Saturday, January 24, 2009
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Using a dominating first period to jump out to an early three goal lead, the Wolverines then survived an early second period charge by the Spartans, eventually pulling away in the third for a five to three victory. The win was the fifth straight over the Spartans this year, giving the Wolverines not only a sweep for this weekend, but a sweep over the Spartans for the season. The over all winning streak over the Spartans now stands at six games going back to last years CCHA tournament.

The Wolverines got their first goal of the game just thirty-six seconds into the opening period to take an early lead. Palushaj got the puck to Rust as he crossed the Spartan blue line. Using a burst of speed Rust drove toward the goal, getting of a quick wrist shot from the left circle that beat the net minder for the score. Palushaj got the lone assist.

With the clock just under twelve minutes left on the clock the Wolverines would score their second goal of the period. Kampfer carried the puck out of the Michigan zone, carrying the puck from behind the net all the way into the Spartan zone. There he dished it off to Turnbull who buried a shot top shelf to give Michigan the two goal lead. Kampfer picked up the lone assist.

With just forty-four seconds left to play in the period the Spartans were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. The Wolverines wasted little time, scoring a power play goal with thirty-one seconds left in the period. Michigan quickly got the puck into the Spartan zone, made a couple of passes, before Burlon fired off a rocket of a shot from the point. It appeared to be redirected in front of the net, but the goal was credited to Burlon while Pateryn and Czarnik each picked up an assist.

The first period came to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of three to nothing. The Wolverines finished off the period with a twenty-one to six advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock under eighteen minutes and both teams skating with four players, the Spartans scored their first goal of the game to cut Michigans lead to two. Getting past the Michigan defense the Spartans quickly closed on the goal before getting off a shot from the right of the net that nestled into the top wide side corner of the net for the score.

With just over seventeen minutes left on the clock, less than thirty seconds after scoring their first goal, the Spartans notched goal number two, suddenly leaving the Wolverines with a one goal lead. Following their first goal, the Spartans took the puck from the ensuing face off, moving quickly into the Michigan zone. Skating around the Michigan defense as if they were asleep the Spartans closed on the goal and buried the puck seemingly before any Wolverine had even registered the risk.

The second period came to an end with the Wolverines clinging to their slim three to two lead. Michigan out shot the Spartans sixteen to six to end forty minutes of play with a thirty-seven to twelve advantage in shots on goal.

Just twelve seconds into the final period Michigan would get goal number four to regain their two goal lead. Michigan got the puck to Hagelin in the left circle inside the Spartan zone. From there Hagelin closed on the goal, getting off a shot that deflected off a Spartan player, past the goalie, and into the net for the score. Rust and Palushaj each picked up assists on the goal.

Barely a minute later, with just under nineteen minutes top play the Spartans once again cut the lead to one goal to keep the pressure on the Wolverines. While attempting to clear the puck from their zone Michigan turned the puck over right in the slot between the circles. From their the Spartan player who forced the turnover got off a quick blast of a shot that beat Hogan for the goal.

With just under twelve minutes to play the Wolverines would score the games final goal to regain their two goal lead. With the puck in the Spartan zone Summers got off a shot from the point that beat the goalie for the score. Burlon and Palushaj each picked up assists on the goal.

Regulation time would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of five to three. Michigan out shot the Spartans fourteen to nine in the final period to end the game with a fifty-one to twenty-one advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan picks up two huge wins this weekend to not only sweep their arch-rival for the weekend, but the win completed a season sweep of the Spartans. Overall the Wolverines now hold a six game winning streak over the Spartans dating back to last years CCHA tournament. These two games were the two games in hand we had against Notre Dame and with the two wins Michigan now trails the Irish by eight points with just ten regular season games remaining and a home and home series with league leading Notre Dame this coming weekend. While first place is in all likelihood out of reach, if Michigan stands any chance of taking the top spot in the conference they have to win these two games coming up with Notre Dame. While the Wolverines are capable of winning these games they will have to play their best hockey of the year to get past the high flying Irish.

