MiCHO Power Poll 01.02.2013

Happy New Year from all of us at MichiganCollegeHockey.com!

The first MiCHO Power Poll of 2013 is now posted:

1. Western Michigan (runner-up in GLI)
2. Michigan Tech (won GLI)
3. Ferris State (placed third in Florida College Hockey Classic)
4. Lake Superior State (idle)
5. Michigan (placed third in GLI)
6. Northern Michigan (idle)
7. Michigan State (placed fourth in GLI)

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.

Michigan Tech - 2012 GLI champions!

Michigan Tech blanked Western Michigan for its first Great Lakes Invitational title since 1980.

Photo by Matt Mackinder/MiCHO

Spartans unveil new home, away jerseys

Michigan State Press Release 

The Michigan State hockey program will have four new jersey designs for the 2012-13 season, which includes new standard home and away jerseys as well as a set of vintage Michigan State sweaters that will debut in the Great Lakes Invitational.

“In developing this new design, we gathered a lot of feedback from our players about the jersey’s fit, feel, performance and look,” said MSU head coach Tom Anastos. “We feel that the design that Nike has developed has a cutting-edge look and embraces the values of the Spartan brand.”

The Spartans will wear home whites similar to the uniforms worn by the team over the last two years since the rebranding in the athletics department. The green Spartan head logo is in the center of the chest, with the same logo on the shoulders; the player number is both on the upper arm and on the back, where it is green and outlined in bronze. The sleeves have vertical green stripes from the shoulders to the wrist, as well as three green vertical stripes – a thick stripe in the middle and thinner on either side – down the flank.

The road jerseys are a photo-opposite – white stripes on the green sweater, with a white Spartan head logo on the chest, and the player number on the back in white outlined in bronze.

The home and away socks mirror the stripes on the flank of the jerseys – a thick stripe between two thinner stripes in the opposite color.

For the 2012 Great Lakes Invitational, MSU will unveil a “vintage” sweater which brings back the familiar script Michigan State jerseys worn by the Spartan hockey program for nearly 30 years.

The white vintage sweaters have the script “Michigan State” in green, with a green stripe from the shoulder to the wrist; there is also a horizontal green stripe across the bottom. The player number is on the back in green with bronze outline.

The green jerseys will be green with the white script Michigan State logo, with a white player number outlined in bronze and the white stripe from shoulder to wrist and horizontal stripe across the hips. The vintage-style jerseys will be used primarily for special events – the Spartan helmet logo jerseys will be the primary uniform for MSU.

The Spartans will wear them for the first time at the 2012 Great Lakes Invitational, which will be played outdoors at Comerica Park as a part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival and feature MSU, Michigan, Michigan Tech and invitee Western Michigan.

Comerica will also host several other events in advance of NHL’s Winter Classic on New Year’s Day between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, which include an AHL game between the top affiliates of each team game and two games which will feature alumni of both storied organizations.

“The script ‘Michigan State’ logo was introduced in my freshman season [1980-81] and over the course of time, became one of the iconic jerseys in college hockey,” said Anastos . “We will be bringing this design back on a limited basis, and will wear them for special events and for select games. Our players are really excited about it and we know that it resonates with so many of our alumni and fans.”

Great Lakes Invitational extended through 2014

Michigan Tech Press Release 

Michigan Tech and Olympia Entertainment have extended their partnership in hosting the Great Lakes Invitational through 2014, it was announced today.

One of college hockey’s longest-standing annual tournaments, the GLI will continue to feature Michigan Tech, Michigan and Michigan State in addition to an invitational team.

“We’re thrilled to be able to continue the tradition of the GLI,” said Michigan Tech AD Suzanne Sanregret. “It’s been one of the most successful tournaments in the country, and we look forward to an on-going partnership with the Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Entertainment, Michigan and Michigan State. The event has been a great way for us to keep a presence in lower Michigan and connect with our alumni and fans. It’s important that we continue what we’ve built up over the years and showcase college hockey in Detroit.”

The new three-year contract will take the GLI through its 50th year of existence. The 2012 event will be played outdoors at Comerica Park Dec. 27-28 as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival and in connection with the NHL’s annual Winter Classic. The 2013 and 2014 editions will be played at Joe Louis Arena, home of 33 of the previous 47 GLIs.

Mike Bayoff, director of strategic hockey alliances for Olympia Entertainment, is also excited to continue the GLI tradition.

