Michigan State University Athletics
MSU vs. Michigan -- Post-game Quotes
1/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 18, 2006
Michigan State Hockey
Munn Ice Arena - Jan. 17, 2006
Michigan State vs. Michigan
Post-Game Quotes
Michigan State head coach Rick Comley
Opening statement...
"It's a great win. I thought we played very well, very solid, and we got the first goal. That's so big in today's game, it's amazing. Just the confidence goes way up, and a lot of years we have played catch up, and I think we've caught them."
"I don't think there's any upset tonight. I think we played really well, and I think right now it's a level table and I think those teams are about as level as you can get."
On the team's growing confidence...
"I think we're together now and we have everybody we want. They're competing and pushing each other at all positions and I think we're just scratching the surface."
On the Jeff Lerg...
"He's got a bright future. We've got two goalies - both can play, both have proven they can play, and they're just going to have to battle with each other, and whoever's hot is going to play."
Michigan head coach Red Berenson
On his teams' inability to create offense...
"If we played better without the puck, then we'd end up playing better with the puck. We made too many turnovers coming out of our zone, and we took too many penalties. We had isolated chances to score, but we didn't generate enough. We never had a real sustained attack."
On Michigan State goaltender Jeff Lerg...
"I think he's a real good young goalie. He probably wishes we had more shots."
Bryan Lerg, So., F
On the goal...
"I was struggling on draws tonight against (Andrew) Ebbett so I had (David) Booth take the draw. As soon as I saw him win it clean to Jared (Nightingale) I just took off. I don't know if Jared saw me, but he just flipped it. I caught it and when I saw the goalie come out I knew what I was going to do the whole way."
On family ties with Michigan...
"My dad played there from 1976-80 and has always been a Michigan fan, but he hasn't stopped supporting me now that I am a Spartan. He loves that I am here and I do too. It is the same with my cousin."
Justin Abdelkader, Fr., F
On hitting anyone and everyone...
"I don't care what their size is or how big or strong they are, it is always important and crucial to play the body."
Jared Nightingale, Sr., D
On playing a full 60 minutes of hockey...
"You have to play a full 60 minutes. We played a lot of good games early in the season for 40 minutes and the last 20 would really cost us, and even a couple shifts would cost us, but the last few weeks we've been really putting games together and playing 60 minutes."
On shutting down the high-powered Michigan offense...
"It's all twenty guys on the team doing their jobs - forwards back checking, not letting Michigan's defense beat them up ice and obviously Jeff Lerg is playing phenomenal hockey right now."
Jeff Lerg, Fr., G
On the team's play...
"It was definitely one of the best games we've played as a team. Tonight I didn't have to make any really big saves. The team did a great job clearing things out in front of the net and keeping shots to the outside."
On the play of Michigan State's defensemen...
"They've been playing especially well the last couple of games. Our forwards got out to block shots, so they did a great job also."
Drew Miller, Jr., F
On the team's momentum...
"Earlier in the season, we were in a bit of a slump, but now we're out of it. We're building on the positives from every game."
Colton Fretter, Sr., F
On his energy...
"You want to play like that every night. You just want to go out there, throw some bodies, and take some shots."
On his goal...
"Drew Miller had a lot of time in the corner and threw it on net. I just kind of jabbed at the puck, and it popped up over Noah Ruden's glove and into the net."
