LSSU tops Falcons in two shootouts

By Bob Miller/Lake Superior State Beat Writer

Lake Superior State fans couldn't be blamed if they blinked twice this weekend, thinking they may have been in some sort of strange CCHA time warp.

On both Friday and Saturday nights, visiting Bowling Green opened the scoring with a second period goal, only to be tied by the Lakers in the third period. Each of the two games would endure a scoreless overtime and finish with a shoot out win for Lake Superior.

Naturally, the Lakers won both shootouts with an indentical 2-1 score.

Rick Schofield bagged the tying goal in regulation time for the Lakers at 6:19 of the third period on Friday night. Kyle Haines had the equalizer for Lake Superior at 4:19 of the final stanza on Saturday.

Freshman goaltender Kevin Kapalka backstopped both shoot out victories in the Laker net, turning aside 36 shots on Friday and another 32 on Saturday.

Lake Superior take their search for more offense, especially in clutch situations, to Kalamazoo for a weekend two-game series with Western Michigan, a team tied with the Lakers for seventh spot in the CCHA standings.

Wolverines escape OSU with a split

By Bob Miller/Michigan Beat Writer

Ohio State sent a “big chill” down Michigan's collective spines Friday and Saturday.

The Buckeyes, situated in the lower echelon of the CCHA standings, edged the Wolverines in a stirring come-from-behind overtime win on Friday night and held the lead after two periods in Saturday night's contest.

Michigan found just enough offense to rescue themselves from a series sweep by Ohio State with a pair of goals in the third period of the series rematch to earn a weekend split with the Buckeyes.

Barely.

Leading 2-1 over Ohio State in the series opener, Michigan incurred a very costly penalty in the final minute of regulation time. Sergio Somma made the Wolverines pay with a power-play equalizer with only 11 seconds remaining in the contest. Ohio State nabbed the overtime winner 1:43 into extra time.

"Surprisingly, I thought we played a good game until the last two minutes when we had to play in our own zone and we got ourselves shorthanded,” said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. “It's a travesty to even give up the tie, let alone the win. That's just poor accountability on our part, but good for them and a good home ice victory. For us to give up the lead late in the game is unacceptable."

Third period goals by Luke Glendening and David Wohlberg salvaged the weekend for Michigan with a 2-1 win, allowing them to escape Columbus with a series split.

"It's amazing how many times we've had last minute, game-tying scenarios between these two teams,” remarked Berenson. “Tonight, the last few minutes went our way."

Michigan returns home, but not to Yost Ice Arena, for the long-awaited Big Chill at the Big House matchup Saturday afternoon with in-state rival Michigan State, scheduled to be play in front of over 110,000 fans in Ann Arbor's storied Michigan (football) Stadium, The Big House.

Hockey attendance records will fall and MiCHO devotees will find full coverage here.

Michigan Tech continues to struggle

By Andy Bourdeau / MTU Beat Writer

Michigan Tech (3-8-2, 1-8-1 WCHA) was without four of their leaders (Brett Olson, Bennet Royer and Jordan Baker due to injuries and Eric Kattelus dismissed from the team) and it showed as they were dominated in weekend play by a struggling Colorado College team, 7-4 and 5-0.

The Huskies were in both games, only down by a goal going into the third on both nights, but were unable to stop the offensive output by the Tigers.

Michigan Tech goals were scored by Josh Johnstone, Milos Gordic and Ryan Furne, all on Friday.

It was Kevin Genoe in net on Friday and Josh Robinson the following night and both kept the team in the game into the third.

MTU head coach Jamie Russell stated, “We played with a short bench not only tonight (Saturday) but last night (Friday) as well, and it finally caught up with us in the third period.”

It does not get any easier for the Huskies, as they make their first trip to Omaha, Neb., for a WCHA series with a Mavericks.

Ferris State, MSU split weekend series

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

In their home-and-home series over the weekend, it was anything but home sweet home for Ferris State and Michigan State, as both teams ended up winning on the road.