“The Great Lakes Invitational has been a big part of our ‘College Hockey in the D’ lineup for a long time and we’re very pleased that it will continue," said Bayoff. "With this year’s GLI taking place at Comerica Park as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival, an exciting chapter in the rich history of one of the country’s premiere college hockey tournaments is set to be written, and we look forward to our outstanding relationships with the participating schools continuing to evolve.”

The Great Lakes Invitational was first played in 1965 after the idea for the tournament was conceived and implemented by Michigan Tech coach John MacInnes, Olympia Stadium GM Lincoln Cavalieri and Detroit Red Wings' scout Jack Paterson. The tournament, which has been played in late December every year, has grown into one of the nation’s premier holiday sporting events with more than 1.3 million fans in attendance since its inception.

“The Great Lakes Invitational Tournament has become a long-standing tradition with our program and other schools in the state,” said Michigan AD Dave Brandon. “We are pleased that this annual holiday tournament will continue for the foreseeable future.”

Michigan Tech has won the GLI nine times in 47 appearances. Michigan has competed in 42 GLIs and has claimed 15 titles. Michigan State owns 12 GLI crowns in 38 tries.

“We are thrilled that our relationship with Olympia Entertainment and participation in the Great Lakes Invitational will continue,” said Michigan State AD Mark Hollis. “This tournament is special to all of our hockey fans, players, and alumni, and is an important part of our schedule each season. We are looking forward to celebrating the excitement of this year’s GLI being a part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival, the 50th anniversary of the GLI in the near future, and most importantly, our continued relationship with the great people at the Detroit Red Wings and Olympia Entertainment.”

Western Michigan will join the three GLI mainstays for the 2012 outdoor event. The Broncos will also be the invitational team in 2014. Denver will take part in the 2013 tournament.

Tickets for this year’s outdoor GLI at Comerica Park will go on sale through Olympia Entertainment on July 12.

Photo by Matt Mackinder/MiCHO

GLI going outside to Comerica Park

The 48th annual Great Lakes Invitational will be played outdoors at Detroit’s Comerica Park as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival and in connection with the NHL’s annual Winter Classic, which will feature the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium.

These events were officially announced this morning at Comerica Park.

The GLI games will be played Dec. 28 and 29. The semifinals on Dec. 28 will pit Michigan Tech against Michigan followed by Michigan State vs. Western Michigan in the second. The third-place and championship games will be played the following day.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase some of the best college hockey in the state in a unique environment,” said Michigan Tech athletic director Suzanne Sanregret. “We look forward to working with Olympia Entertainment and Comerica Park to host a memorable event for our student-athletes and fans.”

“Playing the GLI at Comerica Park will provide a truly unique event for fans and our players,” said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. “We’ve obviously played in outdoor games in the past, but never in a tournament format like this. I would expect it to be a great experience for everyone involved.”

Also at the Comerica Park venue, a game between notable Red Wings and Maple Leafs alumni is on tap along with other games from youth, high school, Ontario Hockey League (Plymouth Whalers/London Knights and Windsor Spitfires/Saginaw Spirit) and minor professional levels (AHL game between Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies).

The full schedule for the Hockeytown Winter Festival will be announced at a later date.

Photo/Mike Caples/MiHockeyNow.com

Michigan rallies to win 46th annual GLI

By Matt Mackinder/At the GLI

DETROIT - In what was an offensive war, Michigan came away with a 6-5 win over Colorado College Thursday night to win the 46th annual Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena.

Colorado College took the lead early in the third period only to have the Wolverines rally late on goals by Lee Moffie and A.J. Treais, the latter with his second game-winner of the tournament.

“We battled hard at the start of the game to get the lead,” said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. “They came back and then it was a great game. I don’t know how the fans saw it, but that third period was a pretty exciting period.”

GLI MVP Luke Glendening had two goals for Michigan, while Ben Winnett and Louie Caporusso also scored to back Shawn Hunwick's 25-save performance.

Carl Hagelin tacked on three assists and David Wohlberg chipped in with two helpers of his own.

Stephen Schultz scored a pair for Colorado College, while Eamonn McDermott, Nick Dineen and Tyler Johnson added singles for the Tigers.

Goalie Joe Howe finished with 33 stops for CC.

“I was especially proud of our guys’ compete level and our battle level considering how young we are with three seniors in the lineup and no NHL draft picks,” said Colorado College head coach Scott Owens. “I thought we held our own and we just got a little bit unlucky—a little bit unlucky in the end. It was a very lucky goal that ricocheted in and a power-play goal to tie it, but I thought we competed and I thought we represented ourselves very well in this tournament.”

Winnett scored just 39 seconds into the game and Treais bookended the game with his unassisted goal at 15:56 of the third period.

