Wolverines Fall to Spartans in GLI Championship Game

Sunday, December 27

Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)

5:00 PM

Michigan

13-3-2, 7-2-2CCHA

Michigan State

13-3-2, 10-1-1CCHA

Michigan State

Michigan

12/27/1998 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

DETROIT, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team fell to Michigan State 3-1 in front of 18,129 fans in the Great Lakes Invitational championship game at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday (Dec. 27). The Wolverines are now 13-3-2 on the season, while the Spartans improve to 13-3-2.

Michigan State took an early 1-0 lead on Jeff Kozakowski's second goal of the season, 1:19 into the game. The Spartans extended the lead to 2-0 on a Damon Whitten power-play goal at 11:41 of the same period.

The Wolverines had opportunities to get back into the game as Mark Kosick (Victoria, B.C.) missed an empty net late in the first period. Then Michigan drew a power-play opportunity 38 seconds into the second period but allowed Bryan Adams to get a short-handed breakaway. Adams buried the chance for his 11th goal of the season, giving Michigan State a 3-0 advantage.

Michigan prevented the shutout with a tally 8:52 into the third period. Freshman Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta) was the benefactor of a behind-the-back pass by Dale Rominski (Farmington Hills, Mich.). Rominski found Comrie in the slot in front of the net, where Comrie ripped a shot over the MSU goalie's glove shoulder for his ninth goal and team-leading 21st point of the year.

The Wolverines put another shot into the MSU net 1:53 later, but the goal was waved off because the referee blew the whistle prior to the shot.

Michigan returns to action at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2, when it travels to Ohio State for the first game in the Buckeyes' new Value City Arena.

GAME SUMMARY

Goals By Period	1	2	3	F
Michigan State	2	1	0	3
Michigan	0	0	1	1

1st period
1, MSU, Jeff Kozakowski 2 (Rustyn Dolyny) 01:19.
2, MSU, Damon Whitten 4 (John Nail, Andrew Hutchinson) 11:41 (pp).

2nd period
3, MSU, Bryan Adams 11 (unassisted) 02:02 (sh).

3rd period
4, MICH, Mike Comrie 9 (Dale Rominski, Mark Kosick) 08:52.

Shots on goal: MSU 6-8-12-26; MICH 5-12-8-25.
Power plays: MSU 1 of 5; MICH 0 of 4.

Goalies: MSU, Mike Gresl (25 shots-24 saves); MICH, Josh Blackburn 13-2-2 (26-23).

Referee: Duke Shegos
Linesmen: Butch Friedman, John LaDuke
Attendance: 18,129
Time: 2:38

NOTES

The loss snapped a 10-game Michigan unbeaten streak and was the Wolverines' first loss in nearly two months, since a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Northern Michigan on Oct. 31.

Michigan defenseman Dave Huntzicker (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) was named to the six-member GLI all-tournament team. He was joined by forwards Mike York (Michigan State), Roger Trudeau (Northern Michigan) and Shawn Horcoff (Michigan State); defenseman Jeff Kozakowski (Michigan State) and goaltender Mike Gresl (Michigan State).

Bryan Adams' shorthanded goal was the first allowed this season by the Wolverines, who have scored two shorthanded tallies of their own in 1998-99.

This game marked the first time this season that Michigan faced a 2-0 or a 3-0 deficit.

QUOTES

HEAD COACH RED BERENSON

On his team's play tonight ...
"We didn't play our best game and you need to play your best against a team like State and in a venue like this."

On Michigan's next game (at Ohio State) ...
"We are usually pretty good at regrouping after a big loss and rising to the challenge."

Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423