He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
Wild At Heart CCHA Hockey update
The CCHA Championship is going on this weekend and day one gave us some great hockey for the 1st day. Game one pitted Ferris State trying to get to their second title game (first was 2003) versus Northern Michigan who hasn't been to the finals since 1999 (won the tournamnet in 1980 and 1981). The first period was a showcase for the goalies as only one goal by N Michigan was scored in 25 attempts when Todd Pococke got a rebounded shot in front of the net to give Ferris State a 1-0 lead. Things stayed this way until halfway through the 2nd when N Michigan went on a flurry for a period of a minute where they scored three goals within 1:02, two of which came from the stick of Ray Kaunisto. Ferris State's Cody Chupp closed out the second with a shot coming from behind the net to squeeze it past the goalie. N Michigan extended their lead at the 8:04 mark of the third with a goal by Tyler Gron off an assist by Kaunisto who solidified his MVP on this play. Ferrios State wasn't going to go away quietly as they had their own flourish of scoring when Mike Embach and Mathew Kirzinger both scored within one minute of each other and the regulation ended tied 4-4. The OT started slowly but then Gregor Hanson breaks down the middle of the ice and off his feet blows a shot past 2 players ands off the arm of the goalie to give Northern Michigan a 5-4 win over Ferris State.
In the second game, Miami (OH) made it's eighth appearance in the CCHA Championship against the Wolverines of Michigan. The place was lively as maize and blue held a 4 to 1 advantage over red and white. Michigan has won the Mason Cup 8 times since 1994 and came into the tournament as a 7 seed while Miami was coming off a 2 loss season in division play and about 20 points more than the 2nd place team. However, it was Michigan that looked like the better team on the ice. Miami seemed tentative while Michigan had numerous bursts of speed throughout the first period but only produced one goal as Tristan Lewellyn recieved a pass Carl Hagelin and shot it from the blue line just as a Miami power play ended. In the second, a breakdown of defense allowed a 4-on-1 for Michigan as four passes ended up with Lee Moffie making the score 2-0 in favor of Michigan. Tommy Wengels finally broke Miami's drought at the end of the second period. The third period started the same but after Carl Hagelin got his second assist to Kevin Lynch on a power play as he was right in front of the net, Miami disappeared off the ice. A few minutes later Brian Lebler brought the puck over center ice and shot the puck between the goalie's legs and then Kevin Lynch put things out of reach with his second goal making 5-1 as Michigan outshot Miami 10-5 in the third period. At 17:37, Trent Vogelhuber tried to make things more respectable when he tipped in a rebounded shot but that was the only life they showed at the end of the game as Michigan upset Miami 5-2. This game marked the only time the Miami goalie was pulled from a game as Michigan just dominated a team which beat them twice in the regular season.
Tonight starting at 3:30PM, Miami will try to salvage something as they face off against Ferris State for 3rd place and at 7:30PM, Northern Michigan and Michigan will play for the championship. Winner guarantees a spot in the upcoming Frozen Four at Ford Field.
