The still-streaking Northern Michigan Wildcats stay in the No. 2 hole after sweeping Lake Superior State, who drop from No. 4 to No. 5 with Western Michigan assuming the No. 3 ranking and Ferris State falling to No. 4 after the Michigan sweep last weekend and losing both to Alaska the weekend prior.

This week’s poll is also the final one of the 2008-2009 season.

Complete Poll

1) Michigan, 26-10-0 (swept Ferris State)
2) Northern Michigan, 14-15-5 (swept Lake Superior State)
3) Western Michigan, 12-17-7 (swept Bowling Green)
4) Ferris State, 12-17-7 (swept by Michigan)
5) Lake Superior State, 10-18-8 (swept by Northern Michigan)
6) Michigan State, 10-21-5 (swept by Notre Dame)
7) Michigan Tech, 5-22-7 (idle)

Each week, MichiganCollegeHockey.com editors Matt Mackinder and Tom Balog will compile the MiCHO Power Poll. The poll will comprise the seven Division I teams in the state of Michigan. The next poll will be released in October 2009.

Western Michigan forwards Patrick Galivan and Greg Squires have been named the CCHA RBC Player of the Month and CCHA Rookie of the Month, respectively, for February.

Galivan averaged 2.12 points per game, 17 in total, leading the CCHA and the nation in scoring for the month of February to capture the CCHA scoring title.

The Western Michigan senior tallied a point in all eight games in the month and finished the season on a 12-game point streak that started on January 23. Galivan recorded multiple points in seven of eight games and had two three-point performances: February 7 against Nebraska-Omaha (1-2-3) and Ferbruary 14 vs. Alaska (2-1-3). The 5-foot-10, 175-pound forward scored nine goals in February, finishing on a seven-game goal streak, including two multi-goal games.

The Oak Park, Ill., native helped WMU post a 5-2-1 record during the month and secure home-ice advantage for the first round of the CCHA playoffs. Averaging an assist per game, Galivan set up five goals and scored twice with the Broncos enjoying a man advantage to tie for the CCHA lead in power-play points in the month.

The business major had two game-winning goals in February to tie for first in the CCHA and fourth in the country.

Special mention for RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month honors goes to Bowling Green senior goalie Jimmy Spratt, Michigan sophomore forward Louie Caporusso, Michigan State senior goalie Jeff Lerg, Northern Michigan sophomore forward Greger Hanson, Notre Dame senior forward Erik Condra and Ohio State sophomore forward Sergio Somma.

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Squires, who was also named the CCHA Rookie of the Month for January, notched nine points in eight games, leading all CCHA rookies and tying for third nationally.

He recorded a point in seven of eight games including his first career three-point game (1-2-3) on February 7 in a 5-0 win at Nebraska-Omaha. Squires’ seven assists were tops among CCHA freshmen, tied for fifth with all CCHA players and tied for second in the country for rookies. The White Plains, N.Y., native scored two goals in the month with both coming on the power play.

The 5-foot-8, 180-pound forward finished the month on a five-game point streak and totaled seven power-play points in February, best in the CCHA. Squires helped lead the Broncos to a 5-2-1 record as they earned a home-ice playoff berth as the number seven seed.

The freshman, who plans to major in exercise science, recorded 17 points in the last two months, finishing the season with 25 points, third in CCHA rookie scoring.

Forward Billy Maday of Notre Dame and forward David Wohlberg of Michigan earned special mention for CCHA Rookie of the Month for February.

Wayne State senior forward Melissa Boal has been selected to participate in the fourth annual Frozen Four Skills Challenge, which will be held April 10 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

The competition will be conducted in an East versus West format with each team having six male position players, six female position players, two male goaltenders and two female goaltenders.

Joining Boal on the West squad is Angie Keseley (Wisconsin), Gigi Marvin (Minnesota), Megan McCarthy (St. Cloud State), Sara O’Toole (Minnesota-Duluth) and Ashley Riggs (Niagara). The West goaltenders will be Johanna Ellison (Minnesota-Duluth) and Brianne McLaughlin (Robert Morris).

