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ICE HOCKEY

Seniors, Comley say goodbye with last game at Munn

Jeff Kanan
February 27, 2011

The game had no impact in the final standings and wouldn’t impact who MSU would play in the first round of next week’s CCHA tournament. That didn’t diminish the emotion of MSU’s win and first sweep of the season Saturday and happy close to the Spartan careers of three of their own, and significance of singing the fight song in the locker room for the first time at home this year. MSU laid everything on the line for its retiring head coach, Rick Comley, and two senior forwards, Dustin Gazley and Joey Shean, to defeat Bowling Green, 2-0, Saturday at Munn Ice Arena and send them out as winners, even though they likely didn’t expect to be in 10th place in the standings at this time of year. The Spartans importantly gave their coach and players a worthy end to careers that saw extreme dedication and commitment to a program and creating some high points along the way. The Spartans, who were tabbed to finish in third or fourth in the CCHA standings before the season, weren’t playing for a CCHA championship or even for a first-round bye, but that didn’t decrease the significance of the night or the accomplishments Comley has had at MSU. Comley’s service to the program has been outstanding and his National Title and his three straight trips to the NCAA regional finals from 2006 through 2008 stand as big accomplishments in today’s CCHA. He was honored Saturday with a tribute after the game and video that highlighted the high points of his career and nine years of keeping up the MSU hockey tradition. “I’m not a glammer and glitz guy,” Comley said.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans earn first sweep of season with 2-0 win over Bowling Green

Jeff Kanan
February 27, 2011

The MSU hockey team didn’t have much control over its postseason fate this weekend, but made the most of what it could control in defeating Bowling Green, 2-0, Saturday for a weekend sweep. MSU earned its first sweep of the season and did an impressive defensive job against the Falcons to give junior goalie Drew Palmisano a shutout victory. However, the Spartans will be forced to make the long trip to Alaska for the first round of the playoffs next weekend, but honored head coach Rick Comley and senior forwards Dustin Gazley and Joey Shean out in style for their final home games. “I think there was definitely more energy,” junior defenseman Brock Shelgren said.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers grind out win against Bowling Green

Jeff Kanan
February 26, 2011

The goals came early and from several directions, but eventually ran out in MSU’s 2-1 win against Bowling Green on Friday. Sophomore forward Dean Chelios and junior forward Brett Perlini scored within eight minutes of each other to put MSU ahead 2-0 at the 9:02 mark of the first period. Bowling Green forward Brett Mohler scored 51 seconds later to make it 2-1 before the offense slowed down and the Spartans hung on for a late-season victory. MSU possessed the puck for later portions of the game and helped secure its second straight victory, but will need a follow-up performance Saturday to earn its first sweep of the season. “We were fine, kind of diligent and business-like,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans can still finish strong

Jeff Kanan
February 15, 2011

Following one of the worst weekends of the season, the MSU hockey team can’t be blamed if it’s trying to seek the answers to its inconsistencies. The Spartans dropped back-to-back games against Northern Michigan, the first of which prevented a 52-shot game from being a winning effort, and the second of which erased a 4-1 lead. Now the Spartans (12-16-4 overall, 8-14-2 CCHA) remain in 10th place in the CCHA standings and likely will need to sweep this weekend’s series at Alaska in order to have a chance at home-ice advantage in the first round of the CCHA Tournament. MSU is five points out of ninth place in the CCHA standings making it necessary to win at least three and possibly all four of its remaining games to just to have a chance at home ice. The Spartans’ offense broke its six-game streak of producing two goals or fewer in each game Saturday but suffered uncharacteristic defensive breakdowns that helped sixth-place Northern Michigan erase a 4-1 deficit and win, 6-5.