MSU's Lerg keeps winning awards

Michigan State Press Release

Former Michigan State netminder Jeff Lerg will be bestowed the highest honor given to an undergraduate by the NCAA when he is recognized as one of the Association's 2010 Top VIII Award winners at the NCAA Convention in Atlanta next month.

The Today's Top VIII award recognizes current student-athletes who have completed their athletics eligibility for their success on the fields and courts, in the classroom and in the community. The award is open to all athletes in Divisions I, II, and III, and all sports sponsored by the NCAA. Recipients will be honored January 15 at the NCAA Honors and Delegates Celebration.

Lerg is the second Michigan State athlete to win this prestigious award, joining basketball standout Greg Kelser, who was selected in 1980. He is also just the second ice hockey player to ever be selected. Northern Michigan's Brad Werenka was selected in 1992. Michigan State head coach Rick Comley was Werenka's coach with the Wildcats.

In addition, Michigan State is one of just four Big Ten institutions to have more than one Top VIII winner.

"This is certainly a tremendous honor not only for myself, but also for Michigan State University," noted Lerg when notified of his selection. "I'm obviously humbled, looking at the list of winners and their accomplishments."

The complete list of 2010 Top VIII honorees:

• Amanda Blumenherst, Duke, golf

• Courtney Kupets, Georgia, gymnastics

• Venessa Lee, Pittsburg State, cross country and indoor and outdoor track

• Jeff Lerg, Michigan State, men's ice hockey

• Kent Raymond, Wheaton (Illinois), basketball

• Brittany Rogers, Alabama, softball

• Sarah Stevens, Arizona State, indoor and outdoor track

• Tim Tebow, Florida, football

The Top VIII honorees are selected by the NCAA Honors Committee, which is composed of eight athletics administrators at member institutions and nationally distinguished citizens who are former student-athletes.

Photo - Lerg accepting the MVP trophy after Michigan State won the 2006 CCHA playoff title. (Matt Mackinder/MiCHO)

Michigan State Spartans Preview

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Head coach: Rick Comley (8th season)

Home arena: Munn Ice Arena (6,470)

Last season: 10-23-5 overall, 7-17-4 CCHA (T-10th), lost in CCHA quarterfinals to Northern Michigan

Returning for the Spartans:
Goaltenders: SO Drew Palmisano, SR Bobby Jarosz
Forwards: JR Dustin Gazley, SO Daultan Leveille, SO Mike Merrifield (back after going back to juniors at semester break), SO Trevor Nill, SO Brett Perlini, JR Andrew Rowe (assistant captain), RS SR Nick Sucharski (co-captain), JR Joey Shean, SR Jay Sprague, JR Corey Tropp (assistant captain, reinstated in offseason)
Defensemen: SO Tim Buttery, SO Matt Crandell, SR Justin Johnston, JR Jeff Petry (co-captain), SO Brock Shelgren, JR A.J. Sturges

No longer sporting Sparty:
Goaltenders: Jeff Lerg (signed with New Jersey organization), Steve Mnich
Forwards: Tim Crowder, Adam Henderson, Kurt Kivisto, Matt Schepke, Jacob Schering, Dan Sturges, Ben Warda
Defensemen: Shaun Fulton, Brandon Gentile

New to the Spartans:
Goaltender: Kyle McMahon (sophomore, last played for Wichita Falls, NAHL, in ’07-08)
Forwards: Dean Chelios (Chicago, USHL), Chris Forfar (Lincoln, USHL), Zach Golembiewski (Indiana, USHL), Derek Grant (Langley, BCHL), Anthony Hayes (Green Bay, USHL), Kevin Walrod (Cowichan Valley, BCHL)
Defensemen: Matt Grassi (Salmon Arm, BCHL), Zach Josepher (Penticton, BCHL), Torey Krug (Indiana, USHL)

NHL draft picks: 6 (Leveille, Grant, Tropp, Nill, Petry, Sucharski)

Outlook: After having their worst season in recent memory last year, the Spartans hope it’s all uphill from here.

However, any success MSU has this year will be without goaltender Jeff Lerg, who graduated last spring.

“There will be life after Jeff Lerg,” Michigan State head coach Rick Comley said. “I think Drew Palmisano is probably the goalie people are going to refer to now and I think he is an outstanding goalie. We brought him in a year early to work with Jeff Lerg and I think he really benefited from that.”

Offense might come and go for the Spartans and Comley said he’s not sold on leaning on any one player or group to lead the forward units.

“Goal scoring was a major problem last year and I think it still will be a problem, but our talent is better,” noted Comley. “It is difficult to say who will lead us offensively, but the young guys will benefit from the ice time that they had last year.”

Co-captain Jeff Petry is a rock on defense and will be again this year.

MSU opens at home this weekend against Clarkson.

Devils sign Jeff Lerg to rookie deal

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Former Michigan State goaltender Jeff Lerg has signed a free-agent contract with the New Jersey Devils.

Lerg, a 23-year-old Livonia native, joins the Devils organization after an outstanding four-year career as a Spartan. Lerg played in three NCAA Tournaments and led MSU to the NCAA championship as a sophomore in 2006-2007.

The 5-foot-6, 155-pound Lerg compiled a 76-51-17 record with 12 shutouts and a 2.38 goals- against average in 146 games.

In 2007-2008, Lerg was named to the All-CCHA first team as well as the NCAA West All-America second team and was a Hobey Baker finalist.

This past year, Lerg, also MSU's captain, was named Academic All-America of the Year in the At-Large Division by ESPN The Magazine and also won the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the men’s ice hockey division.

Lerg will report to the Devils rookie camp early next month.

