Wolverines handle LSSU in first round

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan Beat Writer

Michigan is moving on in the CCHA Tournament after sweeping Lake Superior State this weekend at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor.

And the Wolverines did it without No. 1 goalie Bryan Hogan, still out nursing a lower-body injury. Shawn Hunwick won both games for Michigan and felt comfortable both nights.

"I think the more shots, the better my rhythm," Hunwick said. "There are points like (Friday) night where I only got five [shots] in a 10-minute span. That's not ideal. You want to stay as sharp as you can and mentally focused to stay in the game. I was communicating with the defense. They had good puck touches and I made some good saves."

Saturday night, Louie Caporusso tallied a hat trick and Jeff Rohrkemper scored his first collegiate goal for Michigan in a 6-0 shutout. Carl Hagelin added two goals to back Hunwick's 28-save outing.

"If you have momentum, your top scorers should be your best players," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "Your team should be playing like a team and you should be playing well defensively. I think we are getting all of that."

Brian Mahoney-Wilson and Pat Inglis combined for 40 saves in the LSSU net. Mahoney-Wilson started and made 28 through two periods, while Inglis mopped up and stopped all 12 in the third period.

In Friday night's opener, five different Wolverines - A.J. Treais, David Wohlberg, Matt Rust, Brian Lebler and captain Chris Summers - gave UM a 5-2 victory.

"We were surprised to see that three of their top players weren't dressed," Berenson said. "Later we found out that they have the flu. I guess that they have had some flu going around their team. That's unfortunate, but it's also unfortunate that Hogan is not playing as our starting goalie, so it is a trade-off. I thought that their team had the better of the play in the first seven or eight minutes of the first period. We were on our heels. Hunwick made some huge saves and I thought that was a turning point in the game and it kept us in the game. Overall, I thought our team got better as the game went on."

Hunwick finished with 21 saves, while Mahoney-Wilson stopped 38 for the Lakers.

Steven Kaunisto and Dillon Stonehouse scored for LSSU.

Lake Superior State ends the year 15-18-5.

The Wolverines (21-17-1) will continue into the quarterfinal round of the CCHA Tournament on the road next Friday against Michigan State.

"It's a rivalry," said Caporusso. "It's a big game and it's going to be fun hockey. The way we're playing now, we should be okay."

The best-of-three series will be played in East Lansing from Friday through Sunday with all three games starting at 7:05 p.m.

Broncos done, swept by Alaska

By Karl Henkel/Western Michigan Beat Writer

The Alaska Nanooks quickly squashed any chance for a postseason Cinderella run by Western Michigan as the Nanooks swept the Broncos over the weekend in the opening round of the CCHA Tournament.

Alaska won both games by scores of 4-0 and 4-1.

In the opener, Alaska got on the board with two first-period goals and added one goal each in the final two periods.

Special teams didn’t play a factor in the game as all four goals came at even strength.

Alaska was 0-for-3 on the power play, while Western Michigan was 0-for-2.

WMU’s Riley Gill stopped 40 shots, including 22 in the third period. Alaska’s Scott Greenham stopped all 16 shots the Broncos fired his direction.

The second game proved to be the dagger in Western Michigan’s season. Once again Alaska (18-9-9) scored two first-period goals, this time sandwiching Ryan Watson’s second goal of the season for the Broncos.

Two second-period goals, including a power-play goal from Dion Knelsen, capped the 4-1 victory.

Gill made 36 saves in his final game for Western Michigan. Greenham stopped 27.

The Broncos finish the season 8-20-8 and will look for a new coach for the 2010-11 season. Jim Culhane was relieved of his duties by the university in mid-February, though he coached the team the remainder of the season.

Alaska, the No. 5 seed, plays Northern Michigan in the next round.

MTU ends regular season, loses both

By Andy Bourdeau / MTU Beat Writer

Michigan Tech was swept again over the weekend and now have dropped their last seven going into the first round of the playoffs against WCHA and national No. 1 Denver Pioneers.

The North Dakota Fighting Sioux played the Huskies hard and swept them by 5-1 and 3-2 scores. MTU was able to get the first goal both nights, but could not take the momentum of the goals and turn it into a win.

Friday, MTU scored shorthanded in the first when the UND defense turned the puck over right next to the Sioux goal and Malcolm Gwilliam snuck a shot by the netminder. The second and third periods were dominated by UND.

Kevin Genoe played net and faced 48 shots, stopping 43 of them.

