MTU's hockey season is over.  Too bad all seasons expect for one team
has to end with a losing game.  It doesn't seem fair that all the hard
work of players, particularly the seniors playing their last collegiate
hockey, throughout the season has to come down to a final loss.
 
Denver got/made a couple of breaks that went to the brittleness of our
young team.  MTU outplayed Denver through the first period. But with
one minute into the second an MTU shot was illegally denied by
Wallinheimo who kicked the net off the moorings as Hanchuk had him
beat. No goal ... no penalty ... nothing. Wallinheimo got away with this
same trick later.  MTU's youth showed through as players became
discouraged and let down.  2nd period went to Denver. MTU came back
a bit in the third but just could not pulled it out.
 
MTU 1 0 1 - 2
DEN 0 3 2 - 5
 
Goalie Saves
 
MTU Caravaggio  4 11 6 - 21
DEN Wallinheimo   7   9 7 - 23
 
Powerplays:
 
MTU 0 of 6
DEN 1 of 6
 
1st Period:
 
        MTU K. Peterson roughing 00:36
MTU Roy (Meyers, Wright) 2:48
        DEN Kenady tripping 6:47
        DEN Kenady roughing 14:44
        MTU Hanchuk roughing 14:44
        MTU Van Tighem slashing 15:22
        DEN Dairon crosscheck 17:59
 
2nd Period:
       MTU Stevens 4 min roughing 00:26
       MTU B. Peterson 4 min roughing, 2 min high stick 00:26
       DEN Koch 4 min roughing, 2 min high stick 00:26
       DEN Kenady 4 min roughing 00:26
DEN Ricci (Travis Smith) 3:23
       MTU player unk, interference 4:21
       MTU Hanchuk holding 7:58
DEN Naylor (Bjork, Host) 10:43
       DEN Elders holding 11:47
       DEN McLean roughing 13:11
       DEN Player Unk roughing 13:11
       MTU Garvey roughing 13:11
       MTU Kryzer roughing 13:11
       MTU Garvey cross check 17:09
DEN Andersson (McMillan, Dairon) 18:43 ppg
 
3rd Period:
 
       DEN T. Smith tripping 8:17
DEN Ricci (Elders) 13:05
       MTU Savage roughing 14:18
       MTU Garvey 10 min misconduct 14:18
       DEN Koch boarding 14:49
       DEN Koch 10 min misconduct 14:49
MTU P. Mikesch (Savage) 18:05
DEN Kenady 18:22 eng
       DEN Naylor delay of game (Debris from fans on ice) 18:22
 
The first period started with a penalty to Kyle Peterson for roughing.
In general the game was feistier than that of last night.  While Denver
was able to maintain puck control, they could not score on this early
opportunity.  At 2:48 Jimmie Roy got a rebound off Wallinheimo's glove to
score.  On MTU's powerplay opportunity at 6:47, MTU was unable to get
a shot on net until there was less than 10 seconds remaining in the
man advantage.  MTU controled the 1st period giving Denver problems.
 
A melay began the 2nd period when Kenady harrassed Brent Peterson
from one end line to the other. Brent retaliated causing a brou ha ha
and a set of penalties which left both sides even.  The real blow
came at 1:09 when Machacek got a break away and fired the shot on
net beating Wallinheimo. Wallinheimo kicked the net off its moorings
and then came out to play Machacek.  Machacek's shot went into the net
but was disallowed as the net was off its moorings.  Wallinheimo was
able to do this again later in the game.  This broke MTU's confidence
and they weren't the same team for the rest of the game.  Angelo Ricci
who scored five times on MTU this weekend knocked in a rebound at
3:53.  At 10:43, Host brought the puck into zone and then fired a shot that
was redirected by Naylor to light the lamps.  At 18:43, a wide open
Andersson took a pass from behind the net and got a powerplay score.
 
MTU came back in the third period but the breaks were going to Denver.
Angelo Ricci fired a shot that was blocked by Liam Garvey, captured by
Elders and passed back to Ricci who got a five holer.  Pat Mikesch on
a man advantage caused by pulling the goalie took a Savage service pass
to the net at 18:05.  Then Kenady got slap from center ice on the open
net to finish the activities.
 
Well, the season is over. We are going to miss our departing seniors
(Brent Peterson, Travis Seale, Randy Stevens, Jason Hanchuk and Liam
Garvey). Without their efforts, this season would not have been as
successful.  Brent is in 6th place for all time scoring at MTU. Randy
Stevens speed on the ice sparked numerous scoring breakaways. Travis
Seale who scored Friday night was there when critically needed. Jason
Hanchuk and Liam Garvey are both stalwarts of the defense.  When a
puck was free, it was Hanchuk who would be beating the opponent to
it.  It was Hanchuk who would be challenging and stripping the puck from
the other player.  Garvey made his presence felt from the points by
slapping shots with unbelievable power onto the net. Liam was a play
maker.  These players need to be thanked for the years of enjoyable
hockey that they have given us. They did their best often under the most
trying of circumstances with coach changes and with team rebuilding.
The seniors have developed a foundation that will carry into the next
year.  Thank you.
 
Walt Olson
MTU