Photo courtesy Michigan State University

Awards keep coming for Jeff Lerg

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan State senior Jeff Lerg has been named the Academic All-America of the Year in the At-Large Division by ESPN The Magazine, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Lerg, a Livonia native, has earned First Team Academic All-America honors for the second straight season, and in May graduated from MSU with a degree in Finance, boasting a 3.814 cumulative grade-point average.

The men’s At-Large program for the Academic All-America® includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, tennis and water polo.

“This really is a tremendous honor,” noted Lerg. “The Academic All-America program honors the nation’s top student-athletes, and looking at some of the other athletes named to the team, I’m honored to be mentioned among these high-achieving individuals.”

“Jeff is so deserving of all of the accolades he receives,” added Spartans head coach Rick Comley. “He is truly a special individual who, through great self-discipline and an unequalled work ethic, achieves at such an amazingly high level at whatever he chooses to undertake. He graduated near the top of his class, was a standout among our student-athletes in community service, and will be recognized as one of the most decorated hockey players in Michigan State history. Jeff embodies what we want our student-athletes to be not only at Michigan State, but in collegiate athletics on the whole.”

Lerg finished the 2008-09 season ranked fourth nationally with 1,050 saves while averaging 32.5 saves per game, second in NCAA Division I. He also finished his career as the all-time saves leader (3,996) for both the Spartans and the CCHA; his total is second all-time in the NCAA annals.

The senior was named co-recipient of the ninth annual Ilitch Humanitarian Award as the CCHA’s top citizen, Lerg has put in countless hours on community service projects. Among his significant other commitments, he became passionate in developing a mentoring relationship with several young boys through the Big Brothers program and the Spartan Buddies program. While mentoring these boys, Lerg was inspired to further help the fight against children’s cancer by being greatly involved with MSU’s “Shoot for a Cure” initiative, which raised more than $20,000 in 15 months since its inception in January 2008.

In addition to the Ilitch Award, Lerg was the recipient of the Lowe’s Senior Class Award for ice hockey, was a finalist for the national Hockey Humanitarian Award and won the prestigious Gwendolyn Norrell Community Service and Leadership Award from MSU.

A 2008 ACHA All-American, he was named the Detroit Athletic Club Michigan College Athlete of the Year, and was also a finalist for the AAU’s prestigious James E. Sullivan Award. Also, he was named as the USA Hockey College Player of the Year as a sophomore when he led the Spartans to the NCAA championship. A two-time All-CCHA selection, he was named to the CCHA All-Academic Team three times in his career.

As a senior, he posted a 2.94 goals-against average with a .921 save percentage. In his career, Lerg’s .921 save percentage ranks second all-time in the MSU annals and ties for 15th all-time in the NCAA record book.

Photo by Dave Reginek/CCHA

Michigan State's Lerg has CLASS

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan State University goaltender Jeff Lerg, the nation’s collegiate hockey leader in saves who performed equally as well in the classroom and mentored youngsters in his community, has been selected winner of the 2009 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the men’s ice hockey division.

The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of coaches, media and fans, is presented annually to college hockey’s outstanding NCAA Division I senior student-athlete. The announcement and trophy presentation were made Thursday by Lowe’s during the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Washington, D.C.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award has grown into the nation’s premier tribute to college seniors. The award identifies personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete, with criteria including excellence in the classroom, character and community, as well as competition on the ice.

Lowe’s, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, expanded the Senior CLASS Award program in 2007 to include NCAA Division I men’s and women’s soccer, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, baseball and softball in addition to men’s and women’s basketball. With the addition of football (Bowl Subdivision) in 2008, the award is now presented in nine NCAA sports.

"Being a four-year student-athlete at Michigan State has provided me so many opportunities and given me a lifetime of memories,” Lerg said. “I received my education, was able to be a part of one of the storied programs in college hockey and we were able to win a national championship. So many people played a part in getting me where I am today, so the community outreach was important to me as well, as a chance to give back to the campus and surrounding communities that supported me and my teammates. Thanks to Lowe’s for sponsoring this award as well as the people who voted for me.”

"Jeff is such a unique individual,” said Rick Comley, Michigan State’s head hockey coach. “There is no question he is the most prepared student-athlete I have ever seen in my 36 years as a head coach. His attention to detail, his commitment to doing everything in his life the right way and the balance he is able to find between his preparation to compete, his academic work and his community involvement is just remarkable. I cannot believe anyone would better represent what we all want our student-athletes to be as competitors, students and citizens than the way Jeff Lerg has for Michigan State University."

As a senior, Lerg led the country during the regular season in saves with 1,050 and became the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's all-time saves leader in the last week of the regular season. His 3,996 career saves place him second all-time on the NCAA's career list. The Spartan captain compiled a 2.94 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in his senior season. In his career, Lerg’s .921 save percentage ranks second all-time in the MSU annals and ties for 15th all-time in the NCAA record book.

Lerg’s impact has extended into the classroom and community as well. An Academic All-American and CCHA Scholar Athlete of the Year, he carries a 3.75 grade-point-average as a finance major. Lerg, who will graduate this spring, has posted a 4.0 GPA in two semesters.

Recently named co-recipient of the ninth annual Ilitch Humanitarian Award as the CCHA's top citizen, Lerg has put in countless hours on community service projects. He became passionate in developing a mentoring relationship with several young boys through the Big Brothers program and the Spartan Buddies program. While mentoring these boys, Lerg was inspired to get involved with raising money for the “Cure Kids Cancer” campaign. He even had the bracelet from one of the youngsters -- "Stay Strong, Do It. Gordie #22" – painted onto the back of his helmet for his senior season.

