Hockey Heads To 39th Annual Great Lakes Invitational
12/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 23, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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39TH ANNUAL GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL
Saturday, Dec. 27Boston College (11-2-3 overall) vs. Michigan (11-6-1 overall), 2:30 p.m.Michigan State (9-8-1 overall) vs. Michigan Tech (3-9-4 overall), 6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28Third-Place Game, 12:30 p.m.Championship Game, 4 p.m.
Joe Louis Arena (20,058) * Detroit, Mich.
MSU-MTU Series InformationMichigan Tech leads 77-71-22002-03 series: MSU leads 1-0Last 10 games: Michigan State leads 9-1-0In East Lansing: MSU leads 34-30-1In Houghton: MTU leads 43-18-1Neutral: MSU leads 19-4-0First Meeting: Feb. 15, 1928 - MTU 5, MSU 0Last Meeting: Dec. 29, 2002 - MSU 6, MTU 2
Radio: WJIM 1240-AM (Scott Moore, Damon Whitten) -- MSU gamesTelevision: Fox Sports Net Detroit (Matt Shepard, Fred Pletsch, Shireen Saski) -- All four games live
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
Michigan State (9-8-1 overall, 7-4-1 CCHA) heads to the 39th annual Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena Dec. 27-28. The Spartans will face Michigan Tech (3-9-4 overall) in game two as Boston College and Michigan meet in game one at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, the third-place game is set for 12:30 p.m., followed by the title contest at 4 p.m.
LAST THREE OUTINGS
Friday, Dec. 5 - Michigan 2, Michigan State 0
Eric Nystrom's fourth goal of the season at the 18:33 mark of the third period gave Michigan a 1-0 lead as the Wolverines added an empty-net goal to skate to a 2-0 victory at Yost Ice Arena on Friday night. MSU netminder Dominic Vicari stopped 36 shots, including 13 in both the first and third periods. Meanwhile, UM goalie Al Montoya finished with 23 stops.
Saturday, Dec. 5 - Michigan State 2, Michigan 0
Dominic Vicari stopped all 29 shots en route to his second career shutout as MSU posted a 2-0 win over Michigan at Munn Ice Arena. Mike Lalonde started the scoring for the Spartans at the 16:33 mark of the opening stanza with his team-best 12th goal of the campaign, while David Booth added an insurance marker just 48 seconds in the third period. The Spartans, who were outshot 29-to-17, held Michigan scoreless on all four of its power-play attempts.
Wednesday, Dec. 17 - Michigan State 2, U.S. Under-18 Team 1 (EXH)
Kevin Estrada's goal at the 9:38 mark of the third period gave MSU a 2-1 win over the U.S. National Team in an exhibition contest. MSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Jim Slater goal at the 1:22 mark of the first period before the U.S. squad tied the game at one after the first period. Dominic Vicari stopped 31 shots for MSU, while the U.S.'s Jordan Pearce finished with 34 stops.
THE 39TH ANNUAL GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL
The 2003 season marks the 39th annual Great Lakes Invitational. This year's tournament will be staged Dec. 27-28 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit and features Boston College, Michigan, Michigan Tech and Michigan State.
The Spartans have been a regular part of the tournament field since 1979. The 2003 season marks MSU's 29th appearance in the GLI, where the Spartans have captured nine titles including four in a row from 1982-85 and 1997-2000. MSU has finished as the runner-up 10 times, including the 2001 season.
FOR STARTERS
* MSU will be looking for its 10th Great Lakes Invitational title this season. MSU has won nine titles, including four in a row from 1982-85 and 1997-2000.
* Junior forward Mike Lalonde has a team-best 12 goals on the season, just one short of his career-best 13, set in 2002-03. He has tallied six goals in MSU's last five contests.
* In its last two regular-season games, Michigan State has killed off 11 of its opponents' last 12 power-play chances (.917). State stopped all seven of Michigan's power-play attempts in its two-game set Dec. 5-6 (3-of-3 on Friday and 4-of-4 on Saturday).
* In their last four games, the Spartans have scored just four goals - an average of 1.0 goals-per-game.
* The Spartan power play has registered just four goals in its last 39 opportunities (.103) dating to the Nov. 1 game at Ferris State.
