Cold War, Part II

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

More than six years after the historic Cold War between Michigan and Michigan State at Spartan Stadium, word has leaked out that a rematch may be in the works.

David Goricki reported in today’s Detroit News that the Wolverines and Spartans may meet again for Cold War II next December at Ford Field in Detroit.

The game could be part of a doubleheader with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs and used a warm up to the Frozen Four that’s coming to Ford Field in 2010.

The Maize and Blue and Green and White set a world record when 74,554 fans packed into Spartan Stadium for the first Cold War on Oct. 6, 2001.

"(The Ford Field game is) still in the planning stages, but we've been contacted, and we definitely have interest in playing the game," said Spartans head coach Rick Comley in the News article.

MiCHO Power Poll 12.12.2007

The Michigan Wolverines swept Bowling Green last weekend in a home-and-home series and are yet again are on top of the MiCHO Power Poll.

Kevin Porter scored two more goals for the Wolverines and leads the nation in goals and in overall scoring with 18 goals and 29 points.

Michigan State got a four-goal weekend from Tim Crowder in their sweep of Ferris State in another home-and-home set.

The Michigan Tech Huskies were idle, but continue to hold down the No. 3 spot in the Power Poll.

The remaining spots in the poll remain unchanged.

Complete Poll

1) Michigan, 16-2-0 (swept BGSU)
2) Michigan State, 12-3-2 (swept FSU)
3) Michigan Tech, 6-7-1 (idle)
4) Ferris State, 7-8-1 (swept by MSU)
5) Northern Michigan, 6-10-0 (idle)
6) Western Michigan, 6-10-0 (swept WSU)
7) Wayne State, 3-11-2 (swept by WMU)
8) Lake Superior State, 2-11-3 (tied UNO twice)

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

Michigan State brooms Ferris State

By Matt Mackinder / Michigan State Beat Writer

Michigan State swept right through Ferris State over the weekend in a home-and-home series that began Friday night in Big Rapids.

Tim Crowder scored two goals in the third period, including the game-winner on the power play, to drive the Spartans past the Bulldogs, 4-3.

Jeff Lerg stopped 37 shots to get the victory and Justin Abdelkader and Nick Sucharski also scored for MSU.

Corey Couturier, Scott Wietecha and Aaron Lewicki notched markers for FSU, who got a 34-save outing from Mitch O’Keefe.

Saturday night in East Lansing, Crowder scored two goals for the second consecutive night to lead Michigan State to a 4-1 win over the Bulldogs.

Chris Mueller and Corey Tropp added goals for the Spartans to back Lerg’s 26 saves.

Blair Riley scored Ferris’ only goal and Pat Nagle stopped 26 shots in net.

“I thought our kids played really well,” Ferris State coach Bob Daniels said to USCHO. “I do think that (Michigan State is) ahead of us right now. At this point of the year, they’re a better team than we are. That’s not to take anything away from us or from our kids. It’s just to say that if we have high aspirations, we’ve got to improve right now. They’re a cut above us.”

MSU head coach Rick Comley commented on what he’s liked about the Spartans through the first half of the season and what to look forward to in the second half.

“I think it's been a great first half,” Comley said. “If we could have split against Miami, then you'd be really happy with it. I knew that there were going to be some mental things. I think, actually, that we'll be a better team in the second half. Coming off of what we came off [being defending champions], there's just pressure every night being expected to win. If you cut the season in half, I think it's easier mentally. I like the fact that we're chasing people a little bit right now.

“I'm looking forward to the break, but I'm looking forward to the second half as well.”

The Spartans (12-3-2 , 8-2-0 CCHA) will be on hiatus until Dec. 28-29, when they participate in the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. MSU will take on Michigan Tech in the semifinals on Dec. 28 at 8:00 p.m. Michigan faces Providence in the early game.

Ferris State ( 7-8-1 , 6-6-0 CCHA) faces Brown on Dec. 28 at the UConn Hockey Classic in Storrs, Conn.

Lakers tie Mavericks twice

Lake Superior State ventured to Omaha last weekend and came away with two ties against Nebraska-Omaha.

Friday, defenseman Steven Kaunisto scored LSSU's lone goal on a shot from the slot at 5:21 of the second period during a Laker power play. Troy Schwab won a faceoff to set up the play and Josh Sim drew the other assist.

Pat Inglis made 36 saves for LSSU, who picked up their first CCHA point of the season.

Will Acton, Nathan Perkovich and Simon Gysbers scored in Saturday's 3-3 deadlock.

LSSU goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson totaled 33 saves, including 14 in the first period and 11 in the third.

The Lakers (2-11-3, 0-8-2 CCHA) are off until 2008 when they travel to Michigan State on Jan. 4-5.

WMU goalie wins CCHA Rookie of Week

Western Michigan freshman goaltender Jerry Kuhn was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Week for his performance in a two-game sweep of Wayne State last weekend. The Southgate native is the first Bronco this season to win one of the league’s weekly awards.

