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Hockey's final game a disappointment

By: Alex DiFilippo Posted: 03/08/09 12:11am

What a horrible way to end the season for the MSU hockey team.

In Northern Michigan’s 8-2 victory, it’s tough to say if it was a disgusting showing by the Spartans or an amazing performance by the Wildcats.

Surely, the Spartans defense was horrid on the night. Half of the goals scored came as a result of defensemen not picking up their man and the Wildcats banging home rebounds.

It’s hard to pin more than one of the goals on senior goaltender Jeff Lerg. The Wildcats fourth goal came from a sharp angle, but that was the only one Lerg even had a chance on.

And once the Wildcats jumped out to a three-goal lead, you knew this one was over.

A lot of credit has to be given to Northern Michigan. They looked really good tonight and had a very balanced offensive attack – with their top three offensive lines each recording two goals.

Regardless, it was a very tough way to end the season for the Spartans.

It’s been a year to forget for the MSU hockey program and even if the team would have somehow mustered a win in this series they would have been played either Notre Dame or U-M next.

And there is no way they were getting past either of those teams.

MSU sophomore forward Dustin Gazley finally broke out of his scoring slump tonight and recorded both of the Spartans goals.

But it was too late. The team needed his offense all season, but it was no where to be found.

Northern Michigan goaltender Brian Stewart didn’t face many quality scoring chances all weekend. But when he did see the rubber he looked very shaky and gave up some atrocious rebounds.

It’s a shame Lerg had to lose a goaltending battle to him.

Seeing Lerg skate off the ice for the last time in the Green and White was a somber moment.

It’s hard to imagine anyone else between the pipes.

Lerg truly was the team this season and it’s a shame his last collegiate game went so poorly.

But he won’t be remembered for the way the Spartans played tonight.

He will be remembered as a class act and one of the best goalies to ever don the green and white.

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Lighting the Lamp

Hockey reporter Alex DiFilippo and Sports Editor Matt Bishop take you inside both MSU hockey and professional hockey four times a week.

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Commentary:

Don Cherry

03/09/09 10:27am

the blame falls on the players’ parents who spent the entire season telling these kids that they were doing the best they could. give ‘em a participation ribbon. how do you go from national champs to falling below lssu in a matter of few short years? stellar.

Coaching??

03/09/09 2:15pm

Hey Hollis now that the season is over will you please get rid of Comley!!!!!!

SteveL

03/09/09 10:24pm

Its time for new leadership at the coaching level for MSU hockey. This program needs some young blood to revamp a program that has really disintegrated. I agree, there is no excuse to have a program 2 years removed from a National Championship fall to the bottom of the barrel.