"I went into the corner and took a peek over my shoulder and threw it at the net and hoped that it would go in," said Treais. "Lucky bounce I guess."

Winning their 13th GLI should be a confidence-booster for the second half of the season, according to Berenson.

“It’s a home rink (and) it’s good for your confidence to get back to the Joe, which our goal is to get back to the Joe in the CCHA playoffs," Berenson said. "To play in a venue like this and have success, it’s good for our young players to get a feel for what it’s like to play in these games and a little history. Then you look at our senior class and I think that’s three GLI championships in four years, so good for them—because it wasn’t always like this.”

The Wolverines (12-5-4) play a home-and-home with Michigan State next weekend, starting next Friday night in East Lansing.

GLI NOTEBOOK

All-tournament team

F - Luke Glendening (Michigan)
F - Carl Hagelin (Michigan)
F - Stephen Schultz (Colorado College)
D - Torey Krug (Michigan State)
D - Gabe Guentzel (Colorado College)
G - Shawn Hunwick (Michigan)

Colorado College was last in the GLI back in 2005 when the Tigers won the tournament. Their first appearance was in the inaugural GLI back in 1965.

Future invitee teams in the GLI are scheduled to be Boston College (2011) and St. Cloud State. (2012).

Announced attendance was 14,718.

Photos by Matt Mackinder/MiCHO

MSU takes third place at GLI

By Matt Mackinder/At the GLI

DETROIT - Kevin Walrod scored his first two collegiate goals to lead Michigan State to a 5-3 win over Michigan Tech Thursday afternoon in the third place game at the Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena.

Walrod, a sophomore, didn't see any decent playing time a year ago, but is making the most of his ice time this year.

“Any win’s a good win right now,” said Michigan State head coach Rick Comley. “I thought overall we played pretty well. I thought Wallie (Walrod) picked us up. We’ll take anything right now.”

Dean Chelios (on an assist from younger brother Jake), Brett Perlini (last year's GLI MVP) and Dustin Gazley also scored for MSU, while Will Yanakeff earned his first win of the year with a 22-save performance between the pipes.

"I thought we made a couple of mistakes tonight that led to goals, but I’m pleased with our effort,” Comley added. “We would dominate the game, make a mistake, and it would end up in the back of our net. But it was a good tournament for us, in terms of how we battled back last night, and how we approached the game tonight. It will be a good jumping-off point for us for the second half."

“The defense kept it simple,” MSU captain Torey Krug said. “Growing up, you’re told your job as a defenseman is to just make the outlet pass to the forwards. I think, for the most part, the defense did that. That’s why we were so successful.

“We are all excited Will got the start. Guys may have been sacrificing their bodies a little more, blocking shots.”

Aaron Pietila scored twice for the Huskies, Jacob Johnstone added the other goal and Dennis Rix assisted on all three.

In goal, Josh Robinson finished with his second straight game of 40-plus saves as he kicked out 41 Michigan State shots.

“We’re a team that has good size and are very aggressive,” Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell said. “I didn’t think we had a lot of jump with the quick turnaround, playing the late game last night. We’re a team that thrives on the forecheck and I didn’t think we had a lot of legs tonight.”

The Spartans (7-10-3) next play a home-and-home with Michigan starting next Friday night in East Lansing. Michigan Tech (3-13-2) travels to St. Cloud State next weekend.

Photo by Matt Mackinder/MiCHO

Michigan tops Tech, off to GLI finals

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan will play for the Great Lakes Invitational championship after escaping with a 4-2 win over a game Michigan Tech squad Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Lindsay Sparks, Jeff Rohrkemper, A.J. Treais and Luke Glendening scored for the Wolverines and Shawn Hunwick made 28 saves, including 15 in the third period.

Milos Gordic and Ryan Furne each had a goal and an assist for MTU, while Josh Robinson was strong in net with a 45-save outing.

“You have to give Michigan a lot of credit,” said Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell. “They have a very dynamic first line. I was really proud of Josh tonight. He has had some ups and downs this season, but played well. We have a young team, but we showed a lot of character.”

The Wolverines now get set to play Colorado College tonight at 7:35 p.m. for the 46th annual GLI title.

"This is obviously the game you want to get into," Hunwick said. "You want to play in the championship game. The GLI (title) is something that we strive for all season long. You also want to have that championship game experience to better prepare yourself for tight games in March."

The Huskies will play Michigan State in the third place game at 4 p.m.

