a two-way player at center and defense and led the 1967-68 Saints squad in scoring (15-21--36). He also was named team MVP and was awarded the Brian P. Doyle Memorial Trophy as team captain in 1969-70.

-- After Friday’s game against the Falcons, the Warriors will head out on a 9-game road trip which includes stops at Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Niagara, Minnesota, and Northern Michigan.