In addition, WSU senior Sam Poyton was named as one of eight alternates for the West team.

The competitions will include puck control relay, fastest skater, hardest shot, rapid fire shooting, accuracy shooting and penalty shot. Each competitor will receive a complete set of equipment and a full uniform from Bauer Hockey.

To be eligible, all players must have exhausted their collegiate eligibility and be nominated by their head coach. The players were selected by representatives from the American Hockey Coaches Association, the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee and NCAA national office staff.

Boal photo (with Warriors head coach Jim Fetter during WSU Senior Day last Saturday) by Matt Mackinder

Things didn’t go as planned for the Wayne State Warriors over the weekend as they were taken apart by the Mercyhurst Lakers in the regular season finale at the City Sports Center in Detroit.

A season-high (374) fans packed the rink on Friday for the third annual Doc Andrews Scholarship Night, but the Lakers held off a late Warrior rally to capture a 4-3 victory.

Snipers Melissa Boal and Patty Kazmaier finalist Meghan Agosta traded goals in the first period and the two teams ended the first 20 minutes tied at one.

The Lakers took charge in the second period on three unanswered goals by Geena Prough, Valerie Chouinard and Bailey Bram.

Boal cut the lead to 4-2 with a shorthanded marker that beat Hillary Pattenden at 16:05 for her team-high 29th goal of the season.

WSU put on the furious rush late in the contest and were rewarded with a Lindsay DiPietro 6-on-3 power-play goal at 18:19 of the third period, but that’s as close as they would get.

Delayne Brian finished with 33 saves for the Warriors and Pattenden stopped 13 for the Lakers.

WSU ended the night 1-for-10 on the power play and held MC to 1-for-7 with the extra skater.

Sunday, the Lakers stole a penalty-filled affair, 4-2, to sweep the four-game season series with the Warriors.

Wayne State was penalized 15 times and Mercyhurst 13 times in an understandably choppy game.

MC took advantage of the multiple whistles to jump out to a 3-0 lead on goals by Melissa LaCroix, Jesse Scanzano, and Bram.

Green and Gold freshman Jill Szandzik put the Warriors on the board with a power-play goal at 16:14 of the second period.

Bailey Lane thought she had her first collegiate goal just 27 seconds later, but a quick whistle by the referee erased the would-be goal.

Agosta added her second of the weekend near the midway point of the third to put the Lakers up 4-1.

Wayne State fought back again and scored another extra attacker, power-play goal, this time by Sam Poyton, at 19:03 to close the scoring.

Brian came up huge in the WSU net, stopping 36 shots. Pattenden turned away 17 for MC.

Wayne State’s ended up 2-for-11 with the man advantage and Mercyhurst finished 2-for-13.

Next up, the Warriors (20-8-2, 11-5-0 CHA) will held back to Erie, Pa., this weekend for the 2009 CHA championship at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

The action will begin Thursday night with Niagara taking on Syracuse in the lone quarterfinal matchup. The winner will advance to face top-seeded Mercyhurst in a semifinal matchup at 3:00 p.m. on Friday.

Second seed Wayne State will seek some revenge as they take on the Robert Morris Colonials in the other semi at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday’s CHA championship game will face of at 5:00 p.m. and all the tournament games will be available on the B2 Network.

ICE CHIPS…

Prior to the game, the Warriors recognized their eight seniors (pictured above) – Emily Berzins, Boal, DiPietro, Amanda Hungle, Natalie Payne, Poyton, Becky Sonn and Tina Vanderhoeven – for their contributions to the WSU hockey program … The class collected a combined 704 points in their WSU careers.

Photo by Matt Mackinder

The Adrian Bulldogs made easy work of the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Sunday afternoon, 7-1, and in the process hoisted the Harris Cup as the MCHA postseason tournament winner for the second year in a row.

Adrian (27-1-1) entered the tournament a heavy favorite and did not disappoint in front of the home fans at Arrington Ice Arena.

