MiCHO Power Poll 12.07.2011

Get a load of this week's MiCHO Power Poll!

1) Western Michigan (swept Ferris State)
2) Michigan State (swept Bowling Green)
3) Lake Superior State (swept by Ohio State)
4) Ferris State (swept by Western Michigan)
5) Northern Michigan (swept Miami)
6) Michigan (split with Alaska)
7) Michigan Tech (swept by Minnesota-Duluth)

Each week during the 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.

Spartans announce three more recruits for '12-13

MSU Press Release

Michigan State has announced that three players signed national letters of intent in the fall signing period and will join the Spartans in the fall of 2012.

Forward Ryan Keller (Farmington Hills/Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL), defenseman John Draeger (Faribault, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary's) and goaltender Jake Hildebrand (Butler, Penn./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL) will join three previous signees – forward Matt DeBlouw (Chesterfield/Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL) and defensemen Rhett Holland (Calgary, Alberta/Okotoks Oilers, AJHL) and Travis Walsh (Lansing/Muskegon Lumberjacks) on the Spartan roster for next season.

“When we assembled our staff, one of our main priorities right away was recruiting,” said Michigan State head coach Tom Anastos, who was hired in March. “We are very serious about making Michigan State a program that competes for the top recruits, brings in quality men and high-level players, and also developing those players to play at the next level.

"We’re very happy with the players who have committed to our program as this class brings a nice blend of size, skill and toughness to our team. We are losing a very large senior class at the end of this year, so there will be plenty of opportunity for these players to compete right away."

Wolverines gain tough split in Fairbanks

By Bob Miller/Michigan Beat Writer

Michigan tapped into a vein of pure irony this weekend, finally thawing their recent cold streak with a split of a two-game series in frigid Fairbanks against the Nanooks of Alaska.

After Phil Di Giuseppe opened the scoring for the Wolverines in Friday night's opener, Alaska scored three of the game's next four goals to build a lead that Michigan simply couldn't overcome.

Lee Moffie and David Wohlberg found the net for the Wolverines, but Alaska managed to hang on for the 4-3 win.

Michigan goaltender Shawn Hunwick and Alaska netminder Scott Greenham both stood on their heads to prevent any regulation goals in Saturday's re-match.

Michigan freshman forward Alex Guptill finally broke the ice with a goal 57 seconds into the overtime period to give Michigan their first win in their last eight games, 1-0.

Hunwick turned aside 25 shots in his shutout performance and Greenham stopped 41 Michigan attempts before Guptill's deciding goal.

"I liked the way we played," said Michigan head coach Red Berenson after the one-goal victory. "I thought we played well last night and the puck wasn't going in their end, but it was going in our end. Tonight, give the team credit. We didn't give up anything and I thought we played a strong game."

The Wolverines share eighth spot in the CCHA standings with Miami.

Michigan returns to balmy Ann Arbor for a Friday night game against resurgent Michigan State this weekend, followed by a Saturday night visit to Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing against the Spartans.

FSU falters twice against Broncos

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

For only the second time this season, No. 6 ranked Ferris State has felt the wrath of the broom.

Having lost a series to Michigan back in October, the Bulldogs were on the receiving end of another sweep over the weekend, this time against the likes of No. 12 ranked Western Michigan.

Friday's match-up proved to be a tight one early on, as both teams remained scoreless after the first 20 minutes.

Junior forward Kyle Bonis broke the 0-0 deadlock 6:42 into the ensuing frame, deflecting a shot off the stick of linemate Jordie Johnston to notch his team-high eighth goal of the season.

Much to the crowd's dismay at the Ewigleben Arena, the Broncos dug themselves out of a hole by tallying a trio of goals within a three minute span in the final stanza. Jordan Osterle knocked in a rebound to even-up the score at the 8:21 mark, followed by markers from Mark Tennyson at 11:41 and 12:18.

A one-timer by junior forward Matthew Kirzinger over a minute later brought Ferris State within one, but Western's Derek Roehl sealed the deal on an empty-netter with 48 seconds left in regulation.

Senior goaltender Taylor Nelson had 34 saves in the loss, while counterpart Frank Slubowski finished with 23.

The series finale at Lawson Arena on Saturday night turned out to be a completely one-sided affair, with Slubowski earning his second career shutout in a 3-0 decision.

Following last night's script of a scoreless opening period, action picked-up in the second on power-play goals by Will Kessel and Dane Walters.

With under four minutes left in the third, Walters slid the puck past freshman netminder C.J. Motte for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Shane Berschbach finished with two helpers for the Broncos.

Motte stopped 39 shots, including 18 in the first period alone.

Slubowski was credited with 25 saves en route to earning his fifth win of the season.