Saturday, MTU jumped to the lead again, getting power-play goals from Jordan Baker and Gwilliam. After the second goal, MTU held a 2-0 lead, but gave up a goal late in the second and then two during the first seven minutes of the third.

Josh Robinson played net and looked good, stopping 41 shots on the evening.

MTU lost senior defenseman Mike VanWagner and Anthony Schooley to injury on Friday night, and their playoff availability is in question. Saturday, Baker left with an injury and he, too, is in question for the upcoming weekend. Add Brett Olson, injured against Wisconsin, and MTU is down scoring power with the playoff weekend coming.

“I thought when North Dakota pressured and had sustained pressure, we were tired,” Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell said. “And with a short bench, we started making poor decisions and turning the puck over.”

MTU (5-28-1, 4-24-0 WCHA) now heads to Denver for the first round of the WCHA playoffs and the second time in four weeks and hopes for a little better results than the last time.

Eight straight: Mercyhurst wins CHA title

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

Make it eight years and eight CHA championships as the Mercyhurst Lakers escaped the City Sports Center in Detroit with a 3-1 win over the Syracuse Orange.

Converted Laker blueliner Ashley Cockell started the scoring at 15:44 of the first period with her 20th marker of the season.

The Lakers out shot the Orange 20-7 in the first period and 22-5 in the second period, but thanks to Orange netminder Lucy Schoedel, the score remained 1-0 going into the final frame.

Swiss Olympian Stephanie Marty gave the Orange something to cheer about at 5:11 of the third, scoring her 16th goal of the season on a 5-on-3 power play to tie the score at 1-all.

The Orange and Lakers traded power plays from there and with just 1:21 remaining, the record-setting Mercyhurst penalty killing unit increased their NCAA record by scoring their 22nd shorthanded marker of the year.

Mercyhurst took advantage of a Syracuse line change as Cassea Schols picked up a puck near center ice and quickly got it up to Cockell. Cockell went in one-on-one with Schoedel and slid the puck through the five-hole for the game winner.

Jesse Scanzano added a late empty-net goal for the top-tanked Lakers (29-2-3, 14-1-1 CHA), who will now await the seedings for the NCAA Tournament that will be announced Sunday night.

Schoedel was named to the CHA All-Tournament Team and finished with a career-high 48 saves.

Hillary Pattenden stopped 19 on the other end for MC.

Cockell was named tourney MVP, joining teammates Baily Bram, Scanzano and defenseman Melissa Lacroix on the All-Tournament Team.

Syracuse forward Lisa Mullan and blueline Gabrielle Beaudry rounded out the tournament team.

In just their second season, the Orange finished with an 18-17-1 overall record, including 8-8-0 in CHA conference play.

Photo courtesy Mercyhurst Athletics.

Mercyhurst-Syracuse CHA final set

by Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

After a blowout and and a squeaker, the teams are set for tomorrow's CHA championship game at the City Sports Center in Detroit.

Top-ranked Mercyhurst scored three first period goals and never looked back as they dropped Robert Morris, 7-1, in the first semifinal.

Bailey Bram led the Lakers with a pair of goals and two assists as Mercyhurst moved back into another CHA final.

Melissa Lacriox, Vicki Bendus, Kyleigh Palmer, Ashley Cockell and Jess Jones also scored for Mercyhurst.

In net, Hillary Pattenden started and stopped 12 shots for the win. She was relieved by freshman Stephaine Ciampa, who played the final 3:54 and turned away all three shots she faced.

Chelseas Walkland scored the lone goal for the Colonials, who were outshot 41-16 for the game.

Daneca Butterfield started in net for RMU, but took an early exit after giving up three goals on five shots. Kristin DiCiocco finished the final 55 minutes and stopped 32 blasts.

The late game was much closer as third seed Syracuse upended second seed Niagara, 5-3.

The Orange fought back from two one-goal deficits and took control with three straight goals in the second period.

Lisa Mullen grabbed first star honors with two goals for SU.

Swiss Olympian Stephine Marty, Janelle Malcolm and Isabel Menard also scored as the Orange won their first ever CHA Tournament contest.

Niagara opened the scoring in each period on goals by Jennifer MacLean, Mery McKinnon and Jenna Hendrikx.

Lucy Schoedel blocked 19 shots for SU for the victory, while on the other end, Jenni Bauer stopped 14.

Mercyhurst and Syracuse will meet back in Detroit on Saturday evening with a 5:00 p.m. faceoff for the title. The Lakers have won the past seven CHA championships.

Warriors fall in first round of CHAs

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

The Robert Morris Colonials won their first-ever CHA Tournament game with a 3-1 knockout of the Wayne State Warriors in their quarterfinal match-up at the City Sports Center on Thursday afternoon.