The first eight minutes were played evenly as both teams did not take too many chances and were feeling each other out on the big stage. Adrian broke into the scoring column at the 12-minute mark of the first period as Adam Krug scored his 22nd goal of the season with assists from Quinn Waller and Eric Miller. That goal really seemed to open the floodgates for the Bulldogs, who scored three more goals over the next 4:28 to end the period up, 4-0.

Brad Houston‘s 16th goal of the season at 13:09 on a nice pass from Joel Workman made it 2-0. Mike Dahlinger was left alone in front of the net and buried a wrist shot in the top left corner of the net at 14:33 at even strength to make it 3-0. Dahlinger’s 15th goal was assisted by Mike Leone and Reed Renaud. Waller added a power-play goal on a 5-on-3 situation at 17:28 for his third goal of the year with assists from Miller and Krug.

Adrian made it 5-0 at the 10:37 mark of the second period as Houston went top shelf for his second goal of the game with an assist from Kyle Watson.

MSOE cut the lead to 5-1 as Matt Leitzan scored his first goal of the season off a rebound at 11:33.

Adrian added two more in the final period as Waller had his first multi-goal game of the year with another power play tally at 1:20 with an assist from Shawn Skelly. Sam Kuzyk ended the scoring at 5:57 of the third for his 11th goal of the year with assists from Dahlinger and Leone.

Adrian had five recipients on the MCHA All-Tournament Team including Krug, Waller, Houston, Miller and goaltender Brad Fogal. Miller was named the tournament MVP for his fine efforts.

Fogal made 22 saves as MSOE actually outshot Adrian, 28-25.

MSOE was 0-for-5 on the power play, while Adrian was 2-for-5.

The MCHA conference does not have an automatic bid into the Division III Tournament, so Adrian will have to wait until next Sunday to learn if they earned an at-large bid to the tournament.

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The MCHA announced its postseason awards last Friday night at the annual conference banquet hosted by Adrian College. The Bulldogs swept the major awards as sophomore Shawn Skelly was named Player of the Year and head coach Ron Fogarty was named Coach of the Year.

Skelly followed up Adam Krug, who won Player of the Year honors last season. Skelly had a really remarkable season leading the MCHA with 47 points including 23 goals and 24 assists. Skelly led the MCHA in goals, assists and power play points (26). Skelly also had five game-winning goals in the conference.

Krug was again named to the All-Conference Team along with forward Eric Miller, defensemen Chris Stansik and Quinn Waller and goaltender Brad Fogal.

Krug was second in the league with 33 points including 13 goals and 20 assists. He ranked second in goals, third in assists and tied for third in power-play points (15). Stansik led all MCHA defensemen with 25 points, including seven goals and 18 assists. Waller ranked tied for second in defensemen scoring with 20 points. He had two goals and 18 assists.

Miller ranked third in the conference in scoring with 30 points including 11 goals and 19 assists. Miller tied for third in goals and tied for fourth in assists. He did all of this while missing four conference games. Fogal led goaltenders in all statistical categories. Fogal had a 1.22 goals-against average, a .944 save percentage and went 19-0 in net.

Fogarty was named Coach of the Year for the first time as Adrian went 20-0 during the regular season to set an MCHA record.

The All-Academic team was also announced:
Eric Bailen
Jeremy Cross
Mike Fiorillo
Zach Galia
Bobby Hineman
Rob Hodnicki
Brad Houston
Jeremy Klaver
Adam Krug
Sam Kuzyk
Eric Roman
Chris Stansik
Mike Towns
Quinn Waller
Kyle Watson
Joel Workman

Northern Michigan (14-15-5,11-12-5-3 CCHA) capped off the regular season with a sweep over Upper Peninsula rival Lake Superior State as the Wildcats turned in a 7-3 victory on Friday and a 4-3 win on Saturday.