Spartans downed by Tigers at GLI

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Colorado College scored three times in the second period and Michigan State never recovered as the Tigers took a 5-4 win over MSU Wednesday afternoon in the first semifinal of the Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Freshman Lee Reimer scored his first NCAA goal and added two assists, while Dustin Gazley had a goal and an assist and Derek Grant two helpers for the Spartans.

Daultan Leveille and Brock Shelgren also scored for MSU, while Drew Palmisano and Will Yanakeff combined for 18 saves. Palmisano started and was pulled after CC's fifth goal.

MSU (6-10-3) will play Michigan Tech in the third place game this afternoon at 4 p.m. Colorado College and Michigan will play for the GLI title at 7:35 p.m.

Spartans top RPI for 12th GLI title

By Matt Mackinder/At The GLI

DETROIT - Michigan State won their 12th Great Lakes Invitational championship tonight with a dominant 6-1 win over RPI at Joe Louis Arena.

MSU never trailed and won fairly easily.

“Obviously, I thought we played well both nights,” said MSU head coach Rick Comley. “Broke down a couple of times, but overall I thought very consistent. I was really pleased with the balance and scoring and people chipping in.”

Brett Perlini was named tournament MVP after being scratched several games this season and having a trying freshman season last year.

"I was just working to try and stay in the lineup," said Perlini. "A couple of good bounces and here I am. I think the hard work has paid off."

Perlini had a goal and an assist in the championship game and was part of a 16-goal, two-day outburst for the Spartans, who decimated Michigan Tech last night, 10-1.

Dustin Gazley added a goal and an assist to go along with single goals from Chris Forfar, Dean Chelios, Jeff Petry and Andrew Rowe.

Petry's play earned praise from RPI head coach Seth Appert.

“They were probably the best combination team that we played this year,” said Appert. “They’re very talented but also very disciplined, very strong on their system play and well coached, and certainly with the best defenseman we’ve seen in the country in Petry. I thought he was special. You can certainly see why he’s one of the best defensemen in the country.”

Drew Palmisano stopped 19 shots to earn his second win of the GLI.

“Palmisano’s play was outstanding, very underrated,” said Comley. “When you score that many goals, you’re going to win, but it wasn’t 10-4, 10-5 last night and 6-3 tonight. He was very good.”

Comley also talked about what it means to win the GLI.

“Winning means everything - losing just sucks the air right out of you,” said Comley. “This is a big tournament for Michigan State. It’s one of the things that you target and it means so much to the three permanent schools that are in this tournament and you don’t ever want to downplay what that means to your community.”

The No. 13 Spartans (14-6-2, 9-3-2 CCHA) face the U.S. National Under-18 Team Monday night at home and then host Lake Superior State for a pair Jan. 8-9.

GLI All-Tournament Team
F - Chase Polacek, RPI
F - Dustin Gazley, MSU
F - Brett Perlini, MSU - MVP
D - Chris Summers, UM
D - Jeff Petry, MSU
G - Drew Palmisano, MSU

Photos by Matt Mackinder/MiCHO

LIVE BLOG: Michigan State vs. RPI

Matt Mackinder/At The GLI

Pre-game and Joe College is skating around on the ice and I'm going deaf from some song about "welcome to the masquerade." Seriously, this sound system is about 400 decibels too effing loud!

STARTERS

Michigan State - Grant, Sucharski, Tropp, Petry, Krug, Palmisano
RPI - Angers-Goulet, Pirri, O'Grady, Kennedy, Merth, Merriam

FIRST PERIOD

The crowd is hot. Surprised York isn't in net for RPI, though.

1:30 Gazley goes low to take out Cullen along the boards. More action already than we had for much of last game.

The pizza was delicious, by the way.

6:44 Still scoreless and I forgot - TV timeouts. The in-game host was just throwing pizzas in the crowd.

And hey, Michigan Hockey editor Phil Colvin has arrived. Game time was 7:30, Philster!

8:33 Good, solid pace to this game, but still no goals. Shots are 6-1 RPI.

8:56 Helfrich for tripping. State to the power play.

10:30 Power play just isn't clicking ....

10:55 ... until Forfar roofs one past Merriam from the side of the net with one second left. 1-0 MSU.

14:28 Gazley with a bank shot off Merriam. 2-0 State. York in net now. Kid should have started.

End of 1 - Shots 12-5 MSU.

Some fan just won a GPS for diving on a garbage bag at center ice. I'm not kidding.

SECOND PERIOD

3:15 Chelios with a nice move to spot MSU a 3-0 lead. You'll never see his old man with a move like that, however.

