The first game of the WCHA's Phinal Five playoff round in St. Paul
Minnesota just ended, with the Northern Michigan University Wildcats
eking out a 4-3 win over the Michigan Technological University Wildcats.
Wildcat senior Joe Frederick scored two goals, including the game-winner
in the final two minutes on an NMU power play. Other Wildcat goals were
scored by Bryan Ganz and Brent Riplinger. Riplinger's score kept his
goal-scoring streak alive and it now stands at 15 games.
John Young opened the scoring in the first period for MTU when he
flicked in a rebound just to the right of NMU goalie Paul Taylor.
Frederick evened it midway through the period on a spinaround shot which
hit Tech goalie Jamie Ram's stick and deflected through a three-inch gap
between the wood and the left goal post. Near the end of the period
Wildcat Bryan Ganz took a pass from Jason Hehr behind the Tech net,
avoided a check at the goal line and cut across the crease as he
released a high shot which went into the top of the net. This was a
power play goal, an unusual occurrence both in terms of the relatively
unproductive Wildcat power play, and the league-leading penalty-killing
record of the Huskies.
The only score in the second period was a goal by Jim Storm of MTU, who
put a hard shot past Taylor from the left wing faceoff circle as Taylor
came out but couldn't stop the low blast.
NMU broke the 2-2 tie early in the third period on Riplinger's goal,
which was assisted by Steve Carpenter. The score came on a hard slap
shot from the right wing faceoff circle. It remained 3-2 for several
minutes, but the Huskies tied it once more when Peterson deflected in a
blast taken from the top of the right wing circle. With just over two
minutes left the Huskies took a penalty for holding and the Wildcats won
the game with another power play goal as Frederick's hard slap shot from
the left half of the right wing faceoff circle went over Ram's stickside
arm into the upper third of the net. The TV announcers felt the puck
might have been deflected by someone, but the slow motion replay
provided no resolution of this possibility.
Greg Hadden had an assist for the Wildcats as well, giving him now an
18-game point-scoring streak. Frederick's two goals give him one more
goal than games played now.
This was the fifth straight one-goal game played between these two
extremely evenly matched teams this season. Both goal tenders were
outstanding. NMU outshot MTU 28-25.
The win puts the Wildcats into a semifinal contest against McNaughton
Cup regular season WCHA champion Minnesota-Duluth tomorrow night. The
betting is that Corwin Saurdiff will be in goal tomorrow night for the
'Cats, despite Taylor's outstanding performance. In the pregame
interview NMU coach Rick Comley said he would not play the same goalie
two games in a row--or three--this weekend. Last year Saurdiff won the
Outstanding Player award in the WCHA playoff Broadmoor Cup series, so
its doubtful the Wildcats have any bad feelings about his replacing
Taylor tomorrow. The two have been alternating games for the past three
months.
The huge St. Paul Civic Arena seemed deserted; 2,700 fans showed up, but
the place holds at least 14,000. Tomorrow, with Minnesota playing
Wisconsin in the afternoon game, should be a different story. The
Wildcat radio announcers are also predicting a large turnout for the
evening contest between NMU and UMD. Part of the reason for this is
that Joe Frederick has a large following himself from Madison, which is
his home. So, a lot of Badger fans may be back in their seats for the
evening contest. With the weekend scheduling of the remaining games,
Minnesota-Duluth should have a large following to back the Bulldogs, and
many more Wildcat faithful can be counted on to show from Marquette.
And, with all those Badger and Gopher fans . . .
In the postgame interview, Rick Comley noted his team was beat up (a
couple of Wildcats were injured, although I don't believe seriously) but
that he was tremendously pleased and proud of his club. He noted that
(with the win over the Czech Select team) the Wildcats have now recorded
20 wins this season, which is almost unbelievable considering the talent
which left the team at the end of last season, and especially
considering its 1-7-2 start.
It was a shame to have the Huskies lose; they had a great season and
played a tremendous game (again). But--I have to admit I'm pretty
darned happy! :-)
YAHOOO!!!!! Lakeview West still lives!!!
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* 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 1988-89/1990-91/1991-92 . . . * * * * *
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