Hockey Entertains Minnesota and Wisconsin In College Hockey Showcase
11/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 25, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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THIS WEEK'S ACTION
11th Annual College Hockey ShowcaseMichigan State (8-5-1, 6-3-1 CCHA)vs. Minnesota (4-7-1, 3-6-1 WCHA)
Friday, Nov. 28, 7:05 p.m.Munn Ice Arena (6,470) * East Lansing, Mich.
MSU-MINN Series InformationMinnesota leads 97-40-9Last 10 games: Minnesota leads 6-2-2In East Lansing: MINN leads 40-25-3In Minneapolis: MINN leads 49-13-6Neutral: MINN leads 8-2-0First Meeting: Feb. 29, 1926 - MINN 2, at MSU 0Last Meeting: Nov. 29, 2002 - MSU 5, at MINN 5 (OT)
Michigan State (8-5-1, 6-3-1 CCHA)vs. Wisconsin (6-3-3, 3-2-3 WCHA)
Saturday, Nov. 29, 7:05 p.m.Munn Ice Arena (6,470) * East Lansing, Mich.
MSU-UW Series InformationMichigan State leads 45-36-2Last 10 games: Michigan State leads 9-1-0In East Lansing: MSU leads 22-11-0In Madison: UW leads 21-17-2Neutral: MSU leads 6-4-0First Meeting: Dec. 11, 1964 - at MSU 9, UW 2Last Meeting: Nov. 30, 2002 - MSU 2, at UW 1 (OT)
Radio: WJIM 1240-AM (Scott Moore, Damon Whitten)Television: Friday-Fox Sports Net North (Frank Mazzocco, Doug Woog)Saturday-Comcast Cable (Dave Ellis, Joe Campbell)
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
Michigan State (8-5-1 overall, 6-4-1 CCHA) hosts Minnesota (4-7-1 overall, 3-6-1 WCHA) and Wisconsin (6-3-3 overall, 3-2-3 WCHA) in the 11th annual College Hockey Showcase this weekend. Minnesota, the defending national champion, invades Munn Ice Arena on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7:05 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 29, Wisconsin arrives in East Lansing for a 7:05 p.m. showdown.
LAST WEEKEND RECAP
Thursday, Nov. 20 - Wayne State 3, Michigan State 2 (OT)
Wayne State's John Grubb scored his first goal of the season with 47 seconds left in overtime to lift the Warriors to a 3-2 upset of No. 14 Michigan State. Colton Fretter put the Spartans on the board first with his first goal of the campaign just 2:03 into the opening stanza. Back-to-back goals by the Warriors within 16 seconds gave Wayne State a 2-1 advantage just 3:15 into the first period. Adam Nightingale tallied the equalizer on the power play at the 14:44 mark of the second period. Neither team could capitalize in the final period, before WSU scored the game winner in the extra session. Dominic Vicari stopped 19 shots, while WSU netminder Marc Carlson finished with 39 saves.
Friday, Nov. 21 - Michigan State 7, Wayne State 2
Junior forward Mike Lalonde registered his first career hat trick and junior forward Brock Radunske tallied a pair of goals to lead Michigan State to a 7-2 win over Wayne State on Friday. The Spartans jumped out to 6-0 lead after two periods with three goals in each stanza. Back-to-back goals by the Warriors cut the lead to 6-2 before Radunske tallied his second goal of the game with just 1:29 remaining. Junior Matt Migliaccio earned the win in net, stopping 26 shots. WSU's Matt Kelly kicked out 45 shots.
FOR STARTERS
* MSU had a season-best 52 shots on goal in Friday's 7-2 win, marking the first time since March 21, 1998 (51 vs. Ohio State) that the Spartans have had 50 or more shots on goal. Overall, MSU had outshot their opponent in nine of its 14 games.
* Freshman forward Tyler Howells posted a career-best three assists Friday.