This is actually a great game. Arena is maybe half-full, but those that are here are not seeing the Spartans of last season. And that's a good thing.

7:20 If RPI could hit the net, this might be a hockey game.

9:08 Foss goes for a trip. MSU needs to put this game out of reach.

Now an in-game promo for a free haircut. Yes, a free haircut.

11:30 Good pace. Palmisano with a good save on Pirri.

11:51 RPI gets one back as Cullen rips one past Palmisano.

12:00 Kerins then bids for a second goal, but goalpost prevented that. Good thing, because Palmisano was beaten cleanly.

13:23 Golembiewski gets mugged behind the net after his shot is covered by York. Come on, RPI. Give it a rest.

19:55 Still a great pace and a heckuva game. Philster's calling it a night.

19:27 Petry makes it 4-1 with a fat freaking rebound off a Tropp shot.

Shots 25-16 Sparty.

Someone in the press box has B.O. Perhaps it is I. Hang on...nope, not me.

Talk in the press box now involves hands down pants and shoving that hand into unsuspecting people's grills. Wonder if Andy Samberg reads MiCHO?

Tom Anastos is making his way into the press box. And a Happy New Year to you as well, sir!

THIRD PERIOD

:17 State is flying out of the gate, but Sucharski gets called for slashing. Takes Kennedy with him for hooking, though.

1:38 Burgdoerfer off for hooking - 5-on-3 for about 30 seconds.

4:00 Josepher for a slash.

4:12 Tropp for delay of game. Didn't see it - was daydreaming.

6:12 MSU kills the 5-on-3 and pretty handily, too.

7:32 Polacek for ... embellishment??? Crandall from MSU for holding.

Embellishment. What's next? Two minutes for coughing without covering your mouth? Two minutes for running? Two minutes for sharting?

10:21 MSU again. This time, Perlini picks up a loose puck and beats York.

10:25 Tropp (slash) and Helfrich (unsportsmanlike) both go. Six PIMs for Tropp? Dude should be scoring, not sitting. Then again, it doesn't look like this game will go south at any time.

14:00 Getting ready to head down to play post-game photographer with Karl.

Hit the john on my way down and let me just say that the bathroom smells better than the stairwells going down to the service level.

MSU got a late goal to win the game, 6-1. My feeling is Brett Perlini as tourney MVP. That seemed to be the consensus in the press box.

Wolverines take third place at GLI

By Matt Mackinder/At The GLI

DETROIT - Michigan, coming off a heartbreaker yesterday, came back to take third place at the Great Lakes Invitational this afternoon with a 5-3 win over a game Michigan Tech squad.

Lindsay Sparks' first two collegiate goals led the way for Michigan and Bryan Hogan made 20 saves for the win in goal.

Some wondered if Hogan would sit after getting pulled at the start of the third period last night for Shawn Hunwick, but according to Michigan head coach Red Berenson, "Hogie's our goalie."

Brian Lebler also added a pair of goals for the Wolverines, with his second being an empty-netter with Sparks wide-open to the side of the net for what could have been a hat trick. Lebler knew it right away and threw his arms up in disbelief.

Still, Michigan will take the win, even if they much rather would have played the second game of the night.

"Any time you come down to this tournament, your goal is to play in the championship game, so it's a tough game for the players and even the coaches, but we got through the game," said Berenson. "I thought we did some good things in the game and some not-so-good things. Penalties in the second period kind of changed the momentum of the game, but nevertheless we got through it."

Matt Rust added a goal for Michigan and said after the game that holding on for the win showed character.

"Obviously you want to play in the [championship] game," said Rust. "It's tough waking up knowing you're playing in the third-place game. It's important at the end of the year trying to get invited to the NCAA Tournament. I think it shows something about our character on this team. The ability to come back after a heartbreaking loss like that is not easy. When you're spirits are down, it's tough."

Brett Olson, Jordan Baker and Eric Kattelus scored for MTU and goalie Josh Robinson finished with 39 saves.

"Facing a lot of shots keeps you in the game," said Robinson. "I'd much rather face a lot of shots and be in the game."

“Tonight we battled hard, we competed and worked hard,” said MTU head coach Jamie Russell. “Michigan is a good team. We obviously play in a very good conference in the WCHA, but Michigan’s got good size, they play with pace, protect the puck well, good skill level, but I thought we went toe-to-toe with them with a roster that’s got 18 freshmen and sophomores.”

The Wolverines (10-10-0, 5-7-0-0 CCHA) has a home-and-home set with Western Michigan starting next Friday in Kalamazoo. Michigan Tech (3-16-0, 2-13-0 WCHA) plays at St. Cloud State next weekend.