Friday's matchup in Big Rapids was a game of cat and mouse, with the the Spartans' Brett Perlini striking first just 36 seconds into the contest.

The Bulldogs would even up the score at 4:19, when Nate Hennig redirected Kyle Bonis's shot from the top of the crease for his fifth marker of the campaign.

Ferris State then took a 2-1 lead in the middle stanza, thanks to a bit of trickery by freshman forward Garrett Thompson. After receiving a pass from fellow classmate Cory Kane, Thompson blasted the puck from the side of the net, where it bounced out the back pad of Michigan State goaltender Drew Palmisano before trickling past the goal line.

With just over a minute left in the period, the Spartans mounted a comeback as Derek Grant and Daulton Levielle helped set-up Perlini's second goal of the night.

Near the halfway point of the third, Dean Chelios tallied the game-winning goal by knocking the puck past Bulldogs' netminder Pat Nagle amidst a scramble in front of the net.

Palmisano held a significant edge in saves over Nagle, 32-19.

The following night in East Lansing, both teams played an ever more tighlty contested game, with Ferris State garnering a 1-0 decision in overtime to avoid being swept.

Junior defenseman Chad Billins put the game away with 1:06 remaining in the extra frame when his shot from behind the left circle bounced off defenseman Tim Buttery and out of Palmisano's reach. Tallying assists on that play were forwards Jordie Johnston and Matthew Kirzinger.

Palmisano finished with 30 saves, compared to Nagle's 28.

Ferris State (8-6-3 overall, 5-5-3-2 CCHA) hosts Alaska on December 10-11, with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 pm for both games.

Michigan State (6-8-3 overall, 3-6-1-0 CCHA) travels to Ann Arbor for Saturday's "Big Chill at the Big House" against Michigan, which is slated to begin at 3 pm. The outdoor game can be seen regionally on Fox Sports Detroit and elsewhere on the Big Ten Network.

Wildcats take three points from Broncos

By Susannah Nichols/ Northern Michigan Beat Writer

Strike early and strike often.

The Northern Michigan Wildcats employed that advice on Friday and came up with a 3-1 win against the Western Michigan Broncos. The 'Cats tried the same strategy on Saturday hoping for a repeat performance, but the Broncos charged back with a two-goal third period and forced the 'Cats into a 4-4 stalemate.

On Friday, the Wildcats effectively took care of business in the first five minute of the game. Andrew Fernandez and Erik Higby set up captain Phil Fox to score the first goal 29 seconds into the game. Fox then returned the favor and, along with Tyler Gron, set up Higby for his third goal of the season.

Taking a cue from Higby, Gron followed his assist with a goal of his own at 4:08 of the first period. Wade Epp and Greger Hanson were credited with assists on the play.

After that, it was all up to Northern goalie Reid Ellingson, and he delivered. Western outshot Northern 20-13 over the next two periods, but could only sneak one puck--a power play shot by Greg Squires--into the net. Trevor Elias and Luke Witkowski earned assists.

Ellingson finished with 27 saves for the win, and Western goalie Jerry Kuhn, who replaced Nick Pisellini after the first two goals, recorded 22 stops.

On Saturday, Northern again jumped out to the early lead. Midway through the first, Hanson banged in his third goal of the season with some help from Spady and Mike Maltese.

A few minutes later, a scuffle between the 'Cats Fernandez and Western's Ian Slater resulted in a slew of penalties for both teams. In the aftermath, Gron put Northern up 2-0, with Kyle Follmer and Andrew Cherniwchan assisting. Dane Walters then cut the 'Cats lead to 2-1 on a shorthanded goal.

Gron struck again, with help from Higby and Epp, to put Northern up 3-1 heading into the first intermission.

Less than a minute into the second period, Northern's Justin Florek scored to give the 'Cats a seeming lock on the game. But once again, Western dominated Northern in shots, and Max Campbell, Kyle O'Kane, and Matt Tennyson scored three unanswered goals to tie up the game 4-4 at the end of regulation. It was a true team effort for the Broncos, as six different players earned assists on those three goals.