Western Michigan (8-4-4 overall, 6-4-2-2 CCHA) travels to Bowling Green for a 7:05 pm showdown on Friday, before concluding the series in Kalamazoo the following night.

The Bulldogs (10-5-1 overall, 6-5-1-0 CCHA) face Notre Dame this weekend in a home-and-home series, beginning in Big Rapids on Friday and ending the next night in South Bend.

Lakers swept by surging Ohio State

By Michael David/LSSU Beat Writer

For the first time this season, the Lake Superior State Lakers were swept in a weekend series. Facing 7th ranked Ohio State in Columbus, the Lakers couldn't come up with the offense needed to compete with the Buckeyes.

Friday night the Lakers dropped a 5-2 decision to OSU. Down 3-0 in the third, the Lakers finally got on the board with a power-play goal by freshman defenseman Kevin Czuczman, with assists going to sophomore forward Dan Radke and junior defenseman Zach Trotman.

The Buckeyes would answer to re-take a three goal lead before LSSU would score their second goal by freshman forward Buddy Robinson, with assists going to senior defenseman Kyle Haines and junior forward Ben Power. Ohio State would add an empty net goal for the 5-2 victory.

Sophomore goaltender Kevin Kapalka made 28 saves for LSSU. The Lakers were 1-2 on the power-play, while OSU was 1-3.

Saturday night, the Lakers put up a gallant effort before dropping a 2-1 decision. Laker freshman forward Chris Ciotti scored the first goal of the game, and LSSU's only goal of the night, in the second period. Senior captain Fred Cassiani earned the lone assist.

Ohio State would tie the game up in the second, and the winning goal in the third.

Sophomore netminder Kevin Murdock took the loss, making 31 saves for Lake State. The Buckeyes were held 0-4 on the power play, while the Lakers were 0-2.

LSSU hosts the Northern Michigan Wildcats next weekend in the battle for the Cappo Cup.

MSU gets out brooms against Bowling Green

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

Michigan State hosted Bowling Green last weekend in a CCHA series at Munn Ice Arena and allowed just two goals in the two-game sweep over the Falcons.

Friday night, MSU skated to a 5-1 win on the strength of four players - Kevin Walrod, Brett Perlini, Matt Berry and Brent Darnell - tallying a goal and an assist apiece and Matt Crandell adding three assists.

Dean Chelios scored the other goal for the Spartans and Drew Palmisano made 21 saves in goal.

Saturday night, Chelios, Lee Reimer and Greg Wolfe each had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win.

Will Yanakeff stopped 20 shots between the pipes and Daultan Leveille scored MSU's fourth goal.

MSU (10-5-1, 6-4-0 CCHA) plays a home-and-home this weekend with Michigan before breaking for the holidays. Friday night's game is in Ann Arbor, while the series concludes Saturday night back at Munn.

"Now, we get to focus on Michigan, which is a big series," Michigan State head coach Tom Anastos told msuspartans.com. "They say that all games count the same, and they do, but some certainly mean more. That series next weekend is a pair of those games."

Wildcats sweep away Miami

By Susannah Nichols/ Northern Michigan Beat Writer

After going winless for eight straight games, the Northern Michigan Wildcats are on a three-game winning streak after a weekend sweep of Miami. Tyler Gron earned five points in the series, and Stephan Vigier and Justin Florek had two goals apiece in Saturday's victory.

Gron started the scoring in Friday's game with a power-play goal midway through the first period. Florek and Dylan Walchuk picked up assists. Miami tied the game a few minutes later, and the teams remained deadlocked until the third period.

Miami outshot NMU 14-4 in the third period, but Wildcat defender Jake Baker had the only shot that mattered: the freshman scored his first collegiate goal at 17:50 of the third to clinch the 'Cats' 2-1 win. Gron and Kory Kaunisto assisted on the play.

Jared Coreau finished with 25 saves for the 'Cats.

On Saturday, the Wildcats didn't rest on their laurels: Vigier lit the lamp with some help from Ryan Daugherty and DJ Vandercook, and Florek added a power-play goal a few minutes later for his 8th tally of the season.

Nine seconds later, Miami answered with a shorthanded goal.

In a deja vu of the previous night's third period, Miami dominated NMU in shots in the second period, but Reed Seckel managed the only goal for either team.

Multiple Miami penalties set NMU up for success in the third period: both Vigier and Florek netted power-play goals to give the 'Cats a 5-1 win.

Reid Ellingson had 28 saves for the 'Cats.

Coach Walt Kyle praised his team's efforts: "[Miami] came out early and we were able to weather that storm and recollect ourselves. I give a lot of credit to the leadership on our team.”

The Wildcats (7-6-3, 4-5-3-2 CCHA) take on UP rival Lake Superior State next weekend in the Soo. Games start at 7:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.