College hockey recap (week of Oct. 10-16)
By Jonathan Cochran –
Here’s how the Michigan schools fared this past week in NCAA action:
Michigan tops Ferris State in close game
The Wolverines defeated the Bulldogs 2-1 at Ewigleben Ice Arena on Saturday night.
Freshman Jack LaFontaine made 28 saves for Michigan in his collegiate debut, allowing just one goal from Troy native Andrew Mayer on a Ferris State power-play opportunity midway through the third period.
Both of the Michigan goals came on the man-advantage, including Jake Slaker’s first as a college athlete in the second period and the go-ahead goal from Sam Piazza late in the third, his third goal in three games.
Michigan State swept by Lake Superior State
The Lakers had no problem finding the back of the net in their two games against the Spartans in Sault Ste. Marie this week.
Lake State turned up the offense from the get-go on Friday night with their 6-1 rout of MSU.
A goal from Gage Torrel opened up the scoring in the first, giving the Lakers an early lead. The Spartans responded on the power-play with a goal from Villiam Haag to tie the game up minutes later.
After that, it was all Lakers.
Each Laker goal came from a different player; J.T. Henke (Trenton), Max Humitz (Livonia), Brayden Gelsinger, Kris Bindulis, and Owen Headrick each recorded a goal on the night.
LSSU goaltender Gordie Defiel made 19 saves on a night that saw the shot totals at 34-20.
The Lakers picked up right where they left off on Saturday with a resounding 7-3 defeat of the Spartans.
The first period saw LSSU get four goals to MSU’s zero.
Humitz opened the scoring for the Lakers on the man advantage, recording his second collegiate goal in as many games. Captain Gus Correale and Torrel each recorded their own goals shortly after.
Correale’s second goal of the night was the result of efforts during a short-handed situation deep in the first.
The goal would end up being the game winner, as the Spartans regrouped and tallied three goals in the second, including one each from freshmen Logan Lambdin (Newport) and Jerad Rosburg. Zach Osburn (Plymouth) was the other goal scorer for MSU.
The second was not without scoring from the Lakers, as Anthony Nellis and Mitch Hults each recorded goals of their own.
J.T. Henke closed out the scoring with a late third period goal to give the game its final score.
Defiel recorded 30 saves for LSSU and his second win of the series.
Michigan Tech wins home opener against Alabama-Huntsville
The Huskies did not disappoint their home crowd, including 2016 NHL All-Star MVP John Scott, in their 7-3 victory over the Chargers on Friday.
The Huskies recorded three goals in each of the first two periods and tacked on a seventh in the third to secure their convincing win.
Mark Auk (St. Clair Shores) opened up the scoring with a goal over halfway through the first. Dylan Steman recorded an even-strength goal of his own just 15 seconds later, followed by a power-play goal from Shane Hanna.
The Husky offensive showcase continued into the second period with goals from Jake Lucchini, Chris Leibinger (Saginaw), and Reid Sturos (Brighton).
Alabama-Huntsville’s early third period goal to put them on the board was not enough to spark what would have been an impressive comeback.
Tech’s power-play was highly effective with a 4-for-7 performance on the night.
Saturday was a different story, as the game was tied up at one heading into an overtime that would see the Huskies victorious.
There was no scoring in the first two periods despite chances on both sides.
Matt Roy (Canton) finally put the Huskies on the board with a goal on the man-advantage midway through the third, but the Chargers responded with an even-strength goal from Kurt Gosselin under a minute later.
Sturos was the Husky hero with his goal in the second overtime in a low scoring game that was not for lack of effort.
Devin Kero (Hancock) got the win for Tech in his first home start, stopping 21-of-22 shots.
Northern shutout in home opener series
Northern failed to score against Bemidji State in their 2-0 loss at home on Friday night.
A goal from Leo Fitzgerald seven minutes into the game would end up giving the Beavers all they needed to win. A goal on the man advantage from Jay Dickman midway through the third would close out the scoring for the game.
Northern failed to convert on any of their four power-play opportunities on a night when offense was scarce for the Wildcats.
Michael Bitzer earned the win for the Beavers, stopping all 21 shots he faced.
The story did not change in the series rematch on Saturday, as the Wildcats fell to the Beavers once again with a score of 2-0.
Bitzer was once again perfect for the Beavers, making 21 saves.
Both of Bemidji State’s tallies came in the first; Dickman and Kyle Bauman each recorded the Beaver goals.
Bemidji State was more successful in the face-off circle, winning 28 compared to 18 for Northern.
Western finds offense in series against Bowling Green
The Broncos completed a comeback at Bowling Green on Friday night, securing a 4-4 tie. Western would go on to win in the exhibition overtime period.
The Falcons opened up the scoring in the first with goals from Mitch McLain and Sean Walker; Walker’s goal came short-handed.
Wade Allison put the Broncos on the board with a late first period goal, making it a one goal game.
The Falcons regained their two-goal lead with a tally on the power-play from Alex Rauhauser. WMU captain Sheldon Dries (Macomb) pulled the Broncos to within one again, but Bowling Green answered quickly with a goal from Brent D’Andrea (Marysville), making the score 4-2 heading into the third.
Allison’s second goal of the game and Colt Conrad’s first tied up the game for the Broncos, sending the game to overtime where Allison would score yet again for Western.
Saturday’s game would not be so close, as Western crushed Bowling Green 8-2.
Sophomore Matheson Iacopelli (Brownstown) recorded his first career hat trick to lead the Broncos to their resounding victory. Scott Moldenhauer, Chris Dienes (Traverse City), Griffen Molino (Trenton), Jade McMullen and Kyle Novak scored the other Bronco goals.
Trevor Gorsuch made 18 saves and earned his first win of the season against the Falcons; Scott Walker and Mark Friedman were the only Bowling Green goal scorers.
Western was dominant with the man-advantage, going 6-for-10 on the power-play.