Finally, a few words on the events that transpired in the final minute of the game Saturday night involving two Spartan players and Michigan's Steve Kampfer. As long as I've been watching college athletics I don't believe I've ever seen a more disgusting display of unsportsmanlike play and total disregard for an fellow competitors health. By the time the game got to this point it was getting increasingly physical as frustration was clearly setting in for the Spartans. Kampfer checked Spartan sophomore forward Corey Tropp cleanly at center ice. Seconds later freshman forward Andrew Conboy came out of the penalty box and rather than joining the play or going to the bench he immediately went after Kampfer who had his back to Conboy as he was skating into the Spartan zone. Conboy came up behind Kampfer, taking a shot at Kampfers head, before grabbing him and slamming him to the ice. As Kampfer lay immobile on the ice Tropp skated up, picked his spot, and slashed the defenseless Kampfer around the neck with his stick. Minutes later Kampfer was helped off the ice by two teammates and was eventually transported to the hospital in a neck brace for follow up tests.

First, the cowardly attack from behind by Conboy was bad enough, but the following attack by Tropp with his stick on Kampfer while he lay motionless on the ice was simply the worst thing I've ever seen in college sports. Tropp was immediately ejected from the game, while Conboy was sent back to the penalty box. To add to the turmoil following the game a Michigan fan, which turned out to be Kampfers father, made it into the Spartan locker room to confront Tropp. While reports are somewhat sketchy it sounds as if no blows were exchanged, but there was certainly a handful of jersey grabbed and some very heated words exchanged before security arrived to escort the distraught parent from the locker room. Since I had to take a couple of days before I could even attempt to write about this I can report what the fall out has been from what can only be called an ugly incident at the end of this game.

First, Michigan State has announced that both Conboy and Tropp have been suspended from the team for the remainder of the year. This sanction is in line with what the CCHA was contemplating and will likely be the extent of any official sanction against the players (unless Michigan State decides that one or both of those players are no longer welcome on the team following the conclusion of this season). While the pure fan in my would like to see something a bit more permanent, such as expulsion from school, the more logical part of me finds this suspension appropriate under the circumstances. While Conboy, with less than a year in the CCHA, has already gained a reputation of being somewhat out of control Tropp has no history of this sort of action and a second chance seems in order. While it hasn't been said I would imagine that both players, should they return next year, I would expect they will be on a very short leash. Anything approaching this type of behavior again should lead to their immediate removal from the team.

In the end Kampfers father was charged with trespassing. Whether that leads to any further legal problems remains to be seen. While I wish he hadn't gone into the locker room if your familiar with the back story you would understand the mind set that he was probably in. Last fall, in an off ice incident, Steve Kampfer was assaulted. That assault left him with neck injuries and a fractured skull. He spent several weeks wearing a very restrictive neck brace to keep his neck and head immobile and it was nothing short of amazing that he was able to return to action following the Christmas holidays. Then, as a parent, to watch your son effectively assaulted again and being hit with a hockey stick around head and neck while laying on the ice defenseless, well I think that would put any parent a bit off his or her stride. Again while I wish he hadn't gone into the locker room, given the situation I can certainly say I understand why he did it and frankly if it was a child of mine under the same circumstances I'm not sure I wouldn't do the same (hopefully I wouldn't, but when emotions get that charged bad things tend to happen).

Lastly, the end results weren't has bad as they initially looked like they might be. While there are still some tests to run it would seem that he has suffered nothing worse this time than a strained neck. This leaves his neck a bit sore and stiff, but well short of the career threatening injuries he suffered earlier this year in the off ice incident. He could return to the lineup this weekend, but that will depend on the results of the final tests and the decision of the doctors taking care of him. Unfortunately a young group of junior hockey players got a rude introduction to the down side of any physical sport. As they were waiting to meet the Michigan team following the game Kampfer was wheeled past them, strapped to a gurney with his neck in a brace as he was being transported to the hospital. I imagine that was an unexpected introduction to the harsher realities of their sport.

So there you have it. Two players suspended for the remainder of the year from Michigan State. A Michigan player sent to the hospital and eventually released the next day with a strained neck. That players father charged with trespassing after confronting one of the players who had attacked his son on the ice. In the end the results were far better than they might have been. Kampfer could have been more seriously injured, but thankfully wasn't. I love college sports for a number of reasons and I like to see my team win. However, there is no place in sport, college or otherwise, for this type of attack on a player. Hopefully I never have to personally witness another event such as this.