Michigan State 7, Sacred Heart 5
10/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 28, 2006
Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
Opening statement...
I thought we played really well early, got up by five goals, and the thing I was most disappointed in was the two faceoff goals. That's one of the areas we've been struggling in and we need to get better at that. I feel bad for Jeff (Lerg) right now. The puck is going in bizarre ways. I told him at least we beat them clean. It rattles the goalie, but he's such a good kid, he'll work himself through it. It was an interesting weekend to play two different teams. I think it was good prep for what we have coming up, which is as tough of a six-week schedule as there is in college hockey.
On what he learned about his team this weekend...
I thought we made progress this weekend. We really have to get better at faceoffs, we have to do more with the puck inside our goal line. We ring the puck (off the goal posts) so much our poor forwards are digging it out in traffic. We need to get them to play with a little more skill rather than easing passes. I thought our power play was better tonight and we got some good movement that way. I thought Jay Sprague had a real good weekend and Mike Ratchuck played well.
On the team's performance on the power play...
What we're trying to do is simplify it - put traffic in front, and shots on net. We've been guilty of spreading out and passing like crazy, but tonight we stacked the net and moved the puck until we could get pucks through. Graham got a great goal, and then Ratchuk got a great goal, so that's encouraging.
Sacred Heart Head Coach Shaun Hannah
On his team's persistence...
We've got a no quit attitude in our locker room. No matter what the score is we're going to continue to make adjustments, keep competing and keep winning races to the puck. You have to keep doing the things that you need to do because its not over until the buzzer goes.
On the opportunity the game presented for Sacred Heart...
It's a great opportunity for our kids and our team. We're a relatively new program in Division I hockey circles and we're growing. It's a great opportunity for us to come here and see hockey played at the level we need to be at.
Michigan State Sophomore Forward Nick Sucharski
On his two goals Saturday night...
The first goal was just a great pass by (Matt) Schepke and a lot of hard work. We've been working a lot in practice together and it has really paid off. On the second goal, Graham just took a shot on net and I was able to deflect it in. We've been working on getting pucks high and then finishing them on goal.
On what getting goals early in the season means to him...
It's a great start to the season, compared to last year when I was struggling. It has been a real confidence boost which helps me when I'm preparing for the next game. It also shows that Coach Comley has confidence in me, which is a real character boost.
Michigan State Senior Defenseman Ethan Graham
On playing with a big lead...
When you score that many goals early you tend to lay back and I think that's what happened tonight. They got a couple in and kept coming at us. I think we responded well, getting a couple of power-play goals.
On the success of the power play Saturday night...
I think it was all about finding angles and pucks getting through. We got some good bounces and good tips. They were laying back a bit so we were able to get pucks through.
On what Michigan State needs to do in the upcoming games...
I think we need to concentrate on being consistent. We'll have a good stretch and then we'll have a couple of down shifts. We need to make sure we stay on an even plane.
Michigan State Junior Forward Bryan Lerg
On the kind of team Sacred Heart is...
I thought they ran around a lot and were very physical. They threw the puck at the net a lot, which resulted in goals that were deflected in by loose sticks.
On his goal...
It started in the defensive zone when (Daniel) Vukovic made a great play to (Chris) Mueller on the boards. Mueller read McKenzie coming through the middle and I just busted through the neutral zone. McKenzie made a great pass to me for a breakaway and the goalie played pretty far out so I was able to deke him.