* 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 a 9-8-1 overall and a 7-4-1 CCHA slate into the Great Lakes Invitational. MSU has been off since Dec. 17 when they posted a 2-1 exhibition win over the U.S. National Under-18 Team.
* Junior forward Jim Slater paces MSU and ranks third in the CCHA overall scoring race with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists). Junior forward Mike Lalonde (12-9--21) is second with 21 points, while freshman forward Tommy Goebel (9-10--19) is third with 19 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 5-6 with a 2.36 goals-against average and a .918 saves percentage. Meanwhile, Migliaccio has posted a 4-2-1 mark, along with a 2.82 GAA and a .910 saves percentage.
* MSU ranks sixth in the CCHA and tied for 25th in the nation in goals-per-game at 3.11.
* The Spartan power play is converting at a 20.0 percent rate (16-of-80), while State has killed off 54-of-73 (.740) of opponent power-play chances.
MICHIGAN TECH QUICK HITS
* Michigan Tech brings a 3-9-4 overall mark into Saturday's game. The Huskies have been off since Dec. 12-13, after tying (3-3 in OT) and losing (2-0) to Northern Michigan.
* Jamie Russell, who is in his first year as the head coach at MTU, was a two-time assistant captain and letterwinner (1987-89) for the Huskies. Prior to his arrival at MTU, he spent five years (1999-2003) at Cornell and five years (1994-99) at Ferris State as an assistant coach.
* MTU is led by junior forward Colin Murphy (13-11--24), sophomore forward Chris Conner (13-8--21) and freshman forward Taggart Desmet (5-9--14). The trio have accounted for 59 points in 16 games, or 47 percent of the team's point production.
* Chris Conner and Colin Murphy are both tied for third nationally in goals-per-game (0.81). * In net, junior Cam Ellsworth and freshman Bryce Luker have split time. Ellsworth is 1-3-1 with a 4.17 GAA and an .874 saves percentage. Meanwhile, Luker is 2-5-3 with a 4.25 GAA and an .870 saves percentage.
* The Huskies are averaging 2.94 goals-per-game, while allowing 4.19 goals-per-game.
BOSTON COLLEGE QUICK HITS
* Boston College carries an 11-2-3 overall mark into its game with Michigan. The Eagles are ranked No. 2 in both the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine and USCHO.com polls.
* Jery York (Boston College, 1967) is in his ninth year behind the Eagles bench and his 32nd year as a head coach. He owns a career mark of 679-475-64 (.584) to rank as the second active winningest coach in NCAA history.
* BC is led by senior forward Ben Eaves, who has 3-18--21 totals in 15 games. Senior forward Tony Voce leads BC with 14 goals and ranks second with 20 points.
* The Eagles will be without the services of sophomore forward Patrick Eaves, who will be playing for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. Eaves has 5-10--15 totals this season.
* In net, junior Matti Kaltianinen is 11-2-3 with a 1.90 GAA and an .895 saves percentage.
* BC is averaging 3.56 goals-per-game to rank eighth in the country in scoring, while the Eagles' defense is third allowing 2.06 goals-per-game.
MICHIGAN QUICK HITS
* Michigan brings an 11-6-0 overall mark and a No. 6/8 national ranking into the GLI. The Wolverines are 2-2-1 in their last five contests.
* UM head coach Red Berenson is in his 20th season behind the bench where he has compiled a 517-247-53 (.665) mark. He ranks 12th on the NCAA ice hockey coaches all-time wins list with 517.
* Freshman T.J. Hensick leads UM in scoring with 7-11--18 totals, while sophomore Andrew Ebbett is second with 4-9--13 totals.
* The Wolverines will be missing three players to the World Junior Championships in goaltender Al Montoya and defenseman Matt Hunwick (Team USA) and forward Jeff Tambellini (Team Canada).
* The Wolverines are averaging 3.06 goals-per-game, while allowing 2.67 goals-per-game.
MSU-MTU SERIES INFORMATION
Michigan Tech holds a 77-71-2 edge in the all-time series, which began with a 5-0 MTU win on Feb. 15, 1928. However, State has won 18 of the last 20 meetings heading into Saturday's GLI semifinal showdown.
The teams last met in the 2002 GLI third-place game as MSU skated to a 6-2 win on Dec. 29, 2002.
