Weekend college recaps: Wildcats take five of six, rough NYC outing for Wolverines

Here’s a look around a light college hockey weekend for the state of Michigan.

Wolverines win at home, but lose at Madison Square Garden

The Wolverines kicked off the Thanksgiving weekend with a win over Bowling Green Wednesday night. A.J. Treais, Kevin Lynch and Justin Selman scored for Michigan, while Steve Racine only had to turn aside 15 shots for a 5-1 Wolverines victory.

However, things didn’t go as smoothly for Michigan when they traveled to New York for a game with Cornell at Madison Square Garden. The Wolverines were held to only three shots on goal in the first period, and they could only muster one goal on the night – a third-period tally by Mac Bennett. Cornell, however, recorded five goals – one in the first, and two in both the second and third. A 5-1 final score was not what the Wolverines were hoping for in front of a sold-out MSG crowd.

Michigan is now tied for seventh place in the CCHA standings with Western Michigan (who was off this weekend, and has only played six conference games). The Wolverines hold a 3-5-1-1 conference record, good for 11 points in the standings.

Wildcats take five of six points in weekend series with Alaska

On Friday, captain Scott Macaulay scored a shorthanded game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Wildcats to a 4-3 win over Alaska. Northern Michigan had rallied in the second period, scoring three straight from Jake Johnson, Kory Kaunisto and Wade Epp for a 3-2 lead. Alaska tied it up in the final minute of the third, but Macaulay came through for NMU. Jared Coreau stopped 23 shots for the win.

On Saturday, the Wildcats and Nanooks would once again play to overtime, but they needed a shootout to decide a winner. Stephan Viger and Reed Seckel scored regulation goals for NMU, while Coreau stopped 34 shots. Mitch Jones and Ryan Aynsley scored in the shootout for the Wildcats.

Northern Michigan now sits in a tie for ninth place with Michigan State (the Spartans were off this weekend), with a 2-5-3-1 record for 10 conference points.

Lake Superior splits with Ohio State

Kevin Murdock stopped 24 shots Friday night, but it wasn’t enough for Lake Superior, as they lost 4-1 to the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes. Buddy Robinson scored the lone goal for the Lakers.

The next night, however, captain Domenic Monardo’s goal and assist helped power the Lakers to a 3-2 win. Nick McParland and Kevin Czuczman also scored for LSSU, while Kevin Kapalka stopped 23 shots in the win.

Lake Superior State is now in sixth place in the CCHA standings, holding a 4-4-0-0 record and 12 points.