His long list of other community activities includes the American Lung Association (Blow the Whistle on Asthma), Children's Miracle Network, Make A Change (collecting money at home football games for cancer research), Project Read at local elementary schools, "Jump Start Your Heart" (health and fitness), Junior Spartan Tailgate, "Fall into Fitness" (promoting health and wellness), Trick or Treating for Kids with Cancer, Teams for Toys (team adopts a local family every Christmas), Family Skate Night with local elementary schools, the CCHA's Have Fun, Play Hockey clinics, participated in fundraising wheelchair hockey games for a local wheelchair hockey team, MSU Athletics Fan Fest and served as a celebrity speaker for Hike For Hospice.

“The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award has developed into a wonderful tribute for college student-athletes,” said Bob Gfeller, senior vice president of marketing and advertising at Lowe’s. “On behalf of the 228,000 associates at Lowe’s, we salute Jeff for a tremendous collegiate career at Michigan State. He has been a role model for many youngsters and has clearly taken his status as a college student-athlete and used it to impact others.”

The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award also names an All-Senior All-America Team each year based on voting results of the finalists. Joining Lerg on the 2009 First Team is: Erik Condra (Livonia), University of Notre Dame; Matt Cook, Union College; Jordan Pearce, Notre Dame; and Mike Phillipich (Lansing), United States Air Force Academy. The Second Team consists of Andrew Carroll, University of Minnesota Duluth; Chris Hahn, University of Maine; Trevor Hyatt, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Mathias Lange, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and Dean Strong, University of Vermont.

This marks the third year for the men’s hockey division of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Notre Dame’s David Brown was the inaugural winner in 2007 and Princeton’s Landis Stankievech was the recipient in 2008.

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

Northern handles State in two games

By Susannah Nichols/Northern Michigan Beat Writer

The Northern Michigan Wildcats (16-15-5) continued their hot streak with a commanding sweep of Michigan State in the first round of the CCHA Playoffs this past weekend.

The 'Cats turned in a 5-3 win on Friday and a 8-2 victory on Saturday and also brought their record above .500, a clear indication of how far this team has come since the midpoint of the season.

Although Michigan State struck first in Friday's game, thanks to a Brett Perlini power-play goal, Northern retaliated with four straight goals, including a shorthanded tally by Billy Smith.

The Spartans roared back in the third period, cutting the NMU lead on a Kurt Kivisto goal. Jared Brown and Justin Florek responded by setting up Erik Gustafsson to widen Northern's lead. State snuck in a last minute goal, but Northern held on for the 5-3 win.

Jeff Lerg finished with 24 saves; Brian Stewart made 18 saves for the win.

State kept things close for the first period of Saturday's game. Gregor Hanson and Nick Sirota scored to get Northern on the board first, but Dustin Gazley came back only a minute after Sirota's goal to cut the 'Cats' lead to one.

But from the second period on, Northern was unstoppable - six straight goals courtesy of Ben Lindemulder (his second of the weekend), Ray Kaunisto, Mark Olver (also his second of the weekend), Brown, Phil Fox, and Sirota again, shorthanded. Derek May added two assists.

MSU made a concerted effort in the third, though. The Spartans outshot the Wildcats, 11-7, and Gazley fired in a second goal for the Spartans late in the game, but Northern had run away with the series.

Lerg finished with 21 saves and Stewart with 20. Lerg also completed his collegiate career with 3,996 saves, second most in NCAA history.

The next test for the 'Cats will be next weekend, on the road, against the Miami RedHawks. The two teams skated to a win and a tie in their last series.

MSU finishes 10-23-5.

MSU swept by No. 2 Notre Dame

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

Michigan State goalie Jeff Lerg became the CCHA's all-time saves leader and moved to No. 2 on the all-time NCAA list, but as with many MSU games this year, it wasn't enough as the Spartans were swept in a home-and-home set with Notre Dame last weekend.

"I think it was a cherry on top there," Lerg said. "I have had a pretty fun career here and to break a few records like that, I am very proud of myself and I am happy that Coach gave me a chance to do that. Tim Thomas is my favorite goalie to watch in the NHL, so it is pretty great that I got the chance to overtake his record."

"In the 35 years of coaching, I think he's the best I've ever coached," MSU head coach Rick Comley said of Lerg. "And I meant it from the total context of the student-athlete - never an issue, never a concern, never a worry, never a doubt. Really, he'll never get complete credit for that. Being what he is couldn't have just happened. He made it happen with the right approach to everything."

Friday night in South Bend, Drew Palmisano made 26 saves as the Spartans (10-21-5, 7-17-4-3 CCHA) were blanked, 5-0.

Lerg didn't dress for the first time in 163 games.

Last night back at Munn Ice Arena, MSU dropped a tight game, 2-1, to the second-ranked Irish.

Jay Sprague scored his first goal of the year and Lerg finished with 35 stops on Senior Night.

"I wanted to be able to win, obviously, but if we didn't, I wanted to be able to play well and give our team a chance to win the game," said Lerg. "Obviously, I knew that we tend to give up a lot of shots, so I thought going in that I had a chance to break all of those records. I just wanted to play well and not give up rebounds. I didn't want to create extra shots for them because they are a great team. I think we had to keep the emotions in check. I thought we played hard, (but) we just didn't get the win."

Lerg's save on Calle Ridderwall with 4:17 remaining in the game pushed him to second place all-time on the NCAA list. Lerg passed Thomas, who had 3,950 in his career at Vermont. Lerg finishes the regular season with 3,951 saves, which breaks Glenn Healy's former CCHA mark of 3,933 that he set at Western Michigan from 1981-1985. In the all-time NCAA record book, Lerg's total stands only behind Robbie Moore (Michigan), who had 4,434 in his career (1972-1976).

