Sunday, March 06, 2011

MSU's season, Comley's career, ends

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

All in one fell swoop, Michigan State's season and head coach Rick Comley's coaching career ended Saturday night with a 4-3 double overtime loss to Alaska as the Nanooks swept the Spartans in the first round of the CCHA playoffs in Fairbanks, Ak.

Alaska also tipped MSU in OT on Friday night, 3-2.

"This was a hard-fought game and a hard-fought series," said Comley to MSUSpartans.com after last night's game. "I thought we played really well and the puck just didn't go our way at the end. This was not a question of effort. Our kids have grown and this team has a bright future. I think they showed a lot of courage and gave it everything they had."

Controversy followed Friday night's game as Comley was allegedly involved in an altercation at the end of the game, according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

In game one of the series, Nick Yaremchuk was the OT hero for the Nanooks and also netted the OT winner Saturday night.

Drew Palmisano made 34 saves for Michigan State and Jake Chelios and Tim Buttery tallied in the Friday loss.

Then last night, MSU played its first double overtime contest in almost 13 years, going back to March 1998 when the Spartans defeated Ohio State in the CCHA championship game.

Dean Chelios, Dustin Gazley and Brett Perlini scored for Michigan State, Jake Chelios added two assists and Will Yanakeff finished with 30 saves.

The Spartans (15-19-4, 11-15-2-0 CCHA) now go into the offseason with their No. 1 priority to hire a new head coach. When that happens, expect full coverage here on MiCHO.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Going to school at Michigan Tech in the early 1980's I enjoyed the 100 mile rivalry between Tech and Northern. Rick always had a fiercly competitive team that made the Tech/NMU games very entertaining. I became a huge college hockey fan mainly in part from watching these games. Thanks for the memories and enjoy retirement.

Anonymous said...

It's unfortunate that Coach Comley couldn't control his emotions enough to restrain from initiating physical contact with an Alaska fan (and former federal judge). It certainly puts a dark cloud around him, at a time when it should be nothing but roses. The Spartans and Comley should both provide the CCHA and UAF with a letter of apology.

Anonymous said...

amazed that coach shoved a few fans. There is no disputing that he initiated the contact. After all the games he has played, I would think he could take a little ribbing from a retired judge about reviewing every goal on Friday night. Short fuse on Coach's part.