From The Lockerroom
11/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Michigan State vs. Cornell
Oct. 12, 2004 * East Lansing, Mich.
Post-Game Quotes
MSU Coach Rick Comley
On the game ...
"It was an outstanding, very entertaining game. They are a very good team and I thought we went toe-to-toe with them. That might be the best game we have played all year. We had a chance to get up by three or four, but there goaltending held them end there. It was about as much as you could want in a 1-1 game."
On the goaltending...
"Sometimes when you have a goalie that is as good as (David) McKee, you shoot so fine. I thought (Dominic) Vicari matched him save for save though. It is hard to play in a game like this because there are spurts where you get very little action, and then all the sudden, there is a laser coming at you."
On the intensity level...
"The intensity was tremendous. The crowd and both teams were on top of their game. They came in No. 8, and we were with them until the end. I think that shows what kind of team we are."
On Corey Potter returning to the line-up...
"It was great to see Corey back on the ice. You would never know he missed a game. He played very well in critical situations for us."
On the mood of the team following the game...
"I thought they were disappointed with the tie, which they should be because you really need to win at home. But, when you put things in perspective, they played a solid game against a very good team."
Cornell Coach Mike Schafer
On the overall performance of the Spartans ...
"I thought [Michigan State] played very, very well tonight. Without our goaltending tonight, we lose that hockey game. Give Michigan State credit for making the plays; obviously, it was not our best performance, but give them credit for making us play the way we played. I told Rick (Comley) they deserved a better outcome to the game."
On the overall performance of his team ...
"I didn't like any aspect of our game from start to finish with the exception of our goaltending. (David) McKee played great. I thought the guys were not very strong in front of him. They weren't very physical, we didn't pursue pucks. Like I said, I didn't like any aspect of our game except the goaltending."
On preparation for Sunday's game ...
"Obviously, there are some big adjustments to make. I'll go back and look at it, but it's just basic fundamental work ethic. If you don't have that, it's a long night, and it was for us."
On his team's climb back into the game ...
"It's not often you can come into a place like this, play like this, and get away with it. We are very, very fortunate. We expend so much effort trying to get back in the game, to get going, and we did get back in it. That shows the maturity on the team."
MSU Players
Dominic Vicari, So., G
On the game ...
"I thought we played really good. Our guys came out and were really cooking. They were getting their second, even third shots. (David) McKee just stood on his head out there and made some big saves for them. I thought our guys played really well tonight."
On the second period ...
"We came out in the first period really great. I think I had maybe two or three shots, but then they picked it up in the second period. I got a little more action and into the third period, I got a little bit more. It's tough for a goalie not to get too many shots in the first period. But I thought we played really well, our defense played great tonight and didn't let me see too many opportunity shots.
"I felt pretty good; I was able to see the shots. The only shot I didn't see was there goal. It was good to get a couple of shots early in the second period to get me warmed up."
On Cornell's goal ...
"It hit something, I don't know what. It hit off the post and then maybe my pad, my skate, or my back, I don't know what, but it trickled in. It is kind of funny because that is how the game goes. We did it twice, the puck banged off the post and they didn't find its way to the back of the net and theirs does. So, it's just a little bad luck."
Jim Slater, Sr., F
On the tie...
"It was a good tie for us especially with a team like that coming in here. We would like a win but we'll take a tie. It was a hard game and it was a good team."
On the mood of the team in the locker room after the game...
"It was kind of dry. We played good and everyone is tired, it drained a lot of guys out there. It was a real tough game to play in, but we know we got another game Sunday against these guys and we can't get overly excited. We still tied, we didn't win. We're happy with it, but it's going to be even tougher on Sunday."
On the crowd and atmosphere...
"I challenged the crowd this week and they showed up great. It was great support for us tonight. Those are the type of games you like to play in, where the crowd is standing. It's a lot of fun, lots of good chances. Hopefully, it will be like that on Sunday.
We need that support from our fans. It was great tonight, but we need that for the rest of the year."
Ash Goldie, Sr., F
On the game ...
"They're a great team. There were definitely chances for both teams out there. Both goalies played great, and unfortunately, we ended up getting a tie. We'll come back Sunday and see what we can do."
On Cornell netminder David McKee ...
"He played a great game. We definitely had a lot of great chances. One save he made, I don't know how he made it -- the one with (David) Booth, where it hit the post and hit his back and came around. I don't know how it ended up in his glove but it did. I started laughing out there, I just couldn't believe it. But he played great for them. We just couldn't beat them tonight. We need to keep shooting the puck, eventually it will go in. Hopefully, we can get a couple more on Sunday."
Corey Potter, Jr., D
On coming back from injury and playing in his first game of the season...
"It was great to get back in the lineup. It was a great game to come back to, a lot of crashing and a lot of hitting. That's my kind of style of play, so it was a lot of fun to get back with the guys."
On the difficulty of having to sit out due to injury...
"It's not a lot of fun sitting out. You have to watch your team go through all of the highs and the lows, the winning and the losing. When you are sitting up there in the stands all you want to do is be out there and try and contribute. It wasn't fun, but it's great to be back."
On how he felt on the ice in his first game...
"Actually on my first shift I got knocked right down, so it was good to get back out there and right back into it. They are a pretty tough team. They like to hit. As far as my physical play, I felt pretty strong out there."