MSU will face Northern Michigan in the first round of the CCHA playoffs next weekend in Marquette.

MSU gains split with Bowling Green

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

After Michigan State extended their unbeaten streak to five games Friday night at home against Bowling Green, the road wasn't as kind Saturday night as the Falcons came back with a decisive shutout versus the Spartans.

In Friday night's 3-2 win at Munn Ice Arena, Daultan Leveille and Brock Shelgren (first NCAA goal) scored in a 26-second span six minutes into the third period to come from behind and get the win.

"I think I was coming in from a line change and they tried chipping it out and it was just right there for me," said Shelgren of his goal, also the game-winner. "I just wound up and tried to put it on net and it went in for me. I watched it go in, but I was still surprised, it being my first college goal and everything."

Matt Schepke scored MSU's first goal and Jeff Lerg made 35 saves.

Saturday night, BGSU took a 4-0 win.

Lerg made 32 saves to extend his streak of games with 29 or more saves to 16 games. He needs just 18 more saves to pass Glenn Healy (Western Michigan) for the all-time CCHA record.

Junior forward Jacob Schering, who joined the team less than two weeks ago, dressed in his first collegiate game for the Spartans. The Trenton native drew a penalty in the second period.

Michigan State (10-19-5, 7-15-4-3 CCHA) wraps up the regular season with a home-and-home series with Notre Dame next weekend. The teams face off Friday in South Bend and then on Saturday in East Lansing.

MSU ties, defeats Ohio State at home

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

It might be a case of too little, too late for the Michigan State Spartans, but at this point in the season, wins are everything.

Last weekend at home, MSU tied Ohio State Friday night, but then won in a shootout, and then defeated the Buckeyes Saturday night.

"We haven't had very many fun Sundays recently," Spartans head coach Rick Comley said. "The kids really deserve a lot of credit. We had a really depleted lineup (Saturday) night. It's reinforcing that Jeff (Lerg) has been sending the right message and you try to coach in a positive way, despite everything that has gone on. All of a sudden you get two wins against a nationally-ranked team that is in the top four in the league and you get excited about another week. We haven't been able to sing the fight song in the locker room too much - we only sing it after two wins."

Friday night, Brett Perlini's first NCAA goal and point was all MSU could muster, but Lerg made 36 saves and Kurt Kivisto and Ben Warda tallied in the shootout for a 2-1 win.

Then Saturday afternoon, Michigan State got a 33-save performance from Lerg and a game-winning power-play tally from Jeff Petry in the final four minutes to record a 2-1 victory.

Joey Shean scored 4:24 into the game for MSU, now 9-18-5 overall and 6-14-4-3 in the CCHA.

"We've had a lot of times where we've been down, but not out, and now we're starting to fight back," Lerg said. "You need a positive here and there to just keep you in the right mental state and that's what happened this weekend and actually the last couple weekends. We've been playing some pretty solid hockey and that's what we need to do. Hopefully, we peak at the right time, because it doesn't really matter until the playoffs start."

The Spartans play a home-and-home set with Bowling Green next weekend starting Friday night in East Lansing.

Spartans tie, beat Ferris State

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

Michigan State finally snapped their losing streak this weekend and much of that can be attributed to senior goalie Jeff Lerg.

The Spartans tied Ferris State, 2-2, Friday night at home (but lost in the subsequent shootout) and then topped the Bulldogs, 1-0, last night in Big Rapids to end their six-game losing skid.

Lerg made 44 saves Friday night and Saturday night finished with 32 stops.

"We're at a point where we're low on numbers and this is just a gutsy win for us tonight," noted MSU head coach Rick Comley after the 1-0 win. "Our guys really did a great job of blocking shots and doing all the little things we needed to do to be successful. A three-point weekend for us is huge. We're in playoff mode and every little bit is going to help."

Andrew Rowe and Joey Shean (first NCAA goal) scored Friday night for the Spartans (8-18-4, 5-14-3-2 CCHA) and FSU captain Cody Chupp and Justin Menke each had a goal and an assist to back Pat Nagle's 30-save outing.

Derek Graham scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout to give the Bulldogs the extra point.

Last night, Matt Schepke scored 36 seconds into the game and the Spartans buckled down defensively to help Lerg get his second shutout of the year. In particular, freshman Trevor Nill blocked three FSU shots in the final minute when the Bulldogs had an extra attacker on the ice with goalie Taylor Nelson on the bench.

Nelson kicked out 18 shots in the loss.

Michigan State hosts Ohio State next weekend, while the Bulldogs (11-12-7, 8-9-5-2 CCHA) travel to Bowling Green.

Michigan State brooms aside Broncos

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

In winning both ends of a home-and-home set with Western Michigan, Michigan State senior goaltender Jeff Lerg surpassed Dave Versical's all-time saves record (3,108) in his 120th career contest, a 3-1 win at Munn Ice Arena Friday night.

Lerg either owns or ranks among the school's top five in seven of eight career statistical categories. He stopped 28 shots in Friday's win.

Daultan Leveille scored twice for 11th-ranked MSU and Andrew Conboy added the other.

Max Campbell tallied the lone goal for the Broncos and Riley Gill made 34 saves.

Still, all the attention after the game was on Lerg and his saves record.

"It's a great accomplishment to have," said Lerg. "Like I said when I came here, I never expected to be the captain or the all-time saves leader. It's just a great feeling for me and I can't thank the coaches enough for giving me the opportunity to play as much as I have. Great thanks to the coaches and all the great teammates I've had here. Like any award you get, it is all around the team around you."