THREE SPARTANS HEAD TO WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sophomore forward David Booth, sophomore defenseman Corey Potter and freshman netminder Dominic Vicari are on the final 22-player roster for the 2004 United States National Junior Team. The team will compete at the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2003 through Jan. 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland. The 10-nation tournament features the world's top ice hockey players under 20 years of age. The U.S. squad opens competition Dec. 26 against Austria.
The trio, which left on Dec. 18 for Finland, will miss the Great Lakes Invitational and the NMU series.
POWER PLAY FINALLY CLICKS
Mike Lalonde's power-play goal in MSU's 2-0 win over Michigan Dec. 6 marked MSU's first extra-man goal in its last 15 attempts, dating to the Nov. 21 game vs. Wayne State. State scored a power-play goal on its first attempt vs. WSU, and had not converted an opportunity since.
Overall, the Spartan power play has just four goals in its last 39 opportunities (.103) dating to the Nov. 1 game at Ferris State.
OFFENSIVE WOES
In its last four games, MSU has scored just four goals (1.0 gpg), while allowing nine goals (2.25 gpg).
Throw out MSU's seven goals vs. Wayne State (Oct. 21), MSU has averaged just 1.57 goals in its last seven contests (not including WSU). In that same span, opponents are averaging 2.43 goals-per-game.
LIGHTING IT UP
Junior forward Mike Lalonde has scored six goals in his last four games (1.5 gpg), including the game winner in MSU's 2-0 win over Michigan. Overall, he has scored a team-best 12 goals on the season and is second in the CCHA lead in goals. He is just one goal shy of his career-best 13, set in 2002-03.
THE GOAL SCORER
Mike Lalonde ranks tied for 13th in the nation in goals-per-game at 0.67. Overall, his 12 goals rank tied for seventh in the nation.
The Chetwynd, B.C., native will look to become the first Spartan since John Nail (20 goals) in 2000-01 to tally 20 goals in a season.
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 43 goals in its nine victories (4.8 gpg) while giving up only 15 markers (1.7 gpg). MSU has allowed three goals or fewer in seven of the nine wins, including two shutouts (Oct. 31 vs. FSU and Dec. 6 vs. UM).
* In MSU's eight losses, the Spartans have scored just 10 goals (1.2 gpg) while giving up 29 markers (3.6 gpg). MSU has registered two goals or fewer in seven of the eight losses, including two shutouts.
* In MSU's nine wins, the Spartans are averaging 31.4 shots per game, while allowing just 27.1 shots. On the other hand, MSU has averaged just 27.2 shots per game in its eight losses, while allowing 33.0 shots per game.
* MSU is connecting at a 27.3 percent clip (12-of-44) on the power play when it wins and .094 percent (3-of-32) when it loses. However, the big difference is on the penalty kill. The Spartans are killing off 81.1 percent (30-of-37) of opponent power plays when they win, but just 68.8 percent (22-of-32) of the attempts when they lose.
BACK IN THE NETS
With Dominic Vicari at the World Junior Championships, junior goaltender Matt Migliaccio will be the Spartans No. 1 netminder for the GLI and NMU series. Migliaccio's last appearance in net was a 2-1 overtime loss to Wisconsin on Nov. 29.
In his last four starts (Nov. 1 at Ferris State - W, 4-2; Nov. 8 vs. Notre Dame - T, 3-3 OT; Nov. 21 vs. Wayne State - W, 7-2 and Nov. 29 vs. Wisconsin), the Wyandotte, Mich., native posted a 2-1-1 record, along with a 2.19 GAA and a .931 saves percentage.
SPARTAN NOTEBOOK
* Freshman forward Tommy Goebel is the national leader for points by a rookie with 19 (nine goals, 10 assists). Overall, he ranks fifth in the country in points-per-game among rookies (1.06).
* MSU has compiled an all-time mark of 67-40-2 at Joe Louis Arena.
* State is 6-0 when scoring four or more goals.
* Sophomore forward David Booth returned to the Spartan line-up on Dec. 5 after missing the previous eight games with a knee injury. He scored MSU's insurance goal in MSU's 2-0 blanking of Michigan.
* The Spartan penalty kill has stopped 11 of its opponent's last 12 chances (.917), including all seven of Michigan's power-play attempts (Dec. 5-6).
* MSU is 1-3 in games decided by one goal this season, including a pair of overtime losses (3-2 to Wayne State and 2-1 to Wisconsin).