* Junior forward Mike Lalonde tallied his first career hat trick in Friday's 7-2 win.
* The Spartan power play has scored just three goals in its last 25 opportunities (.120) dating to the Nov. 1 game at Ferris State.
* Junior forward Jim Slater leads MSU and ranks second in the CCHA with 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists).
* Michigan State is 2-2-1 in its last five games.
* The Spartans are 7-0 when scoring the first goal of the third period.
* State was picked to finish second in the CCHA Media Poll and third in the CCHA Coaches Poll, which was released at the annual CCHA Media Day at Joe Louis Arena (Sept. 16).
MICHIGAN STATE QUICK HITS
* MSU, under the direction of second-year head coach Rick Comley, carries an 8-5-1 overall and a 6-3-1 CCHA slate into the College Hockey Showcase.
* Junior forward Jim Slater paces MSU and is second in the CCHA overall scoring race with 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists). Junior forward Mike Lalonde (9-9--18) is second with 18 points, while freshman forward Tommy Goebel (9-8--17) is third with 17 points. Freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen (3-10--13) and junior forward Brock Radunske (6-5--11) round out the top-five Spartan scorers.
* In goal, junior Matt Migliaccio and freshman Dominic Vicari have split time in net. Vicari is 4-4 with a 2.48 goals-against average and an .899 saves percentage. Meanwhile, Migliaccio has posted a 4-1-1 mark, along with a 2.96 GAA and a .904 saves percentage.
* MSU ranks second in the CCHA and 14th in the nation in goals-per-game at 3.71.
* The Spartan power play is converting at a 22.7 percent rate (15-of-66), while State has killed off 39-of-54 (.722) of opponent power-play chances.
MINNESOTA QUICK HITS
* Minnesota brings a 4-7-1 overall and a 3-6-1 WCHA slate into Friday's contest. The Golden Gophers are coming off back-to-back wins over Michigan Tech (6-2 and 3-0) last weekend.
* Head coach Don Lucia led the Gophers to back-to-back NCAA Championships (2002 and 2003). He is in his fifth year behind the Minnesota bench and his 17th year overall. He has an all-time record of 390-210-47 (.639).
* The Golden Gophers are paced by sophomore forward Thomas Vanek (8-5--13) and senior forward Troy Riddle (5-5--10) with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
* In net, freshman Kellen Briggs and junior Justin Johnson have split time in net. Briggs is 3-4-1, with a 3.18 GAA and an .881 saves percentage. Meanwhile, Johnson is 1-3 with a 3.84 GAA and an .848 saves percentage.
* Minnesota is tied for 12th in the country in scoring offense at 3.50 goals-per-game, while the squad ranks 43rd in scoring defense at 3.50 gpg.
* Minnesota's power play is sixth in the country, connecting at a 24.5 percent clip (13-of-53), while the penalty kill is at 81.0 percent (47-of-58).
WISCONSIN QUICK HITS
* Wisconsin carries a 6-3-3 overall and a 3-2-3 WCHA slate into the College Hockey Showcase. UW faces Michigan Friday before playing in East Lansing Saturday.
* The Badgers are 5-0-3 in their last eight games, after opening the season with a 1-3 slate.
* UW head coach Mike Eaves is in his second season behind the bench. Prior to his arrival at UW, Eaves, who still ranks as Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer with 267 points (94-173), spent two years (2000-02) at the head coach of the U.S. National Team Development Program.
* The Badgers are led by sophomore forward Ryan MacMurchy (7-5--12), senior forward Rene Bourque (3-8--11) and freshman forward Andrew Joudrey (4-6--10).
* In goal, junior Bernd Bruckler has played in 11 contests, posting 5-3-3 record along with a 2.72 GAA and a .901 saves percentage.
* The Badgers rank 25th in the country in offense at 3.25 goals-per-game and are 22nd in scoring defense at 2.67.
