We got another full slate of college hockey games this weekend in the state of Michigan. The headliner is a clash between two in-state non-conference foes. A common theme for the majority of our teams this weekend is “tough tests on the road.”
FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS vs. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
RECAP: Ferris State (5-6-1) picked up a momentum-building sweep of Alaska-Fairbanks over the weekend, tallying eight goals in the two games and upping their win streak to three games. Michigan State (5-5) rebounded from a tough showing against Minnesota with a split at home against No. 7 Wisconsin.
Seven different players scored a goal for Ferris against Alaska in that home series over Veterans Day weekend. And after allowing Wisconsin to pot six goals in the first game, MSU pitched a shutout against the Badgers in the back end of the series.
UP NEXT: The former CCHA college hockey rivals get together this weekend for a home-and-home series, starting in East Lansing on Friday before shifting to Big Rapids on Saturday. These two played a similar series a year ago, with the road team winning in both games.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ferris State senior Mitch Maloney was the lone multi-goal scorer for the Bulldogs over the weekend, his seven goals is tied for the second-most in the WCHA.
Michigan State freshman Mitchell Lewandowski continues his terrific start to his collegiate career. Lewandowski recorded four points (3 G, 1 A) against Wisconsin. He now leads the team in both goals (6) and points (13), and is tied for the most among all freshmen in college hockey.
SCHEDULE: Friday (11/17 in East Lansing) at 7:05 p.m. ET | Saturday (11/18 in Big Rapids) at 7:07 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: WCHA.tv | 97.3 FM WDEE (Ferris) | Spartan Sports Network (check local listings)
LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS
RECAP: Lake Superior (2-7-3) went 0-1-1 at Bowling Green over the weekend; losing the shootout in the stalemate on Friday. The Lakers played the Falcons tough for four of the six periods, but were outscored 4-1 in the latter two frames of the second game of the series.
UP NEXT: LSSU now looks to get back into the win column this weekend when they make the long trip down south to take on Alabama-Huntsville (3-6-1). The Chargers have won two of their last three games after starting the season dropping six of their first seven contests.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Junior forward Gage Torrel scored his first goal of the season last week against BGSU. Torrel has just four points through the team’s first 12 games this season, after racking up 22 points in 36 games as a sophomore a year ago.
SCHEDULE: Friday (11/17) and Saturday (11/18) | 8:07 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: WCHA.tv | 99.5 FM WYSS
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
RECAP: Michigan (6-3-1) earned themselves a hard-fought split at home against a top-5 Minnesota team. The results also earned them a spot in the newest USCHO hockey rankings at No. 17. In both games, the Wolverines recovered three-goal deficits against the Gophers to either win or force overtime.
UP NEXT: Michigan now takes their ranked show on the road to Madison, like traveling with the football team, for a date with Wisconsin (7-5-1). The Badgers took a small step back in the polls to No. 9 after splitting with an unranked Michigan State team the week prior. Wisconsin won three of the four meetings head-to-head last year against U-M.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Senior Tony Calderone notched four points in the two games against Minnesota, giving him 11 on the year. The Trenton, MI native now has tallied multiple points in four of his last five games played after just recording two points in the previous five games.
SCHEDULE: Friday (11/17) and Saturday (11/18) | 8:07 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: MGoBlueTV | 1050 AM WKTA
MICHIGAN TECH HUSKIES
RECAP: Michigan Tech (5-6-2) played to a split against in-state rival Northern Michigan last weekend, winning 4-1 in the first game before being handed a 4-0 shutout the next night. The Friday victory was the first in regulation for the Huskies since October 20 against Huntsville.
UP NEXT: Tech now journeys to the great northwest for a weekend series against Alaska-Anchorage (1-7-2). The Seawolves allowed eight goals in two games to Huntsville last weekend, which could be a good remedy for an MTU offense that has scored two goals or fewer in six of their last eight games.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Fifth-year senior forward Brent Baltus found the back of the net for the first time this season against NMU, potting two goals in the 4-1 victory on Friday. Baltus has already matched his goal total from a year ago when he was limited to just 14 games with the Huskies.
SCHEDULE: Friday (11/17) and Saturday (11/18) | 11:07 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: WCHA.tv | Pasty.com | 93.5 FM WKMJ
NORTHERN MICHIGAN WILDCATS
RECAP: Northern Michigan (6-4), as previously mentioned, played to a series stalemate against Michigan Tech, winning the bout at home and dropping the game in Houghton. The Wildcats still hold onto their No. 20 positioning in the latest USCHO polls.
UP NEXT: NMU now begins a four-game road trip, beginning with two games up in Fairbanks, Alaska to take on the Nanooks… perhaps after playing one another, Northern and Tech will travel together? Alaska (3-7-2) has dropped three straight games and allowed 3+ goals in four straight.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Freshman forward Joseph Nardi scored his first two collegiate goals against Tech with a mark in each game, giving him four total points on the season. Nardi also racked up 20 minutes work of penalty minutes, highlighted by a head-butting offense that resulted in a game misconduct penalty.
SCHEDULE: Friday (11/17) and Saturday (11/18) | 11:07 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: WCHA.tv | 100.3 FM WUPT
WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS
RECAP: Western Michigan (6-4-1) split with fellow ranked competitor Minnesota Duluth last weekend, with both teams exchanging shutout victories in Duluth. The Broncos have improved three spots to No. 15 in the latest USCHO polls, as a result.
UP NEXT: WMU returns home to drop the puck on a four-game home swing in Kalamazoo, starting with two games against conference foe Omaha (4-3-1). The visiting Mavericks have already played six road games this season, winning half of them. These two teams played five exciting games head-to-head last season, including a conference tournament quarterfinals series that went in favor of Western Michigan in three games.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Sophomore goalie Ben Blacker has been a little all-or-nothing so far for the Broncos this season. Through 11 games, Blacker has five games where he allowed one goal or fewer, then five where he’s allowed 3+ goals to the opposition.
SCHEDULE: Friday (11/17) and Saturday (11/18) | 7:05 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NCHC.tv | 96.5 FM WZOX
