1/24 Recap: Pairs of assists and DQs for Tropp

Corey Tropp (+2) had a pair of assists and may be on his way to a CCHA suspension as Michigan State lost to top rival Michigan, 5-3. Things got ugly with :53 to go when Tropp received a pair of game disqualifications after slashing at a downed Steve Kampfer. The Wolverine defenseman delivered a check on Tropp at center ice, and while skating back into play took a right-handed punch to the head from behind by the Spartans Andrew Conboy. With Kampfer going down along the boards after the blow, Tropp appeared to strike him with his stick in the neck area to earn five minutes and a pair of game disqualifications. Kampfer, who was helped off the ice by teammates, looks to have sustained a neck injury, while Conboy and Tropp will likely face disciplinary measures of some capacity. If the name Steve Kampfer sounds familiar, you may remember him as the UM hockey player on the receiving end of a vicious assault a few months back. After the game, a Michigan parent made his way down to the Michigan State locker room, reportedly in an attempt to fight the Sabres 2007 third-rounder. Police were needed to keep order. In the WHL, Tyler Ennis (+3) had two assists as Medicine Hat cruised past Prince George, 5-2. With 48 points on the season, Ennis has collected nine of those in his past five games. Tyler Myers had an assist and was +1 as Kelowna rode a three-goal first period to a 5-2 victory over Kamloops. The rearguard had 12 PIM on the evening, including ten for chirping at the officials in the second period. The Rockets decision over the Blazers snaps a four-game winless skid. In Saginaw, Nick Crawford had an assist as the Spirit pumped 59 shots on goal but still lost to Peterborough, 5-4. The Caledon, Ontario native got in on the barrage, firing a point shot that was tipped by Jack Combs to give the Spirit an early 1-0 lead. 2009 eligible Zack Kassian scored the go-ahead goal for the Petes at 11:50 of the third period before the teams traded goals in the final minute of play. Jordon Southorn was +2 with three shots on goal as PEI destroyed Baie-Comeau for the second night in a row, 11-2. The Rocket outscored the Drakkar 18-4 over the Friday-Saturday set. T.J. Brennan (+1) and Luke Adam (-2) were both held without points as Montreal lost to Lewiston, 3-2 in a shootout. J.S. Allard did not score as Quebec shut down Moncton, 2-0. At the Ralph, Brad Eidsness was the player of the game, making several big saves among his 38 stops as North Dakota tied Denver, 2-2. Eidsness was a much needed backbone as the Sioux had trouble applying heat despite taking three weekend points from the WCHA's top team. The affair also saw Denver coach George Gwozdecky get ejected after walking on to the ice to dispute a non-call. Andrew Orpik had an assist as Boston College doubled up Maine, 6-3. The East Amherst, NY native now has four points in his last four appearances, and a total of 12 on the year. In Canton, Matt Generous (+1, 3 SOG) saw his five game point streak come to an end as St. Lawrence defeated Union, 5-2. Nick Eno relieved Jimmy Spratt to start the second period as Bowling Green got clobbered by Lake Superior, 8-4. Eno made 16 stops while allowing three goals goals over the final 40:00. The game was marred by a nasty collision between BGSU's Brandon Svendsen and Lake State goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson that saw the netminder get taken off the ice on a stretcher with a neck injury. He was taken to a hospital but looks to be OK. Drew MacKenzie was even in Vermont's 1-1 tie with Massachusetts. The freshman was on the ice killing a penalty when Casey Wellman tied it up for the Minutemen with 8:00 to play in regulation. Justin Jokinen was -1 as Mankato lost to Duluth, 7-4.