Last night in Kalamazoo, Michigan State got its second shootout win of the season, skating to a 2-2 tie with the Broncos before winning the shootout, 2-1. Kurt Kivisto and Matt Schepke had the shootout goals for MSU, while Trevor Nill (first NCAA goal) and Tim Crowder had the goals in regulation.

Drew Palmisano drew the start in net, making 32 saves in regulation and limiting the Broncos to one shootout goal in the win.

Kevin Connauton, also with his first collegiate goal, and Tyler Ludwig scored for Western Michigan and Gill turned aside 21 shots in a losing effort. Cam Watson assisted on both goals for the Broncos.

“I thought it was a fantastic effort on our part," said Gill. "We played them really tough and I thought we were the better team tonight, but with the shootout rule now, we were on the unfortunate end there.”

Michigan State (4-2-2, 2-0-2-2 CCHA) takes to the road for a series in Columbus next weekend against Ohio State, while WMU (1-5-2, 0-2-2-1 CCHA) hosts Nebraska-Omaha on Friday and Saturday.

Spartans lose, rebound vs. Mass.-Lowell

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

It wasn't the way Michigan State wanted to open their home schedule, but getting a split last weekend against Massachusetts-Lowell is at least better than nothing.

MSU was blanked Thursday night, 3-0, only to rebound and post a 2-1 win Friday night.

"I think it was really important (to get the win Friday)," said Spartans head coach Rick Comley. "As you know, in hockey, memories are really short - for our fans, for everybody. Everybody deals with 2-2 now because of the schedule, but everyone's OK now. They like what they see and they like these young kids and it's a good emotional win at home."

Freshman Drew Palmisano (pictured) earned his first collegiate win in net with a 21-save outing. Jeff Lerg played Thursday night and made 27 saves. Comley said starting Palmisano Friday was to have the players prove they could win without demanding too much out of Lerg.

"My fear was that these kids were relying so much on Jeff," Comley said. "They had to prove to themselves that they could win without him. That's what my hope was, but there's no guarantee that's going to happen. But that's what my hope was."

"I felt really relaxed," said Palmisano, last year's USA Hockey Goaltender of the Year with the USHL's Omaha Lancers. "The defense did a good job, and the forwards did a good job of playing down in their end for most of the game which made my job a lot easier. They blocked a lot of shots for me so I didn't have to be too big tonight."

Tim Crowder and Ben Warda (first NCAA goal) scored power-play goals 16 seconds apart in the third period to come from behind Friday night.

The Spartans host Northern Michigan this weekend at home.

"Northern is a team that gives us trouble, because they're big, they're strong, they're older," added Comley. "Our average age is 20-point-something and theirs is probably 27."

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

Spartans win, lose at Icebreaker

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

Senior goalie Jeff Lerg was the difference in both games for Michigan State this weekend as the Spartans went 1-1 at the Icebreaker Tournament in Boston.

Lerg made 36 saves Friday night in a 3-1 win over Massachusetts. Andrew Rowe, Andrew Conboy (first NCAA goal) and Matt Schepke scored and Daultan Leveille chipped in with his first two collegiate assists. Trevor Nill added an assist for his first NCAA point as well.

Brian Keane broke up Lerg's shutout bid with 7:06 to play in the third period.

Saturday night, MSU fell, 2-1, to host Boston University. Lerg kicked out 27 shots and Jeff Petry scored the lone goal on a power play 13:25 into the second period.

Lerg and Petry were both named to the All-Tournament Team for the Spartans (1-1-0).

Michigan State wraps its four-game run against Hockey East teams this week when they host UMass-Lowell on Thursday and Friday at Munn Ice Arena.

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

Lerg heads CCHA preseason team

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association today announced the 2008-09 Preseason All-Conference Team, as selected by the 12 head coaches.

Michigan State senior goaltender Jeff Lerg (pictured) and Notre Dame senior forward Erik Condra (Livonia) each garnered nine first-place votes to tie for the lead in balloting with 51 points apiece. Lerg, who this year becomes just the second goalie in team history to captain the Spartans, is a member of the Preseason All-Conference First Team for a third consecutive season. Condra led the Fighting Irish in scoring with 38 points last season after being named a member of the Preseason All-Conference Second Team.

Condra is joined on the First Team by Notre Dame teammate and defenseman Kyle Lawson (New Hudson), who is making his second straight appearance on the squad. Michigan also sports a pair of players on the First Team in forward Aaron Palushaj, who led all rookies in overall scoring last season, and defenseman Mark Mitera, the Wolverine captain and NHL first-round draft pick of Anaheim. Miami senior forward Justin Mercier, the RedHawks top returning goal scorer, completes the First Team, which for a second straight year has representation from four CCHA teams.

Three members of the 2008 CCHA All-Rookie Team graduated to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team - Michigan State defenseman Jeff Petry, Miami forward Carter Camper and Northern Michigan forward Mark Olver. Notre Dame junior Ryan Thang, who wound up tied in voting with Olver to place four forwards on the Second Team for a second consecutive year, is making a return appearance on the team. Irish sophomore Ian Cole (Ann Arbor) landed the other defenseman’s position on the Second Team which is rounded out by a pair of seniors, Michigan goalie Billy Sauer and Michigan State forward Tim Crowder.

Three defensemen received Honorable Mention including Northern Michigan’s Erik Gustafsson, Nebraska-Omaha’s Eddie Del Grosso and Ferris State’s Zach Redmond. Jacob Cepis of Bowling Green and Nick Sirota of Northern Michigan earned Honorable Mentions at the forward position while Notre Dame senior goaltender Jordan Pearce also earned the distinction.

Five schools are represented on the first and second teams while three others are represented with honorable mentions.