* Wisconsin's power play is connecting at a 15.0 percent clip (9-of-60), while its penalty kill is at 78.4 percent (40-of-51).
SERIES INFORMATION
Minnesota holds a 97-40-8 edge in the all-time series which began with a 2-0 Golden Gophers win on Feb. 29, 1926. However, the Spartans are 2-1-2 in the last five meetings. In games played in East Lansing, Minnesota is 40-25-3.
Michigan State holds a slim 45-36-2 edge in the all-time series with Wisconsin. The series began with a 9-2 Spartan victory on Dec. 11, 1964 in East Lansing. Overall, MSU is 22-11-0 all-time in games played in East Lansing. The Spartans have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the schools.
COLLEGE HOCKEY SHOWCASE
The College Hockey Showcase celebrates its 11th year of existence in 2003-04, again bringing together four of the nation's hockey powerhouses - Michigan State and Michigan from the CCHA and Minnesota and Wisconsin from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association over the Thanksgiving weekend.
The four teams participating in the College Hockey Showcase have won a total of 21 NCAA championships, including back-to-back championships by Minnesota (2002 and 2003) and made 89 post-season appearances. All four are among the top 15 winningest programs in college hockey history and have combined for 4,778 wins.
The complete schedule for the 2003 College Hockey Showcase (all times ET):
Friday, Nov. 28 Minnesota at Michigan State, 7:05 p.m. Wisconsin at Michigan, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29 Wisconsin at Michigan State, 7:05 p.m. Minnesota at Michigan, 7:35 p.m.
MSU IN THE COLLEGE HOCKEY SHOWCASE
Michigan State has an all-time mark of 12-6-2 (.650) in the College Hockey Showcase. The Spartans compiled a 1-0-1 mark in 2002, skating to a 5-5 overtime tie at Minnesota and picking up a 2-1 overtime win at Wisconsin.
Since the inception of the College Hockey Showcase, MSU holds a 2-0-1 record vs. Minnesota at Munn Arena; a 1-1-1 record in Minneapolis and an 0-4 slate in neutral site contests. The Spartans are 2-1 vs. Wisconsin at Munn Arena; 3-0 in Madison and 4-0 in neutral site games.
LAST YEAR AT THE COLLEGE HOCKEY SHOWCASE
Friday, Nov. 29 - Michigan State 5, at Minnesota 5 (OT)
Spartan goaltender Matt Migliaccio stopped a career-best 46 shots as Michigan State and Minnesota skated to a 5-5 overtime tie in Minneapolis. The game was tied at three before goals by Lee Falardeau and David Booth in the final 22 seconds of the second period gave MSU a 5-3 lead heading into the locker room at the intermission. Minnesota's Thomas Vanek scored a pair of goals at the 13:03 and the 16:42 mark to send the game into overtime. Neither team could capitalize in the extra stanza as the game ended in a deadlock.
Saturday, Nov. 30 - Michigan State 2, at Wisconsin 1 (OT)
Senior defenseman John-Michael Liles was the hero for Michigan State as he buried a puck with 1:10 to play in the extra stanza to give the Spartans a 2-1 overtime victory at Wisconsin. David Booth started the scoring for MSU at the 13:19 mark of the second period on the power play. Wisconsin tied the game at one at the 4:40 mark of the third period, also on the power play. Matt Migliaccio earned the win in net, stopping 34-of-35 shots.
SKATE WITH SPARTANS TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY
The annual "Skate with the Spartans," sponsored by the MSU Blue Line Club, will be held at Munn Ice Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 7 to 8 p.m. The event features an opportunity for fans to "skate with the team" while getting autographs from MSU hockey players and coaches alike. It's a great chance for Spartan enthusiasts to get pictures taken with their favorite players and enjoy some fun at the arena.
THROW THE HAT
Junior forward Mike Lalonde registered his first career hat trick in Friday's 7-2 win as he scored MSU's second, fourth and fifth goals. He also picked up an assist on MSU's game-winning goal to equal his career-best four-point night. He also registered four points (two goals, two assists) in an 8-5 win over Western Michigan March 8, 2003.