1/17 Recap: Eidsness blanks; Southorn bringing the body

Freshman Brad Eidsness had to make just 14 saves to earn his first collegiate shutout as North Dakota defeated Michigan Tech, 5-0. Eidsness moves to 14-7-2 on the year with a 2.51 goals against average and .908 save percentage. Freshman Sioux defender Corey Fienhage was a scratch for the 10th straight contest. Fellow WCHA frosh Justin Jokinen scored a late power play goal for Minnesota State in their 7-1 conference win over Anchorage. The Mavericks inserted four different skaters into their Saturday lineup (including Jokinen) after a less-than-savory effort on Friday. Matt Generous (+1) picked up an assist as St. Lawrence erased a two-goal deficit to tie Yale, 2-2. While playing four-on-four late in the first period, Generous picked up his third point in as many games when he started a two-man break with a crisp headman pass. In Oxford, Corey Tropp collected just one shot on goal as Michigan State was dumped by Miami, 6-1. Vermont defenseman Drew Mackenzie was even as the Catamounts outshot Northeastern 40-22 to earn a 4-2 Hockey East win. Andrew Orpik and Nick Petrecki (SJ) were scratched as Boston College lost to crosstown rival Boston University, 5-2. Nick Eno watched as Jimmy Spratt earned a second straight start in Bowling Green's 1-0 shutout loss at Michigan. Spratt shut the door the night before in a 3-0 win over the #6 Wolverines. In the QMJHL, Jacob Lagacé had a pair of assists as Chicoutimi dropped 6-5 OT decision to Saint John. Jordon Southorn (+2) had an assist while recording another five-hit night as PEI shutout Cape Breton, 5-0. 2009 eligible Benjamin Casavant paced the Rocket with a goal and two assists. Luke Adam (1 SOG) and T.J. Brennan (4 SOG) were each a -2 as Montreal fell to Rouyn-Noranda, 3-1. WHL rearguard Tyler Myers (+1) was named the #3 star with an assist and solid play alla round as Kelowna was wept by Prince George, 3-2 in a shootout. In the SEL, Dennis Persson again sat out to due illness as Timra stopped Modo, 4-2. On Friday, Philip Gogulla assisted on the overtime winner as Cologne defeated Iserlohn, 2-1.

1/16 Recap: Tropp leads Spartans in victory

Corey Tropp had his first two-goal game of the season as Michigan State defeated #9 Miami, 4-1. Tropp showed his quick release wrister when he blazed down the left side and buried one far side for the eventual game winner. The win was the first for the Spartans on the road, while Miami suffered its fifth straight loss. Matt Generous (+1) scored a goal as St. Lawrence cruised to a 6-1 win over Brown. The goal, Generous' fifth of the year and second in as many games, came on a blast from the faceoff dot to give the Saints a 4-1 lead. Andrew Orpik had an assist as Boston College lost in overtime to Lowell, 4-3. Orpik was chugging at both ends for the Eagles before Nick Schaus (Orchard Park, NY) scored the OT winner for the River Hawks. Drew MacKenzie was even with a minor penalty as Vermont lost at Northeastern, 3-1. In WCHA action, Brad Eidsness made 19 saves while letting three goals past him as North Dakota played to a 3-3 tie with Michigan Tech. The decision moves the freshman netminder's record to 13-7-2. Corey Fienhage did not dress for the Sioux. Also watching from the pressbox was Justin Jokinen as his Minnesota State Mavericks lost to Anchorage, 4-2. Nick Eno was the back-up to Jimmy Spratt as Bowling Green shutout Michigan, 3-0. In the QMJHL, Paul Byron factored into all of Gatineau's marks with two regulation goals and an assist on the overtime winner in their 3-2 win over league power Shawinigan. The 'Piques catalyst, Byron earned the game's #2 star in the win. J.S. Allard (+2) had two assists, including the primary on the game winner, as Quebec edged Drummondville, 4-3. Luke Adam had a pair of even strength assists in Montreal's 5-4 win over Val-d'Or. T.J. Brennan (-1) added an assist on Angelo Esposito's second power play goal of the game in the first period Jordon Southorn was -1 with a team-high five shots on goal as PEI fell to Cape Breton, 4-1. The Pincourt, QC native also added five hits for the Rocket in defeat. Jacob Lagacé finished -1 as Chicoutimi was beaten by Rimouski, 5-2. In WHL play, Tyler Ennis was -1 as Medicine Hat was shut down by Saskatoon, 5-0. Tyler Myers was -2 as Kelowna suffered a road loss at Prince George, 5-2. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel played even as Niagara lit up Jaroslav Janus for four goals over a period and a half in their 4-2 win at Erie. Nick Crawford was even in Saginaw's 3-2 OT win at Ottawa.