Brianna Delaney, Jennifer Kindret and Dayna Newsom scored first period goals and Daneca Butterfield stopped 14 of 15 shots for the Colonials (11-23-1).

"I thought we came out very prepared and energetic," said RMU head coach Nate Handrahan. "We got out to a quick lead that you need in the playoffs. I thought we weathered some storms in the second period, but still managed to get some chances and in the third period, we were very difficult to play against."

Alyssa Baldin picked up Wayne State’s lone marker, beating Butterfield on the glove side at 8:05 of the first period.

Delayne Brian started in net for Wayne State (9-18-4), but was relieved after giving up three goals on 12 shots. Lindsey Park played the final 42:46 of the game and was perfect in stopping all 13 shots she faced.

Robert Morris will move on to play top-seeded and top-ranked Mercyhurst in a semifinal match-up back in Detroit at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

Second-seeded Niagara will play third-seed Syracuse in the late game, slated to face off at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday’s championship game will face off at 5:00 p.m.

ICE CHIPS …

- Thursday’s loss the last game for WSU seniors Chelsea Burnett, Katrina Protopapas captain Christine Jefferson and Park.

- Baldin finished the season with a point in seven of the final eight games.

- RMU has won three of their last four games.

Four Warriors grab CHA awards

Wayne State Press Release

DETROIT - Four members of the Wayne State University women's hockey team claimed year-end awards at the annual College Hockey America banquet on Thursday evening at Ford Field.

Sophomore forward Veronique Laramee-Paquette and sophomore defenseman Jill Szandzik were each named to the All-GLIAC Second Team. Defenseman Jenaya Townsend was a CHA All-Rookie Team selection, and senior blueliner Christine Jefferson (pictured) was voted the league's Student-Athlete of the Year.

Laramee-Paquette totaled five goals - including three game-winners - and seven assists in the first 24 games before missing the last three weeks of the regular season with an injury. She posted back-to-back game-winning goals Oct. 23-24 at Colgate and a third Jan. 16 against Robert Morris. Seven of her 12 points during the season came in CHA contests.

A CHA All-Rookie selection in 2009, Szandzik came into Thursday's game in a tie for fourth among league defensemen with 12 points overall and five points in league play. She played in all 30 regular-season games and posted an even plus/minus rating.

Townsend, who scored her first collegiate goal Jan. 30 against Syracuse, had seven points during the regular season, tied for third among CHA rookie defensemen. She also plays an integral role on a WSU penalty-killing unit which came into the CHA Tournament operating at 90.7 percent in the last 10 games and 85.8 percent overall (13th-best in the country).

Jefferson, an elementary education major at WSU, maintains a 3.86 grade-point average. On the ice, the three-year captain (two year assistant, and captain in 2009-10) ranks in the top 10 all-time at WSU for goals, assists and points by a defenseman. She was named to the WSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (term gpa 3.5+) all seven semesters including four 4.00 terms and has been actively involved in numerous community service projects.

Laramee-Paquette, Szandzik and Jefferson are also three of a league-high 12 student-athletes from Wayne State named to the CHA All-Academic Team, along with Alyssa Baldin, Delayne Brian, Chelsea Burnett, Marlee Fisher, Micheline Frappier, Ciara Lee, Lindsey Park, Katrina Protopapas and Brittany Zeches.

Photo by Mark Hicks/WSU

Spartans hand out hardware Wednesday

Michigan State Press Release

The Michigan State hockey program handed out its team awards at the annual banquet on Wednesday evening at the Kellogg Center.

Junior alternate captain Corey Tropp was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, as well as capturing the team’s Outstanding Offensive Player Award, while senior co-captain Nick Sucharski was the only other multiple-award recipient. Sucharski was named the team’s Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award winner, and also received the Blue Line President’s Award, given to the top scholar-athlete in the senior class.

Tropp has been among the CCHA and national leaders in scoring all season. After the regular season, he is tied for 12th nationally in points (42), tied for 10th in goals (20), tied for 11th in power-play goals (9) and is tied for fifth in game-winning tallies (5). He twice earned CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors, and was both the CCHA and Hockey Commissioner’s Association Player of the Month for December. Tropp has a 20-22-42 scoring line headed into the playoffs and will appear in his 100th career game next Friday night in the CCHA quarterfinals.

A fifth-year senior, Sucharski was forced to take a medical redshirt for the 2008-09 season after succombing to a shoulder injury which required surgery. Sucharski’s return to the MSU lineup has helped bolster a young Spartan team and he has appeared in 159 career games in Green and White. Sucharski is an International Relations major enrolled in James Madison College.