Mark Olver (pictured) got the scoring started in Friday’s game. After helping kill a Lakers’ power play, he took a pass from Blake Cosgrove and netted his 11th of the season. Phil Fox put the ‘Cats up 2-0 with some help from Tyler Gron and Andrew Cherniwchan.

LSSU’s Carter Lee scored to make the score 2-1, but Olver took advantage of a Northern power play to score again. Gregor Hanson, Justin Florek and Erik Gustafsson scored a series of unanswered goals, effectively managing a second period laden with penalties.

Lake State appeared to shift the momentum, scoring two goals to open the third period from captain Troy Schwab and Josh Sim, but Billy Smith stopped their potential comeback in its tracks. His goal at 4:01 of the third sealed the score at 7-3.

CCHA Goalie of the Week Brian Stewart had another solid performance in net as he made 25 saves in Friday’s game. Gustafsson and Nick Sirota were each credited with two assists in the evening’s scoring.

Pat Inglis and Brian Mahoney-Wilson combined for 20 saves in the loss.

Andrew Fernandez assisted on Smith’s goal on Friday and he kept his offensive energy up on Saturday. He scored the first goal of the night at 15:03 of the first (assists by Olver and Sirota). Gron lit the lamp on a power-play goal thanks to a set-up by Gustafsson and Tim Hartung, and then Olver scored his third goal of the weekend to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

The Lakers closed the second period with a power play goal from Zac MacVoy, but the ‘Cats widened their lead to 4-1 when Hanson set up Jared Brown for Brown’s 10th goal of the season. The Lakers pressured the ‘Cats and managed two more goals from Will Acton and MacVoy before the final horn (including a last-minute tally that resulted from an extra man), but Derek Janzen held on for the win with 21 saves.

Saturday’s game was also heavy on penalties–Northern had nine, Lake State seven–but each team only managed one power-play goal.

Mahoney-Wilson finished with 19 saves for LSSU (10-18-8, 7-15-6-1 CCHA).

With these wins, the Wildcats end the season ranked No. 6 in the CCHA. Their first playoff test will come at home when they take on Michigan State next weekend in a best-of-three showdown.

LSSU plays at Western Michigan this weekend in the first round.

Heading into its final regular-season series, Western Michigan had everything to play for.

Afterwards, the team still has everything to play for, but it will be easier now that it locked up home-ice advantage following a sweep of Bowling Green.

After trailing Bowling Green 2-0 early in the opening game, WMU scored five consecutive goals, including two from Max Campbell. Though it was the offense that provided the 5-2 victory, it wouldn’t have been possible without netminder Riley Gill, who made 40 saves — 13 in the first and second periods and 14 in the third.

Jimmy Spratt had 18 stops for BGSU – the final WMU goal came with an empty net.

Then, with a chance to earn a home-ice edge in the first round of the CCHA playoffs, the Broncos dropped another five-spot on Bowling Green in a 5-3 victory, the third-straight for WMU.

Patrick Galivan had a goal and an assist for Western Michigan (12-17-7, 9-13-6-2 CCHA), extending his scoring streak to 11 games and giving him the CCHA scoring championship with 42 points on the year.

Gill had another stellar night, stopping 31 shots, while Nick Eno made 17 saves for Bowling Green.

Western Michigan, which finished seventh in the CCHA, will now host Lake Superior State (which finished 10th) beginning on March 6. All three games (if necessary) start at 7:35 p.m. Earlier in February, the two teams split a series in Sault Ste. Marie, trading 4-1 outcomes.

After missing 33 games with a knee injury, Michigan captain Mark Mitera returned this weekend and helped the Wolverines sweep Ferris State.

No. 3 UM topped the Bulldogs, 6-1, Friday night in Big Rapids and then shut out Ferris State, 4-0, last night in Ann Arbor.

“I guess it was a great feeling,” said Mitera, who scored a goal and added an assist in Saturday’s win. “I didn’t have a great goal. I just kind of threw it in the net. But I wasn’t really expecting that. I think all the seniors played really well tonight, so give them all credit. It is a great feeling after the game to be able to pull it out, especially as one of our last games at Yost, so it was definitely something special.”