The Chetwynd, B.C., native ranks second on MSU in scoring with 9-9--18 points.
RADUNSKE ROLLS ALONG
Junior forward Brock Radunske had a career night in MSU's 7-2 win over Wayne State. He finished with a career-best four-point night, finishing with two goals and two assists. His first goal gave the Spartans an early 1-0 lead, while his second goal was MSU's seventh goal of the game. In addition, he drew an assist on the game-winning tally and set up MSU's fourth goal.
He ranks as MSU's fifth-leading scorer with 6-5--11 totals in 14 games. His six goals ranks fourth on the squad.
INJURIES BEGINNING TO TAKE TOLL
Heading into Friday's game with Minnesota, seven Spartans have missed a combined total of 26 games to injury this season. To further illustrate, MSU has lost the services of junior forward Lee Falardeau (knee - seven games), freshman defenseman Chris Snavely (shoulder - six games), sophomore forward David Booth (knee - six games), junior forward Adam Nightingale (concussion - three games), senior defenseman Joe Markusen (sore ribs - one game/knee one game - two games total), junior forward Steve Swistak (hip - one game) and freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen (knee - one game).
POWER PLAY STRUGGLES
The Spartan power play has just three goals in its last 25 opportunities (.120), dating to the Nov. 1 game at Ferris State. Despite the team's recent struggles, MSU still ranks third in the CCHA in power play percent at 22.7 (15-of-66). MSU's 15 power-play markers rank third, while the team's 66 chances are tied for fourth.
SPARTAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior forward Mike Lalonde has been selected as the Spartan Player of the Week following MSU's split with Wayne State. Lalonde registered his first career hat trick and added an assist for a career-best four-point night in MSU's 7-2 win over Wayne State.
The Spartan coaching staff will select a Spartan Player of the Week each Monday.
MSU HOCKEY TICKET UPDATE
There are eight games where the public can purchase tickets at the student rate of $8 per game. The following games are available to the general public at the student rate ($8): Minnesota (Nov. 28), Wisconsin (Nov. 29), USA National Team (Dec. 17), Northern Michigan (Jan. 2 and Jan. 3), UMass-Lowell (Jan. 10), Miami (Jan. 31) and Nebraska-Omaha (Feb. 21). This student-rate special will run through November only and is available through the Athletics Ticket Office located in Jenison Field House, by phone at (517) 355-1610 or online at www.msuspartans.com.
Single-game bench seats also are available for the remaining games not on the student-rate package, except the two Michigan contests (Dec. 6 and March 5). Tickets are $20 for the public and $8 for MSU students (one per ID) and are available through the Athletics Ticket Office located in Jenison Field House, by phone at (517) 355-1610 or online at www.msuspartans.com.
FROM THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES
Michigan State's 2003-04 roster features three players with ties to the State of Minnesota as sophomore forward Chad Hontvet (Warroad), freshman forward/defenseman Tyler Howells (Eden Prairie) and A.J. Thelen (Savage) all call the Land of 10,000 Lakes home.
MSU HEAD COACH Rick Comley
Entering his second season behind the Michigan State bench is Rick Comley. Comley, who was named head coach on March 25, 2002, became just the fifth head coach in MSU hockey history.
He carries a 628-494-74 (.556) career record in 30 seasons and ranks seventh all-time on the NCAA hockey coaches wins list. In addition, his 627 career victories ranks third among active NCAA coaches, behind Boston University's Jack Parker (683 wins) and Boston College's Jerry York (675 wins).