Photo by Matt Mackinder/MiCHO

LIVE BLOG: Michigan vs. Michigan Tech

Matt Mackinder/At The GLI

Starters

UM - Hagelin, Rust Lynch, Langlais, Summers, Hogan
MTU - Baker, Kattelus, Dobson, Kivisto, Seigo, Robinson

1:18 - Wohlberg gets taken down by VanWagner and we go to a Michigan PP.

This should be a decent enough game - wish more people were here to see it. Oh well. I'm here and Karl is at ice level with camera in tow. Pretty swell coverage we got going here, eh?

2:55 UM can't get anything going here.

3:11 Robinson with a good save on a point shot from Summers.

This PA is TOO LOUD. Four minutes in and my ears are bleeding.

6:41 Kivisto with a nice hit on Brown along the boards. Finally, something to make some noise about.

In an unrelated, yet related, note - USCHO's Bob Miller has done away with the mustache.

The PA just yelled some announcement about a tote bag. Now I hear Michigan Tech cow bell. Who brings cow bell any more?

7:59 Now the Tech band is playing the Darth Vader theme. Because that sounds well during a stoppage in play.

9:09 A scramble in front of Robinson, but no goal. No noise, either.

10:07 Robinson with a save on Llewellyn, who then wants some from a Tech player. Should have gone to the OHL, Tris...just saying...

11:46 Hogan smothers an Olson shot for his first big test of the game.

11:50 Kampfer for hooking off the draw.

12:13 Kattelus misses the net on the PP.

13:24 MacLeod for tripping Moffie after Moffie made a save on a shot with Hogan out of position.

15:22 With two ticks left on McLeod's penalty, Sparks nets his first NCAA goal. Great place to get it, too. Rust and Hagelin with the apples.

16:14 Royer for elbowing.

The Hard Lessons have a concert at the intermission. WHO???

20:00 End of one - 1-0 Michigan, who also lead in shots, 14-7.

SECOND PERIOD

1:06 Seigo for interference.

2:50 2-0 Wolverines. Lebler announced, but looked like Wohlberg with a tip. It may be changed. No, it should be changed.

4:48 Slow pace...

6:43 Summers for a trip. I guess.

The conversation in the press box has turned to the popcorn. The term "buttery morsels" was tossed around.

7:51 Langlais for high-sticking!!!!!!!!! That's the way the PA dude is announcing it.

8:12 Llewellyn for holding. And "Benny & The Jets" gets air time. WHY???

9:09 Kampfer for slashing. MTU needs a goal - or three.

10:12 It all starts with one. Olson on a nice cross-ice feed from Cousens. Hogan was WAY out of position.

Yet, still no energy in the JLA. I need/want/crave a nap. Or "quiet time" like we say at our house to the kiddos.

12:59 Doriott for holding. Michigan looking for their third PPG.

15:13 The UM band plays "The Final Countdown" even though it's not.

16:15 Olson for a high stick. The penalty parade continues...

17:18 With Robinson's arse to the play, Rust banks it off of said arse. Just a terrible goal. Good thing MTU has both backups dressed.

End of two - 3-1 Michigan and shots are 32-14 Michigan.

Off to grow a tail now. Not really. Just sounded like a cool thing to write.

THIRD PERIOD

Not much early, but I'm digging the flat screens in the press box.

1:05 Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger In Paradise" gets play. Again, why??? Good tune, but we only get pizza post-game. Might send someone out for burgers after this game. Karl???

3:08 Players hanging out around the Michigan net, so Kattelus steps in and gets No. 1 on the season. Now a 3-2 game, folks.

5:38 JLA starting to get loud and filled with fans ... for the Michigan State-RPI game.

6:28 Pietila gets trashed along the boards and skates hunched over to the bench. Didn't see who hit him, though.

9:26 Huge carom off the boards leads to Sparks getting goal No. 2. Robinson looked like a dying carp trying to get in position.

Our first playing of a song with the word "Shorty" gets heard with 50 Cent's "In Da Club." Fantastic.

12:22 Baker gets Tech back to within a goal by finishing off a 2-on-1 break with Dobson. Just blew it by Hogan, who looks bored out there. Until he stops Kattelus from point-blank range at 12:45.

Pizza has arrived in the press box. Good, I'm starving. The popcorn just wasn't cutting it.

18:00 Two-minute warning.

18:58 Hogan's poke-check almost winds up behind him. MTU calls time-out. Robinson stays on the bench.

19:48 Lebler with the ENG with Sparks wide-open. Lebler realized it, too.