1/9 Recap: Orpik chips in; Eno returns

Andrew Orpik had a pair of assists for #9 Boston College in their 3-3 tie with #12 Vermont. BC looked to have a big Hockey East win locked up until West Seneca, NY native Brian Roloff tied the game with :01 to play. The third multi-point night of the season raises Orpik's total to 10 on the year. Freshman rearguard Drew MacKenzie was -1 with three shots on goal for the Catamounts. In a highly entertaining battle, Brad Eidsness made 21 saves as North Dakota defeated #3 Minnesota, 6-3. With a slew of roughing minors in the final two minutes of Friday night's game after over 150 minutes in penalties were called in their previous meeting, one may wonder if the Sioux consider inserting toughness in the form of Corey Fienhage into the lineup when the two teams play it back on Saturday. Sophomore Nick Eno saw his first action of the season, giving up a goal in 28:23 of relief action as Bowling Green fell to #16 Ohio State, 8-5. Falcons starter Jimmy Spratt gave up six goals on 16 shots through a period and a half, allowing Eno to get ready for his first start on Saturday after suffering a high ankle sprain in an early season practice. Alex Biega was +1 with five shots on goal as Harvard played to a 1-1 tie with Brown. The Crimson (4-10-3) outshot the Bears (1-9-4) by a 51-29 margin, but couldn't close the deal. Freshman Justin Jokinen sat as Minnesota State fell to #10 Colorado College, 5-2. J.S. Allard went high glove side as the fifth Quebec shooter, but rang his shot off the post, as the Remparts lost in the shootout to Rouyn-Noranda, 3-2. Allard contributed four shots on goal in home loss, and was named the gamne's first star for his effort. Also from the Q, Paul Byron was limited to a single shot on goal, but Gatineau still defeated Moncton, 2-1. In OHL play, Drew Schiestel had another power play assist for Niagara in their 6-2 loss to Ottawa. The Hamilton native now has a total of 32 assists on the season, good for 8th in the OHL, with half of them coming with the man advantage. Nick Crawford (+1) had an assist as Saginaw defeated Sarnia, 4-3. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla was -1 with four shots on goal in Cologne's 3-2 loss to Hamburg. In the WHL, Team Canada members Tyler Myers and Jamie Benn were given a rest as Kelowna downed Portland, 5-4 in a shootout.

1/2 Recap: Schiestel sharp in dog fight

Drew Schiestel (+3) had a goal and two assists as Niagara defeated Soo, 6-2. The goal was Schiestel's first in 24 games, while the Dogs victory over the Hounds ends a seven game losing streak. The gliding 6'2 rearguard now has an even 30 assists while playing on a team third from the bottom in the O. By comparison, Team Canada members P.K. Subban (Belleville) and Ryan Ellis (Windsor) lead all OHL defensemen with 33 assists each. Both are members of first place teams. Luke Adam had a goal and assist to help lead Montreal to a 4-0 shutout win over Drummondville. With 17 goals on the year, Adam is the leading scorer for the Juniors. T.J. Brennan (+2) had an assist for the Juniors while adding four shots and two hits. Alex Biega had a goal and an assist as Harvard lost to Quinnipiac, 5-2. The Montreal native chipped the puck ahead and shot right down the middle of the zone to bury a rebound for the second Crimson goal of the night, and his third of the season. The junior dman now has five points in his last four games, and co-leads the Harvard attack with as total of nine in 15 games played. In DEL play, Philip Gogulla (-1) continued to stay warm, scoring a power play goal for Cologne in their 5-2 loss to Mannheim. Chosen 48th overall in 2005, the left wing now has three goals and two assists in his last three games for the Sharks. Brad Eidsness made 22 saves, including a beauty in the final minute, as North Dakota defeated Bemidji, 4-3. The freshman ups his record to 10-7-1 on the season. Corey Fienhage did not dress for the Sioux. At the Catamount Cup, Drew MacKenzie had a power play assist for Vermont in their 6-4 win over Colgate. The freshman defenseman now has three helpers on the year. Also from Burlington, Matt Generous was even as St. Lawrence edged Ferris State, 5-4. The Saints will move on to face UVM in the finals. Corey Tropp (-1) had three shots on goal as Michigan State defeated Alaska-Fairbanks, 2-1. Tropp, who missed five games due to mono, has a goal and seven assists on the year for the 6-12-3 Spartans. Nick Crawford was even as Saginaw lost to Plymouth, 4-3. Andrew Orpik scored a goal as Boston College dropped an exhibition contest in New Brunswick, 5-3. John Muse made his 61st straight start for the Eagles, and will get the first rest of his collegiate career when the two clubs play it back on Saturday.