Voting was conducted among the 12 head coaches in the CCHA. Coaches could not vote for their own players.

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

MSU recruit earns USA Hockey award

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Omaha Lancers goaltender and Michigan State recruit Drew Palmisano has been named the 2008 recipient of the Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year Award by USA Hockey.

Palmisano will receive the award at a banquet which coincides with USA Hockey's annual congress June 3-7 in Colorado Springs.

Palmisano, an Ann Arbor native, was among the top goaltenders in the USHL during the regular season and helped Omaha to the 2008 Clark Cup championship earlier this month.

"The USHL and its members wish to congratulate Drew Palmisano on this wonderful honor. Last season he was a big reason that Omaha turned around their season, but he took his game and his team to another level this season," said USHL president Gino Gasparini. "He has a bright future ahead of him in the game and we're happy that we had a hand in his development."

The 2007-08 season was a banner year for Palmisano. As a rookie the year before, Palmisano was named the Stauber's Goalcrease USHL Goaltender of the Year as well as 2nd Team All-USHL. This season, Palmisano led the USHL in games played (45), minutes played (2,579) and wins (32). He was second in goals against average (2.02) and save percentage (.922) and third in shutouts (3). Along the way, Palmisano took part in the 2008 USHL Prospects/All-Star Game and was once again 2nd Team All-USHL, all the while backstopping the Lancers to the Anderson Cup title.

In the 2008 Clark Cup playoffs, Palmisano posted a 9-5 record with a 2.45 goals against average a .921 save percentage and four shutouts, helping the Lancers claim the Clark Cup and the Tier I National Championship. The four shutouts set a USHL record for shutouts in one playoff year. For his efforts, he was named the Planet Hockey Clark Cup Most Valuable Player.

Palmisano joins current MSU goalie Jeff Lerg as former Lancers to win the Dave Peterson Award.

Photo of Palmisano in the 2008 USHL Prospects/All-Star Game courtesy USHLimages.com

Lerg to wear the 'C' for Michigan State

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan State has announced the captains for the 2008-09 Spartan hockey team.

Senior goaltender Jeff Lerg has been named the captain, while classmates Tim Kennedy, Tim Crowder and Brandon Gentile have been named alternate captains.

“While Jeff will be wearing a 'C' for the first time, there is no doubt about his leadership on the ice or in the locker room,” noted MSU head coach Rick Comley. “Jeff has earned the respect of everyone in the program and he unquestionably has been a leader on this team during each of his three years. All four players who are wearing letters next year have accomplished a high level of success over the last three years and I think that they will be great leaders for our hockey team, especially with a large group of freshmen joining the program.”

Lerg, who was an alternate captain in 2007-08, has put together one of the most accomplished, decorated resumes of any Spartan in the history of the program. In 2007-08, he put together one of the most decorated campaigns in school history. The netminder was a Hobey Baker finalist, a Second-Team All-America selection, the CCHA First-Team goaltender, and the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In addition, he was a finalist for the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete, as well as a finalist for CCHA Player of the Year honors.

In addition to earning team MVP honors for the second consecutive season, the junior finished the season ninth in the country in save percentage (.926) and a 2.22 goals-against average, which ranked 18th nationally. Lerg’s career numbers rank among the top five all-time at Michigan State in several categories: save percentage (.922), second; saves (2,956), second; goals-against average (2.22), third; career shutouts (10), fourth; wins (67), fifth; games played (114), fourth; and consecutive games played (63), first.

Lerg, whose cousin, Bryan Lerg, captained MSU last year, is a three-year starter who has guided the hockey program into at least the second round of the NCAA Tournament for three straight seasons, making Michigan State one of just three schools to accomplish that feat along with Boston College and North Dakota. He backstopped the Spartans to the 2007 NCAA title and was named the University’s George Alderton Award winner as the top male athlete in 2007. In addition, he was named the USA Hockey College Player of the Year. As a freshman, Lerg emerged as the starter in January and went on an impressive run that saw him earn CCHA Rookie of the Year honors, then emerged as the CCHA Tournament MVP when he helped the Spartans capture the 2006 CCHA title.

Kennedy (pictured) will wear an 'A' for the second straight season and has been the team’s top scorer in each of the last two seasons. In 113 career games in the Green & White, he has 42 goals and 63 assists for 105 points. He was a second-team All-CCHA pick a year ago and was named to the 2007 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.

Crowder and Gentile will serve as alternate captains for the first time in their careers. Crowder is the active leader in career games played (127), and also in goals (46). He has added 47 assists for 93 career points. A big, mobile winger, Crowder has been a fixture on the Spartans’ top lines since his freshman season along with Kennedy.

Gentile will be counted on this season to help anchor a defensive corps that has lost three regulars. A steady, stay-at-home type, Gentile has had two productive seasons after missing most of his freshman campaign with injury. He has appeared in 97 career games and has 13 career assists.

Photo courtesy of Michigan State Athletics

Lerg Michigan's top male collegian

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan State hockey player Jeff Lerg has been named the Michigan College Athlete of the Year, as announced by the Detroit Athletic Club on Monday.

The award is given to one male and one female college athlete who has demonstrated excellence in both academics and scholastics, as well as showing strong citizenship through school leadership, community involvement, and volunteerism. Lerg, a Livonia native, was honored on Monday night in a ceremony at the Detroit Athletic Club.

Tiffany Ofili, a sophomore track and field athlete from the University of Michigan, is the female college-division winner.

"We’re extremely proud of Jeff - I’m not sure that I’ve ever coached a more complete, well-rounded student-athlete," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "Jeff’s honors and awards are well-deserved - he works extremely hard, and it is nice to see that he is rewarded not only for what he does for us on the ice, but also for all the time and commitment he puts into his academics and community service."

