(Box score here, radio highlights/photos here)
One year ago to the day, Tom Anastos was introduced as Michigan State's sixth head hockey coach in the program's 70-year history.
It was an unprecedented move. The conference commissioner taking what looked like a lesser role as a head coach. Some thought it was Anastos abandoning the sinking CCHA ship with an eye for an executive role with the Big Ten and its new hockey conference. I didn't believe that, but I didn't know what to think.
One year later, MSU made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in four years, and although it ended in a 3-1 loss to No. 1 seed Union, the program clearly is back on the road to where it belongs, and the future is bright.
An MSU sports blog
Showing posts with label will yanakeff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label will yanakeff. Show all posts
Friday, March 23, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Icers split at Notre Dame, earn first-round bye (w/ highlights)
(Friday box score here, Saturday box score here)
Heading into the weekend, the MSU hockey team had surprised many in Tom Anastos' first season, but its position in the CCHA standings was still very much in doubt.
After splitting with Notre Dame in South Bend (losing 2-0 Friday and winning 4-2 Saturday), the Spartans earned a first-round bye in the CCHA Tournament, finishing fifth in the standings. However, MSU will have to travel to Miami (Ohio) in the quarterfinals.
With the regular season officially in the books, MSU defenseman Torey Krug became the fifth Spartan to win the CCHA scoring title, and the first MSU defenseman.
On Friday, the Irish showed why they were the preseason No. 1 team, carrying the play for much of the night. Notre Dame score 2:31 into the second period, and an insurance goal in the third period sealed the Spartans' fate. It was just the second time this season that MSU had been shut out, coming at one of the worst possible times. Anastos was not happy with the Spartans as evidence by his postgame quotes.
However, because of other games in the CCHA, the Spartans were guaranteed a top-five finish in the CCHA. But they no longer controlled their fate, as Miami jumped ahead of MSU.
Heading into the weekend, the MSU hockey team had surprised many in Tom Anastos' first season, but its position in the CCHA standings was still very much in doubt.
After splitting with Notre Dame in South Bend (losing 2-0 Friday and winning 4-2 Saturday), the Spartans earned a first-round bye in the CCHA Tournament, finishing fifth in the standings. However, MSU will have to travel to Miami (Ohio) in the quarterfinals.
With the regular season officially in the books, MSU defenseman Torey Krug became the fifth Spartan to win the CCHA scoring title, and the first MSU defenseman.
On Friday, the Irish showed why they were the preseason No. 1 team, carrying the play for much of the night. Notre Dame score 2:31 into the second period, and an insurance goal in the third period sealed the Spartans' fate. It was just the second time this season that MSU had been shut out, coming at one of the worst possible times. Anastos was not happy with the Spartans as evidence by his postgame quotes.
However, because of other games in the CCHA, the Spartans were guaranteed a top-five finish in the CCHA. But they no longer controlled their fate, as Miami jumped ahead of MSU.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Icers split weekend with rival Michigan
(Friday box score here, Saturday box score here)
With only three series left, the Spartan hockey team was running out of opportunities to pick up ground in the CCHA standings.
This weekend, the Spartans nearly came away with six points, and they nearly came away with no points. They finished the weekend with three points in a series split against Michigan, winning in East Lansing on Friday and losing in overtime in Detroit on Saturday.
On Friday, the Spartans fell behind 2-0 in the second period, but then Torey Krug took over. A one-time shot from the blue line got through a crowd and past Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick to cut the deficit to 2-1. In the third period, Krug scored a powerplay goal on a delayed shot from the point to tie the game. On another powerplay a few minutes later, a backhanded shot by Krug in the slot deflected over to Matt Berry, who buried the puck to give MSU a 3-2 lead. The Spartans killed a penalty in the final minutes and held on for the win. Will Yanakeff made 28 saves for MSU.
Saturday's game at Joe Louis Arena was a high-energy back-and-forth affair. The Wolverines led 1-0 after the first period, but Greg Wolfe tied the game up 3:32 into the second. Brett Perlini scored a powerplay goal a few minutes later to give MSU the lead. But U-M evened things up heading into the third. The third period was full of scoring chances on both sides, but, Yanakeff and Hunwick kept coming up with big saves.
With only three series left, the Spartan hockey team was running out of opportunities to pick up ground in the CCHA standings.
This weekend, the Spartans nearly came away with six points, and they nearly came away with no points. They finished the weekend with three points in a series split against Michigan, winning in East Lansing on Friday and losing in overtime in Detroit on Saturday.
On Friday, the Spartans fell behind 2-0 in the second period, but then Torey Krug took over. A one-time shot from the blue line got through a crowd and past Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick to cut the deficit to 2-1. In the third period, Krug scored a powerplay goal on a delayed shot from the point to tie the game. On another powerplay a few minutes later, a backhanded shot by Krug in the slot deflected over to Matt Berry, who buried the puck to give MSU a 3-2 lead. The Spartans killed a penalty in the final minutes and held on for the win. Will Yanakeff made 28 saves for MSU.