12/6 Recap: Myers ready to compete; Byron keeps pilin'

Tyler Myers (+1) was a controlling presence throughout as Kelowna needed a three-goal third period to defeat Chilliwack, 5-2. Paired with offensive-minded 2009 prospect Tyson Barrie, the 6'7 World Junior hopeful stepped up and labeled a Bruin forward with a solid shoulder midway through the opening period, and was steady on the puck in all zones in the win. Showing a physical spike while making quick, simple plays up ice for the bulk of his 26 games to date, the mobile Myers will take a five-day break before hitting the ice at Team Canada's selection camp on Thursday in Ottawa. Tyler Ennis was -2 as Medicine Hat lost at Brandon, 4-1. The speedy left wing will play one more game on Monday before heading east to Ottawa. The Wheaties' 2009 eligible duo did not disappoint with Scott Glennie potting pairs of goals and assists while Brayden Schenn hit for a three-point night (1G, 2A). Red hot Paul Byron (+2) had a pair of assists for Gatineau in their 3-0 shutout of Montreal. Byron has now connected for a point in 15 straight games, the second longest streak in the Q this season (Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll is currently amidst a 19-gamer for Shawinigan). T.J. Brennan and Luke Adam were both -2 for the Juniors. In Lewiston, Jean-Simon Allard snagged an unassisted goal as Quebec downed Lewiston, 5-4. Lewiston goaltender Peter Delmas became the first of two QMJHL goaltenders credited with a goal on Saturday (Rimouski's Maxime Gougeon was the other) when former Sabres pick Benjamin Breault sent a point pass all the way back into his own net on a delayed penalty. Also from the Q, Jacob Lagacé (+2) scored an empty-netter in Chicoutimi's 3-1 win over Rouyn-Noranda. The goal was the 12th of the season for the Sags' top-line winger. Drew Schiestel was -2 as Niagara couldn't keep up with #1 ranked Windsor in an 8-4 loss. The Spits closed strong, posting four goals in the final 12:00 to up their record to 26-3. 2009 eligible Taylor Hall had a goal and three assists for the winners. In the NCAA, Brad Eidsness made 33 saves, some of the spectacular variety including 13 in the third period, as North Dakota earned the sweep at Harvard with a 4-3 win. The weekend wins improve Eidsness' line to 7-5-1, with the first star performance placing him into contention for WCHA Rookie of the Week for a second time this season. Corey Fienhage dressed for the ninth time, finishing +1 while registering his fourth shot on goal of the year. Alex Biega combined with his brother Michael to set-up the first Harvard goal. Corey Tropp (-2, 2 PIM) assisted on Jeff Petry's slapper goal as Michigan State got swept by rival Michigan, 5-3. The Spartans (4-11-3) held a 3-2 lead with 4:00 to play before a three goal collapse extended the season-long frustration in E. Lansing. Matt Generous had another steady game defensively as St. Lawrence was shutout at Lynah, 1-0. Colin Greening (OTT) scored the game's only goal to put Cornell into a tie for first place in the ECAC with Princeton. In Hockey East, Andrew Orpik was whistled for an interference minor as Boston College lost to BU, 3-1. The senior has three goals and eight points on the year. After a rather less-than-savory effort on Friday, Justin Jokinen was scratched in Mankato's loss to St. Cloud. In the SEL, Dennis Persson was -1 in 7:55 of shifts as Timra defeated Rogle, 5-2.