In his first season at MSU, he led the Spartans to a 23-14-2 (.615) overall mark. He became one of just seven coaches to reach the 600-win plateau, a feat he accomplished on Oct. 24, 2002, when the Spartans beat Lake Superior State, 7-0. In addition, he coached a pair of All-Americans in senior defensemen John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast. Liles led the team in scoring en route to earning the CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman award, while Fast finished second in scoring and was the recipient of the CCHA's Best Defensive Defenseman award.
Comley brings 30 years of head coaching experience and a proven record of success at the conference and national levels. During his career, he's coached eight Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists, including 2003 finalist John-Michael Liles; 12 All-Americans; four league players of the year; 23 first-team all-league selections, including 2003 honorees Liles, Brad Fast and Jim Slater; and 80 academic all-league selections.
JUST A TEASER
MSU volunteer assistant coach Damon Whitten was part of ESPN's Friday night tailgate teaser. ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe "checked in" with the Spartan hockey team as a teaser for the MSU football game vs. Penn State on Saturday (Nov. 22). Whitten checked Rowe into the boards as part of the teaser that ran at halftime of the Boise State-Fresno State football game.
IT'S A TALE OF TWO TEAMS
It has been a tale of two teams this season for Michigan State. For example:
* State has lit the lamp for 41 goals in its eight victories (5.1 gpg) while giving up only 15 markers (1.9 gpg). MSU has allowed three goals or fewer in six of the eight wins.
* In MSU's five losses, the Spartans have scored just eight goals (1.6 gpg) while giving up 20 markers (4.0 gpg). MSU has registered two goals or fewer in four of the five losses, including one shutout.
* In MSU's eight wins, the Spartans are averaging 33.2 shots per game, while allowing just 26.9 shots. On the other hand, MSU has averaged just 28.2 shots per game, while allowing 27.8 shots in its three losses.
* MSU is connecting at a 26.8 percent clip (11-of-41) on the power play when it wins and 14.3 percent (3-of-21) when it loses. However, the big difference is on the penalty kill. The Spartans are killing off 78.8 percent (26-of-33) of opponent power plays when they win, but just 64.7 percent (11-of-17) of the attempts when they lose.
SITTING NEAR THE TOP OF THE DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen currently ranks tied for third in the country in points-per-game among defenseman at 1.00. UMass' Thomas Pock leads all blueliners with a 1.45 points-per-game average.
The Savage, Minn., native missed Thursday's Wayne State contest due to injury, but returned in Friday's 7-2 win. He added two assists in the victory and has 3-10--13 totals in 13 games this season.
SLATER APPROACHES CENTURY MILESTONE
Junior forward Jim Slater enters this weekend's action needing just three more points to reach the century milestone as he has 39-58-97 totals in 87 career contests. In doing so, he will become just the 61st Spartan to reach the 100-point milestone in his career.
INSIDE SLATER'S NUMBERS
Junior forward Jim Slater paces MSU in scoring with 22 points on 10 goals and 12 assists. He ranks second in the nation and the CCHA overall scoring race in total points (22), while he ranks seventh in the nation in points-per-game (1.57).
He has six multiple-point games this season, including a three-point outing (one goal, two assists) in MSU's 7-2 victory over Wayne State Friday.
WHO'S HOT?
* Junior forward Jim Slater with 5-11--16 totals in his last 10 games.
* Junior forward Mike Lalonde with 8-7--15 totals in the last 10 games.
* Freshman forward Tommy Goebel with 7-8--15 totals in last 10 games.
* Junior forward Brock Radunske with 6-5--11 totals in the last 10 games.
* Junior forward Ash Goldie with 3-6--9 totals in the last 10 games.
* Junior forward Adam Nightingale with 4-3--7 totals in his last seven games.
* Sophomore forward Colton Fretter with three points (1-2--3) in his last four games.
* Freshman forward/defenseman Tyler Howells with four assists in his last two games.
