Although neither coach was particularly pleased with their team's play,
this was an entertaining game, at least for Wildcat fans.  The offensive
play wasn't much to talk about, but the defense was really entertaining.
 
As they did with Denver's Angelo Ricci several weeks ago, the Wildcats
assigned sophomore center Bill MacGillivray to shadow Fighting Sioux
star Greg Johnson.  Johnson was completely shut out of the scoring.  NMU
started Corwon Saurdiff, as usual, in goal.  However, Saurdiff's current
inconsistency (he seems to play an outstanding game followed by a
mediocre one right now) has led Wildcat coach Rick Comley to assign
tonight's (Saturday) start to freshman Paul Taylor, a decision which was
made before the Friday contest and known to the team.  The competition
seemed to have quite an effect on Saurdiff.  Although he gave up a goal
on the first North Dakota shot, he played very well, making 20 saves
including some difficult ones.  More noticeably, he was really in the
game, ranging far out of the net to pick up loose pucks, passing to his
teammates, etc.  (Actually, a couple of times it looked like Saurdiff's
play was too much on the gambling side, but no disasters resulted and
Comley was only complimentary about his play in the postgame radio
interview.
 
The Sioux opened the scoring at 6:41 of the first period with a power
play goal by Nick Naumenko, who took passes from Bombardir (I LOVE that
guy's name!) and Riendeau back to him near the blue line, where he made
a short move to the center of the deep slot and fired a hard shot which
glanced off Saurdiff's pads and into the net.  The Wildcats tied it at
11:34 when Troy Johnson was fed by Mike Harding and Garret MacDonald
when Harding picked up an errant pass near the North Dakota blue line.
Johnson split the defensemen and ended up all alone on Sioux goalie Todd
Jones, who was unable to stop Troy's slider into the lower right hand
corner of the goal.
 
In the second period NMU took the lead when Geoff Simpson, who played a
tremendous game on defense, put a shot in from the middle of a crowd at
the right point.  MacGillivray and Steve Woog were given assists.  North
Dakota tied the game again less than five minutes later, at 9:05, when
McKinnon, assisted by Mitani, cut across the near slot from behind the
goal line and flipped a beautiful backhand shot over Saurdiff's left
shoulder (I had a great look at this one from my seat, and had to
appreciate it aesthetically, even if I didn't in terms of loyalty.) Joe
Frederick got the game-winner at 11:36 of the second when he fired a
screamer from the left faceoff circle on a power play.  He was assisted
by Johnson and Greg Hadden.  The scoring was closed out by Bryan Ganz,
who scored at 12:57 of the second with an assist from Steve Carpenter.
Thus, two of the 'Cats' four goals were scored by what was supposed to
be the checking line.
 
Considering that there was no scoring for the remaining 27:03 of the
game, it was remarkably entertaining.  The Wildcat defense not only
killed numerous power plays--including two consecutive 5-on-3 situations
in the third period--it converted many shorthanded situations into
excellent scoring opportunities.  (In one of the 5-3 situations they
suddenly ended up with a 3-0 breakaway!) However, Jones came up big on
each play.  One has to believe that in the Beattie-Drake-Hiller days a
few of those opportunities would have put points on the board, but oh
well . . .
 
Although Comley said after the game that his team will have to play
better to win again tonight, and the he expects the Sioux to play
better, he was very pleased with the play of his defensemen.  He was
particularly taken with the fact that North Dakota only had a total of
25 shots attempted.
 
The game became quite penalty-filled in the latter half of the second
period and especially in the third period.
 
Power play opportunites: NMU 1/5; UND 1/6
 
Penalties: NMU, 100; UND 9
 
Goalie saves: NMU, 20 (Saurdiff 4-9-7).  UND, 28 (Jones)
 
Attendance: 3,866
 
 **********************************************************************
 *  Steve Christopher, NMU  [log in to unmask]             * * * *    *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey National Champions  1990-91   *   GO   *   *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey Final Eight 1991-92           *        *
 *  WCHA League Champions 1990-91                        * 'CATS! *   *
 *  WCHA Playoff Champions 1989-90/1990-91/1991-92 . . .   * * * *    *
 **********************************************************************