Kuhn stopped 48 of 51 shots he faced over the weekend and collected his first collegiate victory in a 5-2 win over the Warriors on Friday night with 24 saves. He followed that with another 24-save performance en route to a 5-1 victory Saturday, completing the weekend sweep in his first career games at Lawson Arena.

Thus far in his rookie campaign, he’s started three of the four games in which he’s played and compiled a record of 2-2-0 with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

Credit: WMU Athletics press release

Broncos better Warriors in sweep

By Tom Morelli/WMU Beat Writer

Western Michigan University’s sweep against Wayne State University was their first since the Broncos’ pair of victories against Bentley College to begin the 2007-2008 season.

Perhaps Western Michigan had a relapse to the beginning of the season, because the Broncos had a five-goal output on both nights, which was their highest since their season opener.

It took nearly 25 minutes in Friday night’s game before any scoring took place. Winger Matt Clackson ended the drought with his second goal of the season, with seniors Brian Bicek and Mike Lesperance helping out on the play.

Patrick Galivan joined into the scoring fray at 7:06, taking a pass from Max Campbell and Cam Watson to give Western Michigan a 2-0 lead.

The Warriors refused to rollover, as senior Tylor Michel took advantage of a Steve Silver charging penalty to put Wayne State on the board.

Despite the power-play ending a minute later, the Warriors still found a way to even-up the score, with Stavros Paskaris firing a shot past freshman goaltender Jerry Kuhn.

Assistant captain Tyler Ludwig gave the Broncos a 3-2 lead before the end of the period, scoring with the extra attacker at 16:42.

Bicek added an insurance goal six minutes into the final stanza, thanks to a set-up pass by Ludwig.

With the net empty, sophomore Chris Clackson banged one home with less than a minute remaining, giving Western Michigan their first win since Nov. 23 against Ohio State University.

In just his second start of the season, Kuhn notched his first collegiate win, stopping 24 of 26 shots. Brett Bothwell stopped 33 shots for the Warriors.

Saturday’s game was nearly déjà-vu for the Broncos, as their offense didn’t put any points on the board until the middle period.

Co-captain Jeff LoVecchio notched his fourth goal of the season at 4:17, as Matt Clackson garnered his third assist on the play.

Galivan added to the lead with a pair of goals, which were scored within two minutes of each other.

While Wayne State’s Ryan Bernardi sat in the penalty box, Ludwig scored his second power-play goal in as many nights, with Galivan and Jeff Pierce earning the helpers.

All hopes of a shutout for Kuhn came to a halt in the final period, as Paskaris fed Jared Katz the puck to put the Warriors on the board at the 2:47 mark.

With less than seven minutes remaining, Lesperance scored on the power-play, giving Western Michigan a 5-1 win.

Kuhn once again had 24 saves, and bumped his record between the pipes to 2-2-0. Kyle Funkenhauser totaled 17 saves for WSU.

The Broncos’ special teams units came through, converting on two of four power-play opportunities, and went a perfect 5-5 on the penalty kill.

Western Michigan improves to 6-10-0 overall and will face the United States World Junior Team next in an exhibition game on December 18. Wayne State (3-11-2) heads to CHA rival Niagara this weekend.

Michigan wins BGSU home-and-home

The Michigan Wolverines maybe didn't play their best hockey this past weekend, but still managed to sweep Bowling Green in a home-and-home series.

Friday night in northern Ohio, the Wolverines overcame a 2-1 deficit with three goals in the final five minutes of play to pick up a 4-2 win.

Matt Rust tied the game on a deflection with 4:21 remaining and Chris Summers -- playing his first game of the season at forward -- tipped in a rebound for the game-winner with 1:23 to play. U-M then added an empty-net goal from Chad Kolarik.

Billy Sauer made 27 saves for the 50th win of his career.

Captain Kevin Porter started the scoring late in the first period.

"I think we knew that we started out the game a little sloppy, a little slow, but I think we knew we were going to get our chances," Sauer said. "It was kind of like last Friday night's game against Ohio State where we were getting our chances but not burying them. We just knew that if we kept playing well we were going to get (shots) in."

Back home Saturday night, freshman Bryan Hogan made 20 saves for U-M to lead the Wolverines to a 3-2 victory and first place in the CCHA standings.

Rust, Porter and Brandon Naurato scored for Michigan, with Naurato's game-winner coming with six seconds left in the second period.

Hogan also took a shot at an empty net at the end of the game, but his shot rang off the post.

"I was just thinking about clearing the puck and the only lane I saw was down the middle," Hogan said. "Well, (honestly), yeah, I was thinking, 'Oh my God, I have a chance (to score) here.' But it is what it is. I will remember that for the rest of my life."

The Wolverines (16-2-0, 11-1-0 CCHA) are idle for three weeks before facing Providence on Dec. 28 at the Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena. The game will begin at 4:30 p.m. The following night, Michigan is scheduled to take on the either Michigan State or Michigan Tech.