* Freshman defenseman Ethan Graham carries a two-game point streak (0-2--2) into Friday's game.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Freshman netminder Dominic Vicari and junior goaltender Matt Migliaccio have split time in net. In his last six starts, Vicari is 4-2 with a 1.98 GAA and a .922 saves percentage. Meanwhile, Migliaccio is 3-0-1 with a 2.20 GAA and a .927 saves percentage in his last four starts.
Overall, Vicari has a 4-4 record, along with a 2.49 GAA and an .899 saves percentage. His 2.49 ranks fifth in the CCHA. Migliaccio is 4-1-1 with a 2.96 GAA and a .904 saves percentage. Migliaccio's 2.96 GAA is 10th in the CCHA, while his .904 saves percentage ranks sixth.
THE NATIONAL POLLS
MSU, who was ranked No. 14 in last week's national polls, is not ranked in the Nov. 24 edition of the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine and USCHO.com polls. However, the Spartans did receive votes in both polls.
North Dakota earned the top spot in both polls for the third straight week after sweeping Denver last weekend. Rounding out the top five in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine is Boston College, New Hampshire, Maine and Michigan. Boston College, Maine, New Hampshire and Colorado College close out the top five teams in the USCHO.com poll.
SPARTAN NOTEBOOK
* Freshman forward Tommy Goebel is the national leader for points by a rookie with 18 (nine goals, eight assists). Overall, he ranks fifth in the country in points-per-game among rookies (1.21).
* MSU is 1-2 in games decided by one goal.
* The Spartans have outshot their opponent in nine of their 14 contests, including both games vs. Wayne State (41-to-22 edge on Thursday and 52-to-28 edge on Friday).
* Over the course of the last four games, MSU's penalty kill has stopped 10 of its 13 opponent power-play chances (.769).
* State is 6-0 when scoring four or more goals.
* The Spartans are 6-0-1 when allowing three or fewer goals.
LIGHT THE LAMP
Michigan State ranks sixth in the nation and second in the CCHA with a 3.71 goals-per-game average. MSU scored three or more goals in 10 of the team's 14 contests, including a season-high eight vs. Ferris State (Oct. 31).
In 2002-03, Michigan State finished fifth in the nation and second in the CCHA with a 3.95 goals-per-game average. It was MSU's best offensive showing since the Spartans averaged 4.58 goals per game in 1994-95 - a span of eight seasons.
POWER PLAY KEY TO SUCCESS
Michigan State's power play ranks third in the CCHA and 10th in the nation at 22.7 percent (15-of-66).
One of the keys to Michigan State's success over the past few seasons has been the Spartans' power play. MSU led the CCHA and ranked third in the nation with the man advantage at 27.5 percent (50-of-182) in 2002-03. In conference games only, State paced the league with the man advantage at 29.7 percent (38-of-128). MSU registered at least one power play marker in 30 of the team's 39 games last year.
To further illustrate MSU's success, take note: MSU led the CCHA and finished ninth in the nation on the power play in 2001-02 at 22.5 percent (45-of-200). The Spartans also led the CCHA and ranked seventh in the nation at 22.7 percent (52-of-229) in 2000-01, while in 1999-2000, State once again led the CCHA and ranked sixth in the nation at 22.9 percent (56-of-245).
CHECK OUT THIS NUMBER
Michigan State's top three plus/minus leaders (Jim Slater +17; Mike Lalonde +16; Tommy Goebel +9) are a combined +42, while the rest of the Spartan squad is a combined +24.
THE Rick Comley RADIO SHOW
The Rick Comley Radio Show will run throughout the season, on Wednesday's, at 6 p.m., on WVFN-AM 730. The hour-long show originates from Reno's East Sports Bar in East Lansing. Jerry Marshall serves as the host of the program.
UP NEXT
Michigan State meets arch-rival Michigan in an home-and-home series Dec. 5-6. On Friday, Dec. 5, the teams meet in Ann Arbor for a 7:35 p.m. face-off, while on Saturday, Dec. 6, the series moves to East Lansing for a 7:05 p.m. drop of the puck.
