Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Claims Record Ninth CCHA Title
3/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 18, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State won its record ninth CCHA Tournament championship in convincing fashion, posting a 6-0 win over Nebraska Omaha in the title game Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena.
It was the largest margin of victory in championship game history and marked the second consecutive shutout for the Spartans and tournament Most Valuable Player Ryan Miller. MSU is the first team ever to shut out its opponents in the CCHA semifinals and championship.
"As a coach to not give up any goals in two games is beyond your wildest dreams," head coach Ron Mason said. "This team all year has worked hard, and although we went through some spells where we weren't getting the bounces, now we are getting some paybacks at the right time of year."
The victory gives the Spartans an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will announce its pairings Sunday at 1:30 p.m. EST on espn2 and ESPNEWS. MSU enters the tournament on a five-game winning streak, a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2) and with a 9-1-2 record in its last 12 games.
"We needed this win to guarantee us a bid to the NCAAs," junior right wing Rustyn Dolyny said, "but more importantly, we had a chance to win a championship. When that buzzer sounded and we were hanging the banner, all I could think was 'God, this feels good.'"
The Joe Louis Arena rafters now fit the rink's nickname of Munn East, as green and white banners hang for MSU's Great Lakes Invitational title and the CCHA Tournament title.
A four-goal explosion in the second period keyed Michigan State's victory. The Spartans' big guns were rolling, as Shawn Horcoff, Rustyn Dolyny, Damon Whitten and Adam Hall all found the back of the net after a scoreless first period.
"The first period was a tough, hard period," Dolyny said. "We didn't have the lead going into the second, but we showed character and composure. When we came out in the second and scored four goals, it really made the third period tough for them. A big period like that can really crush a team."
Nebraska Omaha, the seventh seed which recorded the biggest upset in tournament history with a win over No. 1 Michigan Friday night, was playing its sixth game in nine nights.
"I really feel that Nebraska Omaha got tired, and you can understand why," Mason said. "We knew we had to put pressure on them and try to wear them out. They were still a feisty opponent, but you could see their fatigue in the second period."
The first period was scoreless, although both teams had solid chances, with Michigan State holding an 11-10 shot advantage.
The best sustained pressure by both teams came in power plays. UNO carried the play early, as MSU's best penalty killer, senior defenseman Mike Weaver, was whistled for a holding call in the first minute.
"Ryan Miller made some nice saves, especially early in the game on that power play," Mason said. "If they score there, who knows what is going to happen."
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Michigan State had the better chances late in the first, especially on two power plays. On the first, a shot from the point by freshman defenseman John-Michael Liles was deflected in front and went off the crossbar. In the second power play, Horcoff raced down the right wing and put a backhander off the crossbar with three seconds remaining.
Horcoff redeemed himself with the first goal of the evening, finishing a terrific pass from freshman left wing Brian Maloney right in front of UNO goaltender Kendall Sidoruk. It marked the third straight game Horcoff had a goal, and he became the first player ever to score the game-winning goal in two CCHA championship games after he netted the double-overtime game-winner in 1998.
Dolyny found a loose puck at his feet just over three minutes later and backahanded it over Sidoruk for the 2-0 lead. Whitten made it 3-0 after his initial shot was blocked and he fired home the rebound at the 9:34 mark.
Hall scored on the power play, his team- and CCHA-leading 25th goal of the year, fighting off Maverick defensemen draped all over his back to stay with a rebound. That made it 4-0 with just 3:44 left in the second.
Goals from junior center Andrew Bogle - on a great behind-the-back pass from right wing John Nail - and freshman defenseman Brad Fast - on a rocket of a slapshot with just nine seconds remaining - made it a 6-0 final.
Miller was joined by teammates Horcoff, Dolyny and defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, who was brilliant all weekend and had two assists Saturday while jumping into the offense, on the all-tournament team. UNO's Jeff Hoggan and Greg Zanon also made the team.
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"I was a little bit surprised (on being named MVP)," Miller said. "I thought my shutouts came from very good team defense. I owe my teammates a lot of thanks for that. I got a good look at everything and I don't think I had any saves that were really spectacular."
Michigan State now awaits its NCAA Tournament fate. The tourney begins next weekend in Minneapolis, Minn. (March 24-25), and Albany, N.Y. (March 25-26).