* Michigan State's last two wins against Michigan have both been shutouts - 4-0 at Michigan on Feb. 28, 2003 and 2-0 vs. Michigan on Dec. 6, 2003
VICARI IN NET
Freshman netminder Dominic Vicari posted his second career shutout in a 2-0 win vs. Michigan, stopping all 29 shots. He stopped 36 shots, including 13 in both the first and third periods in MSU's 2-0 loss at Michigan. U-M scored its first goal at the 18:33 mark of the third period and added an empty-net tally to seal the win. In MSU's two-game set with Michigan, Vicari stopped 65-of-66 shots he faced for a .985 saves percentage.
In his last three starts (vs. Minnesota, at Michigan and vs. Michigan), Vicari has stopped a combined 112 shots and recorded a .949 saves percentage. For the season, Vicari is 5-6 with a 2.36 GAA and a .918 saves percentage. He ranks fifth in the CCHA with his 2.59 GAA.
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 629-497-74 (.555) career record in 30 seasons and ranks seventh all-time on the NCAA hockey coaches wins list. In addition, his 629 career victories ranks third among active NCAA coaches, behind Boston University's Jack Parker (685 wins) and Boston College's Jerry York (679 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.
MSU HOCKEY TICKET UPDATE
Single-game bench seats are available for the remaining games, including the Jan. 2-3 Northern Michigan series. 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.
INSIDE SLATER'S NUMBERS
Junior forward Jim Slater paces MSU in scoring with 24 points on 10 goals and 14 assists. He ranks third in the CCHA overall scoring race and tied for fifth in the nation in total points (24). He is 13th in the nation in points-per-game (1.33).
The Lapeer, Mich., native was held without a point in MSU's two-game set with Michigan.
INJURIES BEGINNING TO TAKE TOLL
Heading into Saturday's game against Michigan Tech, seven Spartans have missed a combined total of 28 games to injury this season. To further illustrate, MSU has lost the services of sophomore forward David Booth (knee - eight games), junior forward Lee Falardeau (knee - seven games), freshman defenseman Chris Snavely (shoulder - 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).
STATE OF MICHIGAN CONNECTION
Eleven members of the Spartan hockey team hail from the State of Michigan, including David Booth (Washington), Lee Falardeau (Midland), Matt Migliaccio (Wyandotte), Drew Miller (East Lansing), Adam and Jared Nightingale (Cheboygan), Corey Potter (Mason), Jim Slater (Lapeer), Steve Swistak (West Bloomfield), Rod Tocco (St. Clair Shores) and Dominic Vicari (Clinton Township).
SPARTAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman netminder Dominic Vicari has been selected as the Spartan Player of the Week following MSU's split with Michigan. Vicari earned his second career shutout, stopping 29 shots in MSU's 2-0 win over the Wolverines in game two.
The Spartan coaching staff will select a Spartan Player of the Week each Monday.
POWER PLAY KEY TO SUCCESS
Michigan State's power play is third in the CCHA and 15th in the nation at 20.0 percent (16-of-80).
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).
ON THE SCOREBOARD
Michigan State ranks tied for 25th in the nation and sixth in the CCHA with a 3.11 goals-per-game average. MSU scored three or more goals in 10 of the team's 18 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.
CHECK OUT THIS NUMBER
Michigan State's top three plus/minus leaders (Jim Slater +17; Mike Lalonde +16; Tommy Goebel +8) are a combined +41, while the rest of the Spartan squad is a combined +14.
SITTING NEAR THE TOP OF THE DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen currently ranks ninth in the country in points-per-game among defenseman at 0.76. UMass' Thomas Pock leads all blueliners with a 1.25 points-per-game average.
The Savage, Minn., native has appeared in 17 games, posting 3-10--13 totals.
THE NATIONAL POLLS
MSU is not ranked in either the Dec. 22 edition of the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll or the Dec. 15 USCHO.com poll. However, the Spartans did receive seven points in the USCHO.com poll.
North Dakota earned the top spot in both polls. Rounding out the top five in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll is Boston College, Maine, Wisconsin and Colorado College. Meanwhile, in the USCHO.com poll, Boston College, Maine, Wisconsin and Denver round out the top-five schools.
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 entertains Northern Michigan in a two-game set at Munn Ice Arena Jan. 2-3. Face-off is set for 7:05 p.m. each night.
