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Sports | Ice Hockey

ICE HOCKEY

'Cats special to Comley; Slater 'doubtful'

James Jahnke
February 26, 2003

MSU head coach Rick Comley's second go-around with Northern Michigan still felt weird. However, it wasn't quite as strange as his first encounter with the team he coached for 26 seasons before coming to East Lansing this year. This weekend, Comley and his family reacquainted themselves with several old friends from Northern who traveled to MSU for the teams' two-game series. Of course, he saw many of the same people when the Spartans traveled to Marquette for a series in October.

ICE HOCKEY

Falardeau content as a grinder

James Jahnke
February 25, 2003

It's OK by Lee Falardeau if no one ever confuses him with Jaromir Jagr or a similarly skilled, speedy hockey player.The 6-foot-4, 211-pound sophomore center knows his role on the MSU hockey team extends beyond racking up goals and assists.There's defense to be played.

ICE HOCKEY

Split hurts slim CCHA title hopes

James Jahnke
February 24, 2003

Rick Comley doesn't claim to be a soothsayer, but he made a prediction Saturday night: The MSU hockey team is in big trouble. After the Spartans dropped a lackluster 4-2 decision to Northern Michigan on Saturday, the MSU head coach said he doubts his team can still get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. "I couldn't imagine (getting in) now unless we win the CCHA Tournament," Comley said.

ICE HOCKEY

Migliaccio maturing between the pipes

James Jahnke
February 19, 2003

As the MSU hockey team traipses toward the postseason, sophomore goaltender Matt Migliaccio is showing signs of resiliency that were missing at times earlier this year. Twice during this weekend's series with archrival Michigan, Migliaccio found himself in trying situations.

ICE HOCKEY

Stalemate: Rivals defend home arenas

Corey Potter's first goal since Oct. 24 had all the makings of an insurance tally. The freshman defenseman's slap shot from the right point gave MSU a 4-1 lead over archrival Michigan with 11:33 to play Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.

ICE HOCKEY

Chilled Contention

James Jahnke
February 14, 2003

If Nenad Gajic scores against Michigan tonight, his parents, Lazo and Helen Gajic, are going to stick out like sore thumbs at Yost Ice Arena. After all, Nenad is an MSU hockey player, and the Spartans and their parents are considered enemies in Ann Arbor.

ICE HOCKEY

Hockey team falls to U-M, 3-1

James Jahnke
February 14, 2003

Ann Arbor - Coming into Friday night's rivalry matchup with No. 8 Michigan, the MSU hockey team stressed the importance of playing well in the first 10 minutes of the game. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they couldn't even finish their first shift before they were trailing 1-0.

ICE HOCKEY

Weekend games key to conference positioning

James Jahnke
February 14, 2003

There's plenty of hatred surrounding this weekend's MSU-Michigan hockey games, but it seems most of the loathing will be confined to the fans in the stands. The teams are still archrivals - just ask any student or alumnus from the schools.

ICE HOCKEY

Yost spirit out-shines Munn fans

Ann Arbor - Imagine you are Northern Michigan goalie Craig Kowalski. You have done everything but stand on your head to keep your Wildcats within a goal of perennial CCHA powerhouse Michigan. But late in the third period, a rogue Michigan blast slips by you for a 3-1 Wolverine lead - and the game is now out of reach. Hanging your head in despair, you stare at the ice and realize where you are: the University of Michigan's Yost Ice Arena. For an opposing goalie, just call it hell frozen over. And the fans gleefully start their ritualistic torment.

ICE HOCKEY

Estrada shoots first, asks questions later

James Jahnke
February 12, 2003

In the fall, Kevin Estrada could hardly bring himself to discuss his role with the MSU hockey team. The highly skilled sophomore's confidence had been free-falling since the beginning of his unconvincing rookie campaign and it finally bottomed out. New head coach Rick Comley's more open offensive style was supposed to be the boost Estrada needed to be a goal-scoring force in the CCHA this year, but the first two months of the season netted him no goals, one assist and four healthy scratches. Estrada, a left wing, was already miffed about not being able to score in college.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans approach rivalry-laced matchups

James Jahnke
February 12, 2003

There is no shortage of intriguing matches as the Spartan hockey team readies for its last eight regular-season games of the year. Fourth-place MSU plays archrival Michigan four times in the next three weeks, starting with this weekend's home-and-home series. Sandwiched between those rivalry tussles is a series against Northern Michigan at Munn Ice Arena on Feb.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans get key victory

James Jahnke
February 10, 2003

Bowling Green, Ohio - MSU head coach Rick Comley had a feeling Bowling Green's power-play scheme would crumble under constant stress. So on Saturday, Comley threw everything in his penalty-killing arsenal at the Falcons. The Spartans forechecked aggressively, pressed the Falcons through the neutral zone and harassed the Bowling Green power-play unit around the offensive zone en route to a 6-3 win at BGSU Ice Arena. "We felt they were vulnerable to pressure," Comley said.

ICE HOCKEY

Early lead helps Spartans top Bowling Green

James Jahnke
February 9, 2003

Bowling Green, Ohio - The MSU hockey team used two offensive bursts - one early in the first period and one late in the second - to distance itself from 11th-place Bowling Green on Saturday night at BGSU Ice Arena.Five different Spartans had at least two points in the 6-3 win.The contest was the Spartans' only action of the weekend, but the two points they earned were enough to stay in fourth place in the CCHA.

ICE HOCKEY

Early lead helps Spartans top Bowling Green

James Jahnke
February 9, 2003

Bowling Green, Ohio - The MSU hockey team used two offensive bursts - one early in the first period and one late in the second - to distance itself from 11th-place Bowling Green on Saturday night at BGSU Ice Arena.Five different Spartans had at least two points in the 6-3 win.The contest was the Spartans' only action of the weekend, but the two points they earned were enough to stay in fourth place in the CCHA.