Neither team scored in overtime, but Dennis Brown of Western converted the only goal in the shootout.

Ellingson had 28 saves in the evening's game. And in this game, it was Pisellini who relieved Kuhn, who was pulled from the game after allowing four goals on ten shots. Pisenelli finished with nine saves.

As a result of this series, Northern (7-7-3, 6-4-2-0 CCHA) moves into a three-way tie for fourth place in the CCHA. They hit the road next weekend to take on 12th-ranked Notre Dame. Western (7-5-4, 3-4-3-2 CCHA) is now tied for seventh place in the conference with Lake Superior State, a team they'll face next weekend in the Soo.

Seniors lead AC in historic outdoor game

Adrian Press Release

The historic 2010 Frozen Faceoff at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor was a special day for all Adrian College players, coaches and 1,470 fans who braved the cold weather in order to be a part of the first NCAA Division III outdoor hockey game.

The end result was not too shabby either as the ninth-ranked Bulldogs (8-2, 7-1 MCHA) blanked the Concordia (Wis.) University Falcons by a final score of 3-0.

Senior Brad Fogal made 27 saves, earning his 13th career shutout and his first this season. Senior Jeremy Cross played the final 6:25 of the second period in goal and made three saves.

Seniors Joel Workman, Kyle Watson and Brad Houston all scored for Adrian in the contest, etching their name into the record books.

Workman scored just 1:48 into the game unassisted at even strength. He took the puck and came from the side of the goal and slipped a wrap-around shot past Concordia goaltender Everett Devlin for his third tally of the season.

Watson made it 2-0 after one period at 3:29 also at even strength. His second goal of the season was a sharp angle shot from the left faceoff circle which beat Devlin top shelf. Sam Kuzyk and Quinn Waller each had an assist on the goal.

Midway through the second period, Houston scored his sixth of the year on the power play at 11:21. He took a pass from Mike Dahlinger and skated between the circles and let a shot go to the glove side of Devlin. The goaltender got a piece of the puck, but it squirted past the goal line for a 3-0 lead. Kuzyk got his second assist of the day on the goal.

Adrian had a slim 34-30 edge in shots on goal. The Adrian penalty kill continued to succeed allowing no power play goals on six attempts by the Falcons. The Bulldogs were 1-for-2 on the man advantage for the game.

"This was a very unique opportunity and we are very grateful to the University of Michigan for allowing us to be a part of history," said fourth-year Adrian head coach Ron Fogarty. "Our guys will remember this feeling for the rest of their lives. You look around this stadium and think of all the amazing athletes who have played here. To be the first hockey game here is such an honor. We got a chance to showcase Division III hockey and both programs played inspired hockey."

Photo courtesy Adrian College Athletics

Warriors crushed by Orange

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors two-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt with a pair of road conference losses over the weekend at Syracuse.

After posting consecutive shutout wins against Minnesota State the Warriors found themselves on the other end on Friday as the Orange posted a 3-0 whitewash.

Delayne Brian stopped 30 shots in the loss, but Megan Skelly's goal just 59-seconds into the game proved to be the game-winner.

Isabel Menard and Julie Rising also scored for the Orange and Jenesica Drinkwater stopped all 16 shots for her second career shutout.

Syracuse made it five-consecutive wins over Wayne State (7-9-0, 1-5-0 CHA) with a 5-3 victory at the Tennity Ice Pavilion on Saturday.

Jaclyn Stapleton opened the scoring with her first of the season at 10:17 of the first period.

The Orange countered with goals by Menard, Stefanie Marty and Holly Carrie-Mattimoe to take a 3-1 lead by the 8:16 mark of the second period.

Gina Buquet's fourth tally of the season pulled the Warriors to within a goal, but Jessica Sorensen scored the game-winner at 14:15 to seal the win for the Orange.

