Paula C. Weston“If you’re going to win hockey games, you need good defense … but this has been a total team effort. You’re looking at a real team.” So said Michigan coach Red Berenson, from the ice, just after the Wolverines beat the Miami RedHawks, 2-1, to become the 2007-08 CCHA Mason Cup champions. This is Michigan’s … Read more
After playing the first 59:56 without a goal, the Miami RedHawks found the net with 3.4 seconds remaining in regulation to send the first CCHA semifinal into overtime, where Alec Martinez’s high shot from the top of the slot gave the No. 3 RedHawks a 2-1 win over Notre Dame. “I thought the guys did … Read more
Torn There are times when a woman has to say what’s on her mind, even though she knows how much it’s gonna hurt. I am elated that Northern Michigan is heading to Joe Louis Arena this weekend. I am saddened, however, that the Wildcats’ trip comes at the expense of Michigan State. Here I sit, … Read more
The Real Hardware This week the CCHA named its all-league first, second, and academic teams and its finalists for Player of the Year. While every player honored by the league this year is worthy of praise, I wonder about two things — and the public wondering will probably get me into trouble with someone, somewhere … Read more
Congratulations, Wolverines! Picked fourth in the preseason league coaches and media polls and third preseason by this reporter, the Wolverines surpassed all expectations by capturing their 10th regular-season league title last weekend. Upon winning, head coach Red Berenson said that his young team “found a way to win games night after night, home and away, … Read more
Virtual Hardware, Part 2 I’m limiting each all-league team to six players. The Girl Reporter All-CCHA Team Ryan Jones (F, Miami) Chad Kolarik (F, UM) Kevin Porter (F, UM) Kevin Roeder (D, Miami) Brock Sheahan (D, ND) Billy Sauer (G, UM) Porter and Roeder earned this last season as well. Porter, who got my nod … Read more
Ohio State’s quick start did little to deter Miami as the RedHawks came from behind to beat the Buckeyes 2-1 in the last game of the season at Value City Arena. John Albert’s goal 40 seconds in gave OSU the very early 1-0 lead, but Alexandre Lacombe evened the score for Miami 15 minutes later … Read more
Red Carpet Time Now that the writers’ strike is over and the Academy Awards are safe, I think it only fitting to return to what all writers should be doing all the time: handing out hardware. Player of the Year Last year when I gave out this award, I didn’t think anything could top the … Read more
With little but pride on the line for the remainder of this disappointing season, the Buckeyes proved that nothing’s really over until it’s over. With less than one second left on the clock, Tommy Goebel tipped in John Albert’s shot from the right point to lift Ohio State over Northern Michigan, 3-2. “Johnny made a … Read more
Apparently, there is little that Northern Michigan goaltender Brian Stewart can’t do. Not only did the sophomore make 46 saves in his second consecutive shutout, but the goalie had an assist on NMU’s empty-net goal at 19:09 in the Wildcats’ 2-0 win over Ohio State. However, a second straight blanking a of Big Ten team … Read more
Happy Valentine’s Day! Enthusiasm? About Valentine’s Day? From this girl reporter? Over the years, I’ve made it clear that Valentine’s Day is every bitter, divorced, middle-aged hockey writer’s least favorite holiday … and yet already I’ve broken with personal conviction and mentioned the Hallmark holiday by name three times in this column. I sense your … Read more
A Tale of One and Two No. 2 Michigan travels to No. 1 Miami this week, the match that many CCHA fans have anticipated eagerly for much of the season. The teams are just one point apart in the league standings, are Nos. 1 and 2 nationally in both scoring offense and defense, and their … Read more
Peter Boyd scored two third-period goals to push Ohio State past the Bowling Green Falcons, 4-2, giving OSU just their second home win of the season and a weekend split with their instate rivals. While Scott Paluch and John Markell disagreed in their assessment of Friday’s 5-2 Falcon win, the two head coaches used the … Read more
With two goal performances from Jacob Cepis and Derek Whitmore, the Bowling Green Falcons beat the Ohio State Buckeyes, 5-2, to lift themselves one game above .500 in CCHA and overall play. Cepis’ goals came 2:12 apart in game time, the first in the final two minutes of the second period and the second in … Read more
“Although Thy Breath Be Rude” For much of the geographic area of the CCHA, Tuesday and Wednesday were extraordinarily windy days. Many folks throughout Michigan and Ohio were left without power, nearly 60,000 in Detroit alone. A rare January tornado ripped through Indiana. There are several theories to explain what happened midweek throughout the Midwest. … Read more
How to Announce Your Presence with Authority in One Easy Step So, you’re playing in a league that some people call fluffy because the conference name doesn’t begin with a “W” and you rarely play regular-season games in New England. Even though your fourth-place team from a year ago took the national championship. Even though … Read more
After two close periods of hockey, the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans broke it open with three third-period goals to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes, 4-0, and earn their first sweep in Columbus since January of 2004. Junior goaltender Jeff Lerg stopped all 23 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season. Matt … Read more
Nick Sucharski’s second-period goal knocked the life out of Ohio State, and Jeff Lerg’s third-period save on a Buckeyes’ breakaway prevented resurrection as No. 7 Michigan State beat Ohio State, 4-1, in Columbus. “I thought it was a pretty good game,” said MSU coach Rick Comley. “I thought a key point in the hockey game … Read more
First Congratulations to Lake Superior State. With an uncharacteristic offensive output, the Lakers beat the visiting Bowling Green Falcons, 4-1, Saturday night, to claim their first CCHA victory of the season. Saturday night’s hero was Simon Gysbers, a sophomore defenseman who had the offensive game of his life. Gysbers had a goal and three assists … Read more
With 13 freshmen in the game, the Ohio State Buckeyes scored two early and held on to outlast the U.S. National Under-18 Team, 3-2, in exhibition play. Senior John Dingle, freshman Sergio Somma and junior Nick Biondo had the OSU goals with freshman netminder Dustin Carlson stopping 23 shots. Jeremy Morin and Ryan Bourque had … Read more