Michigan State University Athletics
From The Press Box
10/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Michigan State vs. Nebraska-Omaha
Oct. 29, 2004 * Munn Ice Arena
Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Rick Comley
On the power play...
"The improvement on the power play was huge today. We moved the puck very well and that was obvious on our power-play goal. I liked how our units worked together. That is how our power play needs to work for us to win."
On the officiating...
"The officials let the players get on each other a little more. There were far less penalties tonight. I think that there was a more experienced official and he was more comfortable with the game. Also, the players are getting more used to how the game is going to change this year. Even on the bench the players are talking to each other about not hooking and not interfering."
On the composure of the team...
"They got two good-bounce goals and the players didn't panic, I think that says a lot. We really bounced back in the third period and took it to them. I work these kids hard, and that is for a reason: we are typically a stronger team in the third period than our opponents. Sometimes when you get up three goals it's hard to keep building on that. I thought Nebraska-Omaha was a good team, and we just came ready to play today. This is what I expect from our players."
UNO Head Coach Mike Kemp
On his overall thoughts of the game...
"We knew we were coming into a place where a team was going to come out with a tremendous amount of fire and a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. The first period was pretty evident in that. They took it to us in the first period real well. After the first part of the period, the play was pretty up and down. They set us back on our heels and it took us a while to recover. They set the tempo, they set the tone, and they got it done."
On his team's performance in their first road game...
"Chris Holt was pretty solid. It (the first period) could have been worse. I was pleased with some of the stuff that I saw. This is our first time on the road, and with as young as we are, it was a learning experience. We certainly have played better this year, but those are the things that happen on the road."
Spartan Players
Colton Fretter, F, Jr.
On registering a win...
"It's a lot more fun to play when it's a win. It feels nice to score and win."
On the Spartans play early in the game...
"In the first period, we were in their zone a lot and we were cycling it. With my line in particular, we played well on the power play. It was a big game for us, with the power play struggling a little bit. It feels good to get a couple goals; gives us a little bit more confidence. We worked hard."
On coming back after letting a few goals in...
"We didn't feel like we were getting outplayed or dominated. They got some bounces that were in their favor. When they got that second goal it was more like, `ok, we have to come back and get that one back'."
A.J. Thelen, D, So.
On the differences in play tonight compared with last weekend at Northern Michigan...
"I think work ethic, playing the body and cycling down low, and capitalizing on our power plays."
On how the Spartans will approach tomorrow night's contest...
"We are going to come out even harder tomorrow night. They are a young team on their first road trip. They're a good team and fast on the boards - we have to be ready for them tomorrow."
On how the team is adjusting to calls...
"We are starting to really adjust to the type of penalties that the refs are calling. From our point of view, it's really helping us out. Five on five, we played good and worked the puck down low real well."
Jim Slater, F, Sr.
His overall thoughts on the game...
"We had a real good night; shots were getting through and we had some good puck movement, which was good. We just have to put the puck on net and hack away at it. We had good puck movement by all five guys and were pretty patient getting shots through."
On how not being in the box, helped MSU in the long run...
"On the penalty kill, we really didn't have to do much. It was a real struggle for us up at Northern Michigan last weekend. I thought that was the difference up there, them being on the power play and we weren't. Guys did a great job keeping their heads tonight and the refs did a good job and let us play, which was good."
Ash Goldie, F, Sr.
On the success of the power play...
"You can't complain when you get the power play going. We struggled at the beginning of the year. We've used a bunch of guys. Tonight, all the guys we had out there were doing the job. It seemed like we were getting a little luckier with the puck. We got some shots through."
On the mentality that the team must have to win...
"You try to play confident every night. You don't want to go out there and think that you're not going to get the job done. Every time you go out there you think to yourself, `You are going to do the job that you have to do'."