First-year players Derek Grant and Torey Krug shared the team’s Outstanding Rookie Award honors. Grant has played on the Spartans’ top line all season and has an 11-18-29 scoring line to make him one of the top-scoring rookies in Rick Comley’s tenure at MSU. Krug is a top-pair defender who also runs MSU’s top power play unit. His three goals and 16 assists for 19 points makes him the league’s top-scoring rookie blueliner.

Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player honors went to co-captain Jeff Petry, who captures this team award for the third consecutive season. Paired with Krug on the Spartan blueline, he ranks fourth overall on the team in scoring and is one of the league’s top-scoring defensemen with four goals and 22 assists for 26 points.

Sophomore centerman Brett Perlini was voted the team’s Most Improved Player. Perlini, who had two goals and an assist as a freshman, dedicated his summer to improving his play at both ends of the ice. Once he cracked the MSU lineup in December, he hasn’t looked back and he has scored seven goals and added five assists in 18 games.

The Amo Bessone Award, which honors academic and athletic excellence in addition to community participation, went to sophomore Trevor Nill. Nill is a Mechanical Engineering major who boasts a 3.53 cumulative grade point average. He has also been involved in countless community outreach activities including Spartan Buddies, Shoot for a Cure, the holiday food drive, Max’s Race and Teams for Toys. Nill also serves as a vice president of the MSU chapter of Athletes in Action and is one of the two representitives from the hockey program on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The Goofus Award, given annually to the team humorist, was awarded to senior Jay Sprague. Sprague’s sense of humor was tested this season as he overcame not one, but two surgeries. He wasn’t cleared to play until the end of January, then made his season debut on Feb. 20 against Ferris State. He scored goals in his first two games back in the lineup.

The Spartan Fitness Award, which is based on pre-season fitness testing, went to sophomore blueliner Brock Shelgren.

Also awarded Wednesday night was the Distinguished Spartan Award, which went to former head coach Amo Bessone, who had a 28-year tenure behind the Michigan State bench. Bessone, who guided the Spartans to the 1966 national championship, coached 12 All-Americans and three Olympians during his tenure. Bessone passed away in January at the age of 93. A tribute to the former coach was provided by Tom Ross, MSU’s all-time leading scorer, and Ross accepted the award on behalf of the Bessone family.

Olver takes monthly CCHA honors

CCHA Press Release

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced this week that junior forward Mark Olver of Northern Michigan has been named the RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month for February. This is the second time Olver has earned the honor in his career.

Olver, a 22-year-old from Burnaby, Britsh Columbia, led the Wildcats to a 6-1-1 record in February while averaging 1.88 points per game. His efforts helped NMU improve its place in the league standings from 10th at the beginning of the month to fourth at the end of the regular season. Olver totalled 15 points in February, six goals and nine assists, to finish as the CCHA’s leading scorer in conference play (17-18-35) and overall (19-27-46). He tallied at least one point in all eight games and registered four multiple-point games.

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound junior was named CCHA Player of the Week on March 1 after a five-point weekend during a sweep of Lake Superior (Feb. 26-27). Olver scored both goals, including the overtime game-winner, in a 2-1 victory over the Lakers and followed that up the with three assists the next night in a 3-0 win. He also registered five points as the Wildcats took two games from Western Michigan (Feb. 12-13). Olver opened the series with two goals and two assists in a 7-2 win and added an assist on the game-winning goal Saturday night.

Special mention for RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month honors goes to Alaska senior forward Dion Knelsen, Bowling Green senior forward Kai Kantola, Ferris State senior forward Casey Haines, Michigan junior forward Louie Caporusso, Nebraska-Omaha junior forward Matt Ambroz and Ohio State sophomore forward Zac Dalpe.

Former, current collegians traded today

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

A handful of former and current NCAA players at Michigan schools were traded this week as the NHL's trade deadline went down this afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Kevin Porter (Michigan) went from Phoenix to Colorado with Peter Mueller for Wojtek Wolski.

Chad Kolarik (Michigan) went from Phoenix to Columbus for a draft pick.

Matt Rust (Michigan junior) to Columbus from Florida for Mathieu Roy

Joe Corvo (Western Michigan) to Washington from Carolina for Brian Pothier, Oskar Osala and a draft pick.

Nathan Oystrick (Northern Michigan) from Atlanta with a draft pick to Anaheim for Evgeny Artyukhin.