The Warriors didn't go quietly with Alyssa Baldin scoring her team high ninth goal to make a 4-3 game.

Kelsey Welch iced it for the home team with the final goal at 19:24.

Brian made another 35 saves in the WSU net marking the thirteenth time this season she's stopped at least 30 shots.

Kallie Billadeau turned away 19 pucks for SU.

Wayne State will take a break until Dec. 30-31 at when they play a two-game, year end set at Ohio State.

Photo courtesy Syracuse University / Michael J. Okoniewski

Dearborn Heights native picks Broncos

Sioux Falls Stampede Press Release

The Sioux Falls Stampede announced Wednesday that defenseman Jordan Oesterle has committed to Western Michigan University.

He becomes the ninth Stampede player to commit to a Division I program this season.

The Dearborn Heights native has tallied seven points (1g, 6a) in 16 games and is a team best plus-6 on the year.

Oesterle spent last year playing Midget Major hockey with Belle Tire in Detroit, where he recorded 58 points (8g, 50a) in 71 games.

NMU's Ellingson wins monthly honors

CCHA Press Release

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that junior goaltender Reid Ellingson of Northern Michigan has been named the RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month for November. This is the first time Ellingson has earned the honor in his career.

Ellingson, a 21-year-old from Cloquet, Minn., started in seven of eight games for the Wildcats, compiling a record of 4-2-1. He led both the CCHA and the nation in goals-against average, 1.14, and save percentage, .966, for the month. He also recorded one shutout, the second of his career, while allowing just eight goals, five of which came on the power play. He recorded over 40 saves in a game twice and made 30 or more stops on three occasions.

The 5-foot-11, 178-pound Wildcat goaltender began the month by making 42 saves for his first win of the season, 4-1, at Lake Superior State on Nov. 5.

He blocked 26 shots in a home-ice loss to Bowling Green, 2-1, on Nov. 12, but rebounded the following night with 15 saves in the ‘Cats 5-1 defeat of the Falcons for a series split.

The rest of the month was spent on the road, starting in Alaska where Ellingson tied and beat the Nanooks, 1-1 and 2-1, on Nov. 19-20. He made 75 saves in the series and earned CCHA Goaltender of the Week honors.

The following weekend, Northern Michigan traveled to Bemidji State where, on Friday night, Ellingson stopped 37 shots as the Wildcats blanked the Beavers, 4-0. He blocked another 34 shots on Saturday in a 3-0 loss and, with 71 total saves and a .973 save percentage, earned his second straight CCHA Goaltender of the Week nod.

Special mention for RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month honors goes to Bowling Green senior goaltender Nick Eno, Ferris State senior goaltender Pat Nagle, Lake Superior sophomore forward Domenic Monardo, Miami senior forward Pat Cannone, Michigan senior forward Carl Hagelin, Michigan State sophomore defenseman Torey Krug, Notre Dame senior forward Ben Ryan, Ohio State junior forward Danny Dries and Western Michigan senior forward Max Campbell.

MiCHO Power Poll 12.01.2010

Michigan holds steady at the top spot in this week's MiCHO Power Poll.

The Wolverines, ranked 11th nationally by USCHO, dropped both ends of the College Hockey Showcase last weekend at Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Western Michigan, USCHO's 19th team in the nation, split with Miami and sit in the No. 2 spot this week, followed by national No. 20 Ferris State, MiCHO's No. 3 team after beating Michigan State eight days ago.

The struggling Spartans are No. 4 this week, followed by Northern Michigan at five, Michigan Tech at No. 6 and Lake Superior State in the seventh spot.

1) Michigan (lost to Wisconsin, Minnesota)
2) Western Michigan (split with Miami)
3) Ferris State (beat Michigan State)

4) Michigan State (lost to Ferris State and Wisconsin, beat Minnesota)
5) Northern Michigan (split with Bemidji State)

6) Michigan Tech (idle)

7) Lake Superior State (lost to Denver, Clarkson)

Each week, 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.