20:00 Ballgame!

Carl Hagelin and action photo by Karl Henkel/MiCHO

Follow today's GLI action LIVE

Follow today's Great Lakes Invitational action live from Joe Louis Arena with MichiganCollegeHockey.com's in-game blog, and then come back after the games for complete player and coach reactions.

Michigan Tech (3-14-0, 2-13-0 WCHA) takes on Michigan State (12-6-2, 9-3-2-0 CCHA) at 4 p.m. in Tuesday's first game before Michigan (9-9-0, 5-7-0-0 CCHA) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (9-9-1, 3-4-0 ECAC) play at 7:30.

Michigan has won the MacInnes Trophy a record 13 times and is the two-time defending champion. The Spartans last won the event in 2006 and Michigan Tech was a runner-up in 2007. RPI is making its first GLI appearance since 1985.

Wildcats edge Huskies Friday night

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Northern Michigan snapped its three-game losing skid against the Michigan Tech Huskies Friday night with a late goal to gain a 2-1 win at the Berry Events Center.

MTU struck first with a goal at 8:14 of the second period by John Kivisto.

The Wildcats tied the game on a power-play goal by Andrew Cherniwchan at 18:09 of the second.

Jared Brown scored his sixth goal of the season with 1:01 left in regulation to win it for Northern Michigan.

Brian Stewart earned the win in goal with a 22-save outing, while Kevin Genoe made 18 saves in defeat.

NMU (7-8-4, 5-6-3-0 CCHA) is idle until Jan. 2 when it plays in the first game of the Dodge Holiday Classic against Clarkson at the University of Minnesota.

Michigan Tech (3-14-0, 2-12-0 WCHA) next plays Dec. 29 at the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit against Michigan State.

MiCHO will be covering the GLI live from Joe Louis Arena with a live blog during all four games, exclusive photos and game recaps.

'08 GLI title game replayed Saturday

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

An encore presentation of Michigan's 5-1 defeat of archrival Michigan State in the Great Lakes Invitational championship game is being replayed on Fox Sports Detroit on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

After the Spartans jumped on the board first with a Matt Schepke power-play goal, the Wolverines came back with five unanswered goals. Michigan was led by GLI MVP Louie Caporusso, who had one goal in the title game and three in their semifinal victory over Michigan Tech the day before.

The victory gave Michigan its second-straight GLI title and 13th overall.

Huskies announce '09-10 schedule

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The third annual Superior Showcase, the 45th annual Great Lakes Invitational and a Winter Carnival series against Minnesota-Duluth highlight Michigan Tech’s 2009-10 schedule.

The Huskies’ schedule consists of 34 regular-season games, including 28 Western Collegiate Hockey Association tilts.

Tech opens with a home preseason game versus Ryerson on Oct. 3. The regular-season opener will come at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena against archrival Northern Michigan Oct. 9 as part of the Superior Showcase. The Huskies will host Lake Superior State as part of the event two days later.

WCHA play will commence Oct. 23-24 with a trip to Colorado College.

Tech’s annual Hall of Fame game will be played against North Dakota Nov. 7.

The 45th annual GLI will take place Dec. 29-30 with the Huskies battling Michigan State in a semifinal. Michigan and RPI are the other teams involved in the nation’s premier holiday college hockey tournament.

Michigan Tech will entertain NMU in a rare weekday matchup on Tuesday, Jan. 12, which will wrap up a three-game season series with the Wildcats (the other Tech-Northern game is Friday, Dec. 18, in Marquette).

Winter Carnival will be held Feb. 5-6, with UMD coming to battle for the MacInnes Cup. As with Carnival tradition, the Saturday game will start at 5:07 p.m. Tech will use that same format (Friday at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday at 5:07 p.m.) for the Jan. 15-16 series versus Alaska Anchorage and the Jan. 29-30 set vs. Minnesota State.

MTU will finish its regular season March 5-6 in North Dakota and the WCHA playoffs will begin the following weekend with the league’s Red Baron Final Five to take place March 18-20.

The complete schedule is HERE.

Wolverines capture GLI championship

By Matt Mackinder/Managing Editor, MiCHO

DETROIT - The MacInnes Cup will stay in Ann Arbor.

With a convincing 5-1 win over Michigan State Sunday night, Michigan won their second straight Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena.

And made it look pretty easy, too.

Goaltender Bryan Hogan made just 19 saves (after 15 in Saturday's win over Michigan Tech) and Louie Caporusso added his fourth goal of the GLI to pace the Wolverines' attack.