Aaron Palushaj (Michigan), MiCHO's Player of the Year in 2009, was traded to Montreal from St. Louis for Matt D'Agostini.

Steven Kampfer (Michigan senior) from Anaheim to Boston for a draft pick.

Aaron Ward (Michigan) went from Carolina to Anaheim for Justin Pogge and a draft pick.

Danny Richmond (Michigan) was traded back to Chicago from St. Louis along with Hannu Toivonen for Joe Fallon.

MiCHO Power Poll 03.03.10

By completing an eight-place turnaround in the CCHA standings, Michigan State stays atop this week's MiCHO Power Poll after beating and tying Bowling Green last weekend to close out the regular season.

The Spartans finished 10th last season, but improved to a second place finish this year and earned a first round bye in the CCHA playoffs.

Ferris State, fresh off two ties with Western Michigan last weekend, remains No. 2 in the poll.

Michigan split with Notre Dame to keep a grip on the third spot this week.

The Northern Michigan Wildcats swept Lake Superior State and keep hold of No. 4, also the same place they finished in the CCHA.

LSSU (No. 5), Western (No. 6) and Michigan Tech (No. 7) round-out the rest of the poll this week.

Next week's poll will be the final MiCHO Power Poll of the season.

1) Michigan State (beat, tied Bowling Green)

2) Ferris State (tied Western Michigan twice)

3) Michigan (split with Notre Dame)

4) Northern Michigan (swept Lake Superior State)

5) Lake Superior State (swept by Northern Michigan)

6) Western Michigan (tied Ferris State twice)

7) Michigan Tech (swept by Wisconsin)

Each week during the regular season, MichiganCollegeHockey.com staffers will compile the MiCHO Power Poll. Contrary to popular belief, there is no coin flip involved. The poll comprises the seven Division I teams in the state of Michigan.

Kuzyk a Humanitarian Award finalist

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Seven finalists are up for the 2010 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award.

The group includes Colgate senior Ethan Cox, Amherst senior Kirsten Dier, Alaska senior Dion Knelsen, Adrian junior Sam Kuzyk, Williams senior Zachary Miller, Connecticut College junior Brigid O’Gorman and Denver senior Brandon Vossberg.

The award, given annually to the college hockey player what most personifies community spirit through leadership, effort and time, will be named on April 9 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Following is a brief bio on Kuzyk as provided by the Hockey Humanitarian Award administration:

Adrian’s hockey program is in only its third season of existence, but if Kuzyk is any indication, the Bulldogs are already doing things right.

And so is Kuzyk, who in short order has become a leader in the community. No matter his impressive on-ice stats, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, native is scoring his most valuable points by helping those less fortunate in and around Adrian. Earlier this year, taking a cue from something he and his family did back home, he organized an effort to support a local family of five through the Salvation Army. He and his teammates bought food and toys for the family’s three children.

“We got together a pretty good package,” said Kuzyk. “I really hope it made a difference for them.”

Sam has also interned at a center for the disabled; reads to local students; and organized a Help Hockey Heal Hunger food drive, a two-day event which raised 267 items for a local food pantry.

“Michigan has endured tough economic times,” Kuzyk observed. “It puts everything at a premium — even food — something a lot of us take for granted.”

Photo courtesy Adrian College Athletics

Broncos and Bulldogs skate to two ties

By Karl Henkel/Western Michigan Beat Writer

The United States and Canada wasn’t the only matchup to go into overtime this past weekend as Ferris State and Western Michigan skated to back-to-back ties in the final weekend of the regular season.

In the opener in Big Rapids, FSU took an early 1-0 lead before the Broncos got goals from Ryan Watson and Cam Watson. WMU led 2-1 up until the opening minutes of the third period, when Cody Chupp’s eighth goal of the season knotted the game at 2.

Jerry Kuhn made 47 stops for the Broncos. Pat Nagle stopped 26 for FSU.

The Bulldogs scored twice to win the shootout.

In the second game in Kalamazoo, Riley Gill made 41 stops in his final home game to lead WMU to a 1-0 overtime shootout victory following a 1-1 tie.

Kyle O’Kane scored in the opening period for the Broncos before Jared Katz netted the lone shootout goal.

The Broncos (8-18-8, 4-17-7-2 CCHA) finish the season in last place in the CCHA. Ferris State (19-11-6, 13-9-6-4 CCHA) finishes third and earns a first round bye in the CCHA playoffs. Western Michigan next faces Alaska in the opening round of the playoffs. The best-of-three series — played in Alaska — starts Friday night at a to-be-determined time.