By finishing second in the CCHA standings, Michigan (26-10-0, 20-8-0-0 CCHA) nwill get a first-round bye next week and next play in a quarterfinal series at Yost Ice Arena on March 13-15 against a to-be-determined opponent.

Brian Lebler scored twice in the Wolverines’ win Friday night and Louie Caporusso, Tim Miller, Carl Hagelin and Matt Rust added single tallies to back Bryan Hogan‘s 22-save performance.

Hagelin, Steve Kampfer and Travis Turnbull each added two assists.

“We knew the first period would be important,” Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. “To score the first goal and take the lead again and have a two-goal lead after one period was huge. I thought our penalty killing held up and (FSU) put good pressure on us. For the most part, we got good goalkeeping, we got balanced scoring (and) we had goals from several lines. Overall, it was a good road effort. Ferris is a tough team and this is a tough place to play. I don’t think it was a 6-1 game, but I feel good about the game.”

Justin Menke scored for the Bulldogs and Pat Nagle and Taylor Nelson combined for 37 saves in goal.

Last night, Robbie Czarnik, Brandon Naurato, Rust and Mitera scored and Billy Sauer needed to make just 14 saves in the Wolverines’ regular season home finale.

Nelson made 32 saves for FSU.

“It was a good year,” Berenson said. “We got 20 wins in the league this year and that is what we had last year. And our team was supposedly a top team last year and we had 20 wins in the league and this team matched that even though we were in seventh place around Christmas.”

The Bulldogs (12-17-7, 9-14-5-2 CCHA) travel to Nebraska-Omaha for the first round of the CCHA playoffs next weekend.

Michigan State goalie Jeff Lerg became the CCHA’s all-time saves leader and moved to No. 2 on the all-time NCAA list, but as with many MSU games this year, it wasn’t enough as the Spartans were swept in a home-and-home set with Notre Dame last weekend.

“I think it was a cherry on top there,” Lerg said. “I have had a pretty fun career here and to break a few records like that, I am very proud of myself and I am happy that Coach gave me a chance to do that. Tim Thomas is my favorite goalie to watch in the NHL, so it is pretty great that I got the chance to overtake his record.”

“In the 35 years of coaching, I think he’s the best I’ve ever coached,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said of Lerg. “And I meant it from the total context of the student-athlete – never an issue, never a concern, never a worry, never a doubt. Really, he’ll never get complete credit for that. Being what he is couldn’t have just happened. He made it happen with the right approach to everything.”

Friday night in South Bend, Drew Palmisano made 26 saves as the Spartans (10-21-5, 7-17-4-3 CCHA) were blanked, 5-0.

Lerg didn’t dress for the first time in 163 games.

Last night back at Munn Ice Arena, MSU dropped a tight game, 2-1, to the second-ranked Irish.

Jay Sprague scored his first goal of the year and Lerg finished with 35 stops on Senior Night.

“I wanted to be able to win, obviously, but if we didn’t, I wanted to be able to play well and give our team a chance to win the game,” said Lerg. “Obviously, I knew that we tend to give up a lot of shots, so I thought going in that I had a chance to break all of those records. I just wanted to play well and not give up rebounds. I didn’t want to create extra shots for them because they are a great team. I think we had to keep the emotions in check. I thought we played hard, (but) we just didn’t get the win.”

Lerg’s save on Calle Ridderwall with 4:17 remaining in the game pushed him to second place all-time on the NCAA list. Lerg passed Thomas, who had 3,950 in his career at Vermont. Lerg finishes the regular season with 3,951 saves, which breaks Glenn Healy‘s former CCHA mark of 3,933 that he set at Western Michigan from 1981-1985. In the all-time NCAA record book, Lerg’s total stands only behind Robbie Moore (Michigan), who had 4,434 in his career (1972-1976).

MSU will face Northern Michigan in the first round of the CCHA playoffs next weekend in Marquette.