Caporusso was subsequently named the tournament MVP, but deflected attention elsewhere.

"Any time you get MVP it's a great feeling, but any of these guys could have got MVP, too," said Caporusso at the post-game press conference with defenseman Chris Summers and Hogan. "It's the championship that's more important and it feels great."

Summers chipped in three assists and Ben Winnett's goal 2:11 into the second period stood as the game-winner.

Matt Schepke staked the Spartans (5-12-3) to an early 1-0 lead with a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 12:28 of the first period, but that lead was erased when Travis Turnbull knotted the game at 16:18.

Brandon Naurato and Tim Miller scored less than three minutes apart in the second period and Caporusso's highlight-reel goal sealed it early in the final period.

“I thought that Michigan played very, very well,” said MSU coach Rick Comley. “Good team, good speed, worked hard. Once they got going, there was just nothing we could do. They played very well.”

Jeff Lerg made 49 saves for Michigan State and Comley said his play was "amazing, outstanding again."

“It’s not often you get one or two goals against Lerg," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "It was one of those nights when we got the puck behind him and we just built momentum.”

The Wolverines limited the Spartans to five total shots on goal in the final 40 minutes.

Michigan (13-7-0) hosts Miami Jan. 9-10, while MSU hosts Alaska this weekend.

GLI NOTEBOOK

Next year, RPI will round out the four-team GLI field. Boston University (2010), Boston College (2011) and St. Cloud State (2012) were also announced for future GLI tournaments.

The All-Tournament Team was comprised of forwards Louie Caporusso (UM), Matt Schepke (MSU) and Jordan Baker (Michigan Tech), Michigan defensemen Chris Summers and Chad Langlais and Wolverines goaltender Bryan Hogan.

Photo by Matt Mackinder

Huskies upset UND for third place

By Matt Mackinder/Managing Editor, MiCHO

DETROIT - Jordan Baker played the role of hero for Michigan Tech this afternoon as his goal at 14:02 of the third period gave the Huskies a 2-1 upset win over No. 18 North Dakota in the consolation game of the Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena.

Brett Olson put a shot on net that bounced loose to the right of UND goaltender Brad Eidsness and Baker was on the doorstep to knock in his team-best ninth goal of the year.

Ryan Angelow's first goal of the season late in the second period gave MTU (5-15-2) a 1-0 lead until Evan Trupp tied the game 8:14 into the third period.

“We came to the rink with much more focus,” said Huskies head coach Jamie Russell. “Our penalty kill was outstanding tonight.”

Rob Nolan made 29 saves for the win, while Eidsness finished with 18 for the Fighting Sioux (9-10-1).

“We had a good effort, but our execution level wasn’t good enough to produce tonight, offensively,” said UND head coach Dave Hakstol. “Give Michigan Tech credit - they played a good, strong hockey game.”

MTU next plays at Denver Jan. 9-10.

Baker photo courtesy Michigan Tech

Schepke, Lerg lead Spartans at GLI

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry will renew again tomorrow night in the finals of the Great Lakes Invitational after the Spartans defeated North Dakota, 2-1, in the nightcap of the tournament tonight at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Michigan blanked Michigan Tech, 5-0, in the first game.

Matt Schepke scored both goals for MSU (5-11-3) and Jeff Lerg made 38 saves. Corey Tropp assisted on both goals as MSU snapped an 11-game winless skid dating back to Nov. 1.

Schepke leads the Spartans with nine goals on the season.

“It felt really good to get the first goal and see the energy on the bench,” Schepke said. “The bench just erupted and you could tell that first goal electrified the bench and the guys were ready to go. It felt good to get the first one and get the whole team going.”

With an assist on Schepke's first goal, sophomore Joey Shean picked up his first NCAA point.

Matt Frattin tallied the lone goal for the Fighting Sioux (9-9-1), who got a 28-save performance from Brad Eidsness.

“I don’t want to take anything away from their performance,” North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol said. “I feel they’re a team that knows how to win. There are certainly a lot of guys in that locker room who know how to win, but certainly I’m not happy with our performance. It starts with the coaches and goes down from there.”

U-M and MSU will meet up for the 44th annual GLI championship tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. Michigan Tech and North Dakota play for third place in an all-WCHA matchup at 3:05 p.m.

QUICK NOTE

Tim Kennedy, who opted to forego his final collegiate season with Michigan State in favor of signing with the Buffalo Sabres in the offseason, made his NHL debut tonight with Buffalo in a 4-3 shootout win over the New York Islanders. Kennedy saw 11:04 of ice time.