12/5 Recap: Byron lends helping hand; Fighting Fienhage fetches first

Paul Byron continued to shake his disappointing omission from Team Canada's WJC camp by posting a five-assist night in Gatineau's 7-4 win over Val-d'Or. The explosion gives the Ottawa native points in fourteen straight games, propelling him into a tie for 11th overall in the Q with 38 points. Jordon Southorn had a pair of assists in PEI's 5-4 overtime loss to Victoriaville. The Rocket jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first minute of the second period, but surrendered five unanswered goals by the Tigres, capped with Philip-Michael Devos' winner in the first minute of OT. The talk of goal support being an issue for Brad Eidsness and the Fighting Sioux simmered some on Friday as NoDak marched into Harvard with a pummeling 10-1 victory. Eidsness made 39 saves, including a solid breakaway stop, to improve his record to 6-5-1. Freshman Corey Fienhage notched a power play assist for his first career point, and played policeman in the final 10:00 as Harvard took their frustrations out with some questionable hits. Fienhage, who earlier was called for a roughing penalty, earned another plus a game misconduct after a scuffle with 3:29 remaining that stemmed from Alex Biega (-3) boarding a Sioux forward. Matt Generous (+2) buried a bomb from the slot as St. Lawrence fell to Boston University, 4-1. The goal was the third of the year for the senior rearguard, who later received two-and-a-ten after a melee following the fourth Saints goal. In WHL play, Tyler Ennis scored a goal and an assist as Medicine Hat defeated Moose Jaw, 5-4. The goal was Ennis' 15th of the season, as the Edmonton native now has 35 points in 29 games. Tyler Myers was even with a tripping minor as Kelowna edged Regina, 3-2. Rounding out the evening's NCAA action, Justin Jokinen was on the ice for the first Mavericks goal, finishing +1 as Minnesota State lost to St. Cloud, 4-2. Andrew Orpik was -1 as Boston College played to a 1-1 tie with BU. In the CCHA, Corey Tropp (2 PIM, 1 SOG) finished -1 as Michigan State was throttled by Michigan, 6-1. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel saw his point shot tipped in for the game winner as Niagara defeated Sarnia, 2-1. His 24 assists on the season rank 7th in the OHL. Nick Crawford had an assist and was +2 as Saginaw defeated Kitchener, 4-3. 2009 eligible Jordan Szwarz had three assists for the Spirit. In other Q action, Jacob Lagacé posted an assist in Chicoutimi's 3-2 shootout win over Rouyn-Noranda. Lagacé was stopped as the second shooter in the deciding frame. J.S. Allard was -1 Quebec defeated Lewiston, 5-2. In an exhibition contest, Drew MacKenzie was even as Vermont downed the USA Under-18 squad, 6-4.

11/30 Recap: Mr. November rolls on

Gatineau's Paul Byron scored a pair of goals and an assist as les Olympiques defeated Chicoutimi, 5-3. Perhaps the hottest player in the entire CHL, the 5'10 Byron marked in every Gatineau contest in the month of November, compiling nine goals and 18 total points in 11 games. Jacob Lagacé did not play for the Sags in the loss. Also from the Q, Jordon Southorn (-1) posted four shots on goal for PEI in their 3-1 loss to Moncton. The Pincourt, QC native looked gassed at times, making a few mental mistakes early. The Rocket lost their fourth in a row, and seventh in their last eight. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel was -2 as Niagara lost to Brampton, 5-3. With the win, the Troops avenged a mid-week a loss to the Dogs on Thursday that saw their 16-game winning streak snapped. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla had a roughing minor in Cologne's 4-2 loss to Augsburger. The Sharks currently sit in 12th place in the 16-team league. Andrew Orpik was -1 as Boston College needed a Barry Almeida overtime winner to defeat Dartmouth, 2-1.

Orpik, Gogulla go for two

Senior Andrew Orpik scored two goals as Boston College defeated Harvard in a Beantown matinee, 5-1. The Thayer product opened scoring at 13:50 of the first when he broke down the left side and stuffed the puck past freshman netminder Matt Hoyle. The two-goal output was Orpik's first as an Eagle, and made for the fourth multi-point game in 132 career NCAA appearances. Crimson rearguard Alex Biega (-1) did a good job of getting the puck to the net in the loss, but failed to register a point for the fifth straight game, a span equal to his previous long drought from last season. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla scored a pair of goals to lead Cologne to a 5-1 win over Ingolstadt. The 6'2 wing, who posted his third two-goal game of the season, now has a total of eight to go along with nine assists in 21 games. Last season through 21 games, Gogulla had six goals and twelve assists with a stronger overall club.