"Jeff Lerg certainly embodies the ideal of the student-athlete," added Michigan State director of athletics Mark Hollis. "We are thrilled for Jeff that he gets recognized not only for his considerable athletic talents, but also for his academic accomplishments and community service endeavors as well."

Lerg has not only established himself as one of the elite goaltenders in college hockey, but is also putting together one of the most accomplished careers of any Spartan athlete. In 2007-08, he put together one of the most decorated campaigns in school history. The netminder was a Hobey Baker finalist, a Second-Team All-America selection, the CCHA First-Team goaltender and the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In addition, he was a finalist for the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete, as well as a finalist for CCHA Player of the Year honors.

In addition to earning team MVP honors for the second consecutive season, the junior finished the season ninth in the country in saves percentage (.926), which is tied for sixth-best all-time in the MSU annals, and a 2.22 GAA, which ranked 18th nationally and ninth-best in the Spartan record book. His 24 victories was the fourth-highest total in the country this season, and puts him tied for eighth in the MSU records. He set his career-best in shutouts (four, eighth all-time at MSU) and saves (1,136, which ranks third in the MSU annals). Lerg’s career numbers also rank among the top five all-time at Michigan State in several categories: save percentage (.922), second; saves (2,956), second; goals-against average (2.22), third; career shutouts (10), fourth; wins (67), fifth; games played (114), fourth; and consecutive games played (63), first.

Lerg is a three-year starter who has guided the hockey program into at least the second round of the NCAA Tournament for three straight seasons, making Michigan State one of just three schools to accomplish that feat along with Boston College and North Dakota. He backstopped the Spartans to the 2007 NCAA title and was named the University’s George Alderton Award winner as the top male athlete of the year. In addition, he was named the USA Hockey College Player of the Year. As a freshman, Lerg emerged as the starter in January and went on an impressive run that saw him earn CCHA Rookie of the Year honors, then emerged as the CCHA Tournament MVP when he helped the Spartans capture the 2006 CCHA title.

Lerg’s academic standing is as impressive as his hockey resume. He maintains a 3.75 grade-point average as a finance major and has twice been the Spartan’s nominee as the CCHA Scholar-Athlete, which honors one athlete per team. In 2007-08, he was the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was a Second-Team CoSIDA Regional All-American in 2007.

Meanwhile, he has also involved himself with several community service initiatives. Lerg participates in the Big Brothers program and is a big brother to 10-year-old Malik from Lansing. He has participated in Teams for Toys, an MSU initiative for all athletic teams which "adopts" a family at the holidays. In addition, he has worked with Trick or Treat for kids with cancer, the "Make A Change" program which raises money for cancer research, the Asthma Association, Children’s Miracle Network, Project Read at local elementary schools, "Jump Start Your Heart," Junior Spartan Tailgate and "Fall into Fitness" (promoting health and wellness).

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

Renfrew promoted at Michigan State

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan State head coach Rick Comley has announced the promotion of Brian Renfrew to associate head coach for the hockey program. Renfrew just completed his fifth season on the Spartan hockey staff.

“Brian is a quality young assistant with a bright future as a hockey coach,” noted Comley. “He has been a very valuable member of our staff in what has been a very successful stretch for our hockey program.”

“I’m proud to be part of such a strong program with outstanding tradition and I feel we’re continuing to build on that tradition of excellence here at Michigan State,” noted Renfrew. “I’d like to thank Coach Comley for bringing me to Michigan State five years ago and for giving me yet another opportunity as the associate head coach.”

During Renfrew’s tenure, the Spartans are 119-71-22 (.613), have made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including advancing to at least a regional final the last three seasons and capturing the 2007 NCAA Championship. Michigan State, along with North Dakota and Boston College, are the only three schools who have each won at least one game in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments.

Renfrew focuses heavily on recruiting, works primarily with the goaltenders and defensemen and is involved with and all day-to-day operations of the Spartan hockey program. In addition, he has helped mold one of college hockey’s top goaltenders, as well as one of the stingiest defenses in Division I hockey. Under Renfrew’s tutelage, Jeff Lerg has emerged as one of college hockey’s top netminders and was a Hobey Baker finalist this past year. Lerg has posted some of the best numbers not only in school history (he ranks among the all-time top 10 in 10 different career and season categories), but also in NCAA Tournament history, ranking sixth in career victories and in the top 10 in both goals-against average and save percentage.

Renfrew arrived at MSU after spending two seasons (2001-03) as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan University. At NMU, he worked directly with the goaltenders and defensemen and also assisted with game-day strategy, practice planning, video analysis, recruiting and travel planning. In addition, he was the coordinator of the Wildcat hockey school.

Renfrew’s first coaching positions were at Alaska Fairbanks as an assistant coach in 2000-01 and as the volunteer assistant in 1999-2000. At UAF, he worked with the goaltenders and defensemen and served as the Patty Center Ice Arena manager.

The Fairbanks native was a four-year letterwinner (1991-95) at Western Michigan and was a standout goaltender for the Broncos, setting a WMU record for minutes played in a season (2,356.21) as a senior. He closed his career with the third-lowest goals-against average (3.17) in Bronco history, in addition to racking up 39 career victories. He was a two-time CCHA Defensive Player of the Week selection and was selected as the MVP of the Great Alaska Face-off Tournament in 1994. He was WMU’s Most Improved Player in 1993 and earned the team’s Dedication and Perseverance Award in 1995.

Following college, Renfrew participated in the Kitimat Cup, a pre-world championship tournament with Team USA. He signed a contract to play professionally in the Dallas Stars organization for Kalamazoo of the International Hockey League in 1995, spending time mainly with the Jacksonville Lizard Kings. He also saw action with the American Hockey League’s Adirondack Red Wings and the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League.