Saturday's game at Joe Louis Arena was a high-energy back-and-forth affair. The Wolverines led 1-0 after the first period, but Greg Wolfe tied the game up 3:32 into the second. Brett Perlini scored a powerplay goal a few minutes later to give MSU the lead. But U-M evened things up heading into the third. The third period was full of scoring chances on both sides, but, Yanakeff and Hunwick kept coming up with big saves.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Ice hockey picks up sweep at Ohio State
(Box score here)
After the first period of Friday's game, MSU trailed No. 10 Ohio State 3-1. Given what the team had done so far in 2012, I texted my friend and told him the Spartans were starting to tailspin. MSU scored eight of the next 10 goals in the series, resulting in a sweep and me eating my words.
MSU won 6-3 on Friday and held on for a 3-2 win on Saturday, dramatically helping their NCAA Tournament chances. MSU now is 4-1-1 against top-10 teams this season.
As mentioned before, the Spartans gave up a goal one minute in and trailed 3-1 after one period on Friday, but rebounded with a three-goal third. The goals came from A.J. Sturges — his first in 175 games — Torey Krug and Matt Crandell. With about five minutes left in the third, Chris Forfar redirected a loose puck to give MSU a 5-3 lead. Matt Berry's empty netter sealed the comeback. Will Yanakeff had 41 saves in goal — his third game with at least 40 saves this season.
(Video highlights of Friday's game from MSU here)
(Saturday highlights)
After the first period of Friday's game, MSU trailed No. 10 Ohio State 3-1. Given what the team had done so far in 2012, I texted my friend and told him the Spartans were starting to tailspin. MSU scored eight of the next 10 goals in the series, resulting in a sweep and me eating my words.
MSU won 6-3 on Friday and held on for a 3-2 win on Saturday, dramatically helping their NCAA Tournament chances. MSU now is 4-1-1 against top-10 teams this season.
As mentioned before, the Spartans gave up a goal one minute in and trailed 3-1 after one period on Friday, but rebounded with a three-goal third. The goals came from A.J. Sturges — his first in 175 games — Torey Krug and Matt Crandell. With about five minutes left in the third, Chris Forfar redirected a loose puck to give MSU a 5-3 lead. Matt Berry's empty netter sealed the comeback. Will Yanakeff had 41 saves in goal — his third game with at least 40 saves this season.
(Video highlights of Friday's game from MSU here)
(Saturday highlights)
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Hockey picks up win, tie on weekend vs LSSU (w/ highlights)
Last week against Northern Michigan, MSU's inability to prevent late goals nearly cost them dearly.
It continued to be a problem this weekend, as they allowed a game-tying goal with less than five minutes left in both games against Lake Superior State. On Friday, MSU struck back, winning 4-2. On Saturday, they fell in a shootout.
On Friday, LSSU scored 28 seconds into the game. Midway through the first period, MSU scored two goals two minutes apart from Mike Merrifield and Brett Perlini, respectively. The Lakers tied it up with three minutes left in the game when a Matt Crandell pass from behind his net hit an LSSU player and went past Will Yanakeff for the tying goal.
But Kevin Walrod gave MSU the lead with 1:10 on a rebound and Torey Krug added an empty-netter to seal the win. LSSU carried the play for much of the night and outshot MSU 47-27.
Saturday was a similar script. LSSU took a 1-0 lead, but Dean Chelios tied the game about a minute later. In the third period, Greg Wolfe scored to give MSU the lead, but the Lakers tied the game on a fluky goal when a puck bounced off an LSSU player and past Will Yanakeff with less than five minutes left.
It continued to be a problem this weekend, as they allowed a game-tying goal with less than five minutes left in both games against Lake Superior State. On Friday, MSU struck back, winning 4-2. On Saturday, they fell in a shootout.
On Friday, LSSU scored 28 seconds into the game. Midway through the first period, MSU scored two goals two minutes apart from Mike Merrifield and Brett Perlini, respectively. The Lakers tied it up with three minutes left in the game when a Matt Crandell pass from behind his net hit an LSSU player and went past Will Yanakeff for the tying goal.
But Kevin Walrod gave MSU the lead with 1:10 on a rebound and Torey Krug added an empty-netter to seal the win. LSSU carried the play for much of the night and outshot MSU 47-27.
Saturday was a similar script. LSSU took a 1-0 lead, but Dean Chelios tied the game about a minute later. In the third period, Greg Wolfe scored to give MSU the lead, but the Lakers tied the game on a fluky goal when a puck bounced off an LSSU player and past Will Yanakeff with less than five minutes left.
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