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Sports | Ice Hockey

ICE HOCKEY

Saturday shutout salvages MSU split

Eric Fish
November 20, 2006

Junior forward Bryan Lerg summed up the No. 4 Spartans' 4-1 loss at No. 5 Notre Dame on Friday night with just a few words. "They out-hustled us, out-muscled us and they played with more energy," Lerg said. Notre Dame had just won its ninth straight game and limited MSU's scoring chances with stingy defensive play and quality goaltending. So how could the Spartans beat a Fighting Irish team that only had given up an average of 1.10 goals per game coming into the series? By giving them a taste of their own medicine. In Saturday night's series-closer at Munn Ice Arena, it was the Spartans (6-3-1 overall, 4-3-1 CCHA) who laid out all the hits, played near-perfect defense and controlled the play en route to a 2-0 win. The victory secured the weekend split and gave Notre Dame (9-2-1, 4-1-1) its first conference loss of the season. "Before the game, we identified that you can't be afraid to name a game 'a big game,'" MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

ICE HOCKEY

Among recruits: Son of former Tiger

Eric Fish
November 20, 2006

MSU head coach Rick Comley announced last week the signing of National Letters of Intent by three players to accompany the two already signed and to complement the returnees for the 2007-08 hockey season. The five members who make up the class of 2011 will join the Spartans next September. Dustin Gazley Position: Forward Height: 5-foot-8 Weight: 150 pounds Hometown: Novi His numbers: Three goals and four points in 11 games with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. Comley: "Dustin is a very hard worker with a great intensity, and he also possesses some speed to his game.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU preps for surprising Irish

Eric Fish
November 16, 2006

Forget about the Notre Dame hockey team who was a CCHA bottom-feeder in recent years. Having started the season with an impressive 8-1-1 record and road wins against quality opponents such as Providence and Boston College, the Fighting Irish have upped their national ranking to No.

ICE HOCKEY

Goalie hopes to end talk of slump

Eric Fish
November 14, 2006

Sophomore slump? Or comeback of the year? If last week's performances were any indication of how the rest of the season will pan out for sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg, then forget about a second-year slump. In two games against Ferris State last week, Lerg stopped 64 of 66 total shots, including all 35 pucks fired his way in a 6-0 shutout of the Bulldogs in Big Rapids in the series closer. For his performances, Lerg was awarded CCHA Goaltender of the Week honors for the first time this season. "Everyone talks about the CCHA and the goalies and how well they can perform," Lerg said.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans regain legs, pound Ferris State, 6-0

Eric Fish
November 13, 2006

Big Rapids — It's amazing what a few days of rest can do. Only three days after a fatigued Spartans team squandered a two-goal third-period lead to settle for a tie against Ferris State, a rejuvenated MSU squad skated into Ewigleben Ice Arena on Friday and dominated the Bulldogs, 6-0. "Tuesday, I think you could see how much fatigue was a factor," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

ICE HOCKEY

On the offensive

Eric Fish
November 6, 2006

Ann Arbor — It took the Wolverines 10 contests against the Spartans to finally beat their intrastate rival Saturday night, 6-2 — the first time in nearly two years.

ICE HOCKEY

U-M rivalry has been dead heat

Eric Fish
November 3, 2006

Just how even have MSU and Michigan matched up on the ice lately? For starters, seven of the last eight games between the intrastate rivals have been decided by two goals or less, including five ties. The MSU media guide lists 14 former Spartans playing in the NHL.

ICE HOCKEY

On heels of NHL, college game evolves

Eric Fish
October 30, 2006

When the NHL reopened its doors on Oct. 5, 2005 after a one-year lockout, it set a single-date attendance record, selling out 11 of the 15 possible arenas and filling rinks to a 98 percent capacity league-wide.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers begin regular season this weekend

Eric Fish
October 12, 2006

It's the moment the No. 4 MSU hockey team has been waiting for ever since it was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Maine last spring. Starting Friday, the Spartans will embark on a new season and attempt to get to the Frozen Four — a goal they felt they were talented enough to achieve last season.

ICE HOCKEY

Comley confident in top lines, but uncertain past that

Eric Fish
October 12, 2006

If there's one thing MSU head coach Rick Comley likes about his No. 4 Spartans this early in the season, it's the strength of his best players. The top two forward lines — juniors Jim McKenzie, Chris Mueller and Bryan Lerg, and the sophomore trio of Tim Kennedy, Tim Crowder and Justin Abdelkader — have already proven themselves. But sometimes, the most difficult job a coach has is rounding out those third and fourth lines to get the most out of everyone. "The top part of our team is pretty darn good," Comley said.