Michigan State University Athletics
HOCKEY CLINCHES CCHA TITLE
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
February 20, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan States hockey team belted out a rising rendition of the fight song in the locker room after its 3-1 victory over Michigan Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.
A little more than 30 minutes later, it was time for an encore.
After head coach Ron Mason boarded the team bus and informed the Spartans of Alaska Fairbanks 3-2 upset overtime victory at Ohio State, the team shook the vehicle with another version of "On the Banks of the Red Cedar."
MSUs win, coupled with Ohio States loss, gave the Spartans their second straight CCHA regular-season championship and sixth overall. The third-ranked Spartans clinch an NCAA tournament berth.
MSU improves to 24-3-6 overall (18-2-6 CCHA) and extends several streaks: a 20-game unbeaten streak (16-0-4, the second-longest in school history), a 17-game CCHA unbeaten streak (13-0-4), a school-record 12-game road unbeaten streak (9-0-3) and a nine-game Joe Louis Arena winning streak. Michigan, meanwhile, is winless in eight games.
The MSU-Michigan game was a typically hard-fought battle between the two teams and Michigan State had the benefit of scoring the first goal. Rustyn Dolyny put home a rebound on assists from Joe Goodenow and Andrew Hutchinson after Shawn Horcoff gained the zone with some nifty moves. The goal gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead 9:34 into the first period.
After MSU held an 11-5 first-period shot advantage, the Wolverines attacked in the second, outshooting MSU, 12-4. Joe Blackburn stopped all 12 shots, including some amazing, acrobatic saves to maintain the 1-0 lead.
Twelve minutes into the third MSU got the eventual game-winner. Mike York found Adam Hall breaking through the neutral zone and sprung him on a 2-on-1 rush. Hall put the puck top shelf past Michigans Josh Blackburn.
Michigan tied the score at the 17:04 mark on a delayed penalty call against the Spartans. Scott Matzka tipped Jeff Jillsons shot from the point and cut the lead to 2-1.
Halls second goal of the game and ninth of the season sealed the victory while Josh Blackburn was out of the net for an extra attacker. It marked the second two-goal game of the freshmans career.
QUOTES
Michigan State head coach Ron Mason:
"This was a good Michigan State-Michigan hockey game. It was a lot like the game played in Munn (Ice Arena). I thought we had the edge in the first period. Michigan won the second period and we both played well in the third. We seem to bring out the best in eachother. I think both teams played their best hockey tonight.
"This team found a way to win tonight. There was a lot of line matching going on tonight with teams changing on the fly. We caught Michigan switching lines when we scored our second goal. Mike York made a great pass and Adam Hall put it up high in the net.
"Its a great week to be a Spartan. Tom (Izzo) and I have a lot of respect for eachother. Both the basketball and hockey teams have had success because the players truly have taken it one game at a time.
"Michigan did a great job forechecking tonight. They just kept coming at us hard, so we concentrated on trying to cover up and prevent shots on goal. We took some penalties tonight but were a good defensive team and dont get out of position too often. We blocked a lot of shots and took away some scoring opportunities.
"Joe Louis Arena has been sold out for this game this last two years, and I dont think there are two other schools in the country that could draw 20,000 fans for a regular-season game. The Red Wings got things going a couple of years ago and the colleges have benefitted from that. Soon there will be seven Division I teams in this state. This state is truly hockey country."
Michigan State goaltender Joe Blackburn:
"I had a pretty good game. Michigan had a lot of two-on-ones but the defense really made it easy for me. It was an easy night overall because there werent a lot of rebound opportunities.
"Recently, teams have been wristing the puck the screens. I just try to stay out high and see the puck. The defense blocked a lot of shots. I hadnt beaten Michigan yet so I was getting a little worried. It was a total team effort tonight. Adam Hall scored two big goals.
"Jeff Kozakowski blocked a lot of shots tonight. Lately, hes been doing a little more on the offensive end, but hes more of a defensive defenseman. Hes unbelievable at blocking shots. Koz is the best shot-blocker in the league. He really makes the game easy for me."
