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St. Cloud State University
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Huskies prepare for Tech's offense
Forwards Chris Conner and Colin Murphy are giving Michigan Tech a new look early.
By Bobby Hart
Published:
Thursday, October 23, 2003
If the Huskies could only keep the WCHA standings at their current form, life would be a lot easier.
They read: SCSU four points, everyone else zero. The Huskies, picked to finish eighth in the conference, are the only team in the league to have a conference win under their belt after they swept the Wisconsin Badgers last weekend at the National Hockey Center. Of course, that is also the only WCHA game of the season played thus far.
Unfortunately for SCSU, life in the WCHA isn't easy and it won't get any easier when Michigan Tech travels to St. Cloud this weekend. The Michigan Tech University Huskies, who were picked to finish ninth in the conference, just finished with probably one of the craziest set of games that will be played this season with (previously ranked no. 15 in the nation) Northern Michigan.
After dropping a two-goal lead in the final minute Friday night in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Wildcats, Michigan Tech turned the tables by scoring three goals with just over two minutes left in regulation to edge out a 7-6 overtime victory. With a revamped sense of energy, MTU didn't look like the same 7-18-3 team that finished eighth in the conference last season.
First-year head coach Jamie Russell, who returns to his alma mater as the programs third head coach in four years, hopes that their overtime win is one step in the right direction.
"We competed extremely hard over the weekend and although we were disappointed with Friday's result, our guys showed some character by coming back on Saturday," Russell said. "For our seniors, I'm the third head coach they've had, but everyone's been very receptive and we've already built some confidence together."
A couple players SCSU will need to keep their eye on is junior Colin Murphy and sophomore Chris Conner. Conner accounted for a hat-trick Friday night and one goal Saturday, while Murphy (WCHA Player of the Week) scored a natural hat trick (four goals) Saturday. Murphy will also bring a seven-game point streak dating back to last season into the NHC this weekend.
"I new they were talented coming in," Russell said. "Colin is such a strong skater and he's got a great hockey sense that will let him take over games. Conner is worth the price of admission. Every shift he skates is electrifying and he's always working hard."
The SCSU offense, on the other hand, has been relatively spread out. Junior Peter Szabo, who is the team's second leading returning scorer from last season (6G-17A-23), accounted for two power-play goals Saturday, but they also found some relatively untapped offensive resources as well. Senior defenseman captain Ryan LaMere, Dave Iannazzo and Konrad Reeder, who combined for only four goals last season, also scored against Wisconsin.
The SCSU forwards should be able to take advantage of Tech's goaltending situation. Cam Ellsworth and Bryce Luker gave up a combined 10 goals last weekend. Ellsworth also had the league's worst goals against average last season at 3.94.
With the addition of Alaska-Anchorage's Nye Frontier Classic non-conference tournament win, the three lowest ranked teams in the WCHA preseason poll are looking better than expected after their first weekend.
"This league has just gotten tougher and our non-conference record as a league has shown that," said SCSU head coach Craig Dahl. "Michigan Tech's come-from-behind win at home last Saturday night served as notice that they're not going to be a push-over team and Anchorage starting out 3-1 is a good thing for them. All in all it's good for the league; it just makes it tougher for each individual team in it."
SCSU's sweep over Wisconsin confirmed the team's self-proclaimed strength as a blue collar defensive team. The SCSU defense only gave up two goals all weekend; one coming off a five minute penalty, and the other off a deflection from a stick's shaft in the slot.
Husky goaltenders Jason Montgomery and Adam Coole were unstoppable combining for 57 saves from 59 shots on goal is the series. However, Dahl still wants to see first-year goalie Tim Boron in a game situation after his impressive performances in practice.
"Timmy deserves a chance to play," Dahl said. "He's played very well in practice just like the other two so we're going to play him."
Instead of letting his teammate competitors' good performances add any pressure, Boron is trying to stay focused.
"I've probably played about 140 games of juniors so I never really got nervous then," he said. "I'm not really sure how I'm going to feel, but I guess I'll know Friday. Right now I'm just concentrating on working hard in practice. I think I've come a long way in the last two months of practicing and I'm getting used to all the guys shooting. I feel really comfortable and I can't wait to get out there."
Although both Michigan Tech and SCSU have raised some eyebrows around the league with impressive starts, there is still a long road ahead.
"'One game does not a season make' and we certainly live by that motto," Dahl said. "There's a lot of water that needs to go over the dam yet and consistency is always the Hallmark of any good team or good player."
SCSU just hopes the water won't be flowing from Conner and Murphy.
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