Renfrew also played for the Anchorage Aces of the West Coast Hockey League (1997-98), the Alexandria Warthogs of the Western Professional Hockey League (1998) and the Memphis River Kings of the Central Hockey League (1999).

He is an active member of USA Hockey, including his tour as a coach at the Three Nations Cup (Under 17) in the summer of 2006. He has also served as an assistant coach at the Select 16 Festivals with Team Pacific in 2001 and Team Michigan in 2002 and 2003, as well as presenting at various coaching clinics. Renfrew is a member of the American Hockey Coaches Association.

No title repeat for Michigan State

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Notre Dame earned its first-ever trip to the Frozen Four with a 3-1 victory over Michigan State on Saturday night in the championship game of the NCAA West Regional at the Colorado Springs World Arena.

The Fighting Irish became the first fourth seed to advance to the national semifinals and they avenged a 2-1 loss to the Spartans in last year's Midwest Regional Final. Notre Dame will face CCHA rival Michigan on April 10 in Denver.

The Wolverines advanced to Frozen Four with a 2-0 victory over Clarkson.

"Obviously we are thrilled," said Irish head coach Jeff Jackson, who won a pair of national championships at Lake Superior State University. "This was a step forward from last year. It's part of the process of building a great program.

"I'm extremely proud of the kids for what they handled. There was a lot of adversity in the second half of the season. They still stayed strong as a group, and it gives us the opportunity to continue our season and play in the Frozen Four for the first time in Notre Dame history."

Mark Van Guilder scored what proved to be the game winner with 5:54 remaining in the third period, taking a pass from Ben Ryan (Brighton) off his leg, regaining control in the slot and beating Spartan netminder Jeff Lerg inside the near post with wrist shot from the slot. Notre Dame's senior captain had three assists in Friday's 7-3 victory over top-seeded New Hampshire.

The Irish picked up an insurance goal 1:14 later when Teddy Ruth put a slapshot from just outside the right circle past Lerg high on the glove side. Justin White (Traverse City) and Christian Hanson cycled the puck out of the right corner, leaving Ruth alone at the point.

Michigan State (25-12-5) dominated early in the first period, launching seven shots to ND's one, but was unable to solve Irish goaltender Jordan Pearce. The Irish began to seize the momentum in the second half of the period, but there was no score after 20 minutes for the sixth consecutive game between the CCHA rivals.

Hanson put the Irish on the board 2:43 into the second period when he stuffed the rebound of his own wrap-around past Lerg. Hanson finished the weekend with three goals and an assist to earn a spot on the all-regional team.

Justin Abdelkader (pictured) banged a laser off the crossbar three minutes later, then tied the game with 10:55 to play in the period when he put a one-timer from the left circle behind Pearce for his third point of the weekend. He worked a perfect give-and-go with Tim Kennedy after the Spartan's cycled the puck out of the left corner.

Kennedy has scored a point in each of the eight NCAA Tournament games for the Spartans over the last three years and Abdelkader has points in seven of eight games.

The Irish appeared to tie the game with just over five minutes remaining in the second period when Evan Rankin (Portage) found the puck in a scramble and put it past Lerg, but the goal was wiped off because Kevin Deeth was in the crease and prevented Spartan goalie from playing the puck.

"It was another tough call," Van Guilder said. "But we have had that happen a few times to us. We were real calm on the bench just sitting there waiting for the call. Whatever the decision, we had to keep coming. You can't let something like that kill your momentum."

While eight different players scored for the Irish, the Notre Dame defense played a huge in both victories. The Irish blocked 12 shots in the victory over MSU and killed all four Spartan power plays and all nine in their two games.

Pearce allowed just one goal on 21 Michigan State shots and had 32 saves in the victory over New Hampshire, posting back-to-back victories over Hobey Baker semifinalists Lerg and Kevin Regan.

"It's such a fun experience to play in both games, being out there and getting the win," Pearce said. "Last year I learned you got to play your best games at the biggest moments. I just wanted to go out there and play my game and make save after save. And just worry about the next shot."

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

Spartans get past Colorado College

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Jeff Lerg is guilty of grand larceny.

The junior goaltender made a season-high 41 saves to lead third-seeded Michigan State to a 3-1 victory over second-seeded Colorado College in Game No. 2 of the NCAA West Regional at the Colorado Springs World Arena.

The Spartan victory set up an all-Central Collegiate Hockey Association regional final on Saturday night against Notre Dame, which upset top-seeded New Hampshire, 7-3, in the first game of the day.

Lerg was brilliant in the opening period, when the Tigers outshot MSU, 12-2. Both teams had three power-play opportunities, but were only able to muster one shot on goal apeice.

Michigan State broke the stalemate midway through the second period when junior left wing Tim Kennedy lifted the rebound of a Jeff Petry shot past a sprawling Richard Bachman on the power play.

Jeff Dunne doubled the Spartan lead with 1:57 remaining in the second period on a one-timer from the right circle. MSU stunned the Tigers with seven seconds left in the period when Chris Mueller took a feed from Kennedy and beat Bachman with a slap shot in the top left corner.

The Tigers scored their only goal midway through the third period when Andreas Vlassopoulos won a draw back to Derek Patrosso (Northville), who put a shot between Lerg's pads to give CC life with 7:53 to play.

With the Spartans protecting their lead in the final 20 minutes, Colorado College had a 17-9 advantage in shots on goal, but was unable to crack the MSU defense a second time.

Bachman finished with 20 saves for the Tigers, who saw their season end with a 28-12-1 record.