Nov 14, 2022

Weekend Wrap Up: SCSU Earns Split With 17th Ranked WMU

By Alexander Fern / @AlexInTheBooth

The 4th ranked Huskies came into this weekend looking to improve on their 1-1 conference record after a split with Denver last weekend, and they had an opportunity against the 17th ranked Western Michigan Broncos

FRIDAY

The Huskies and Broncos only play each other twice this season and they are both at the HBNHC which means that there is no trip to Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo Michigan this year.

But that didn’t stop the Broncos from jumping all over the Huskies right off of the bat.

The Huskies came out flat immediately and WMU dominated the first period as SCSU was held to one shot in a period for the first time since last year’s game two of the NCHC playoffs against UMD.

The Broncos would score first, as defenseman Aidan Fulp would blast a shot top shelf on Jaxon Castor on the powerplay and the Huskies went down 1-0 with one minute left in the first period.

WMU would score again on the powerplay a minute later when Jamie Rome would score after a beautiful pass from Max Sasson, and the Broncos would take a 2-0 lead into the intermission. And held an 10-1 advantage in shots.

The Huskies used the intermission to figure out what was working for them and were able to get some offense going when transfer forward Grant Cruikshank scored a powerplay goal (his 10th goal of the year) to cut the WMU lead in half.

The score would stand going into the next frame but then Ethan Aucoin received a game misconduct for “contact to the head” and allowed WMU to have a 5 minute powerplay opportunity.

Max Sasson would make the “penalty” hurt even more when he scored a goal 18 seconds into the powerplay to put the broncos up 3-1.

Enter Micah Miller…

Miller was able to poke a puck forward while on the PK and slide it five-hole on Cameron Rowe to score his 5th SHG of the last 2 seasons, and give the Huskies their 4th shorty of the year.

“He is just the best,” Head Coach Brett Larson said. “Whenever he is out there it feels like there is a chance something good can happen for our team.”

However, the ecstacy was short-lived as Luke Grainger would score just as the major expired and put the dagger in the Huskies hearts and put the Broncos up 4-2, which is how the score would finish as well.

“I don’t think that anyone on this team will tell you they played their best tonight.” Larson said. “We just need to recuperate, look at film, and come back better tomorrow.”

SATURDAY

Saturday was different from the start.

The Huskies won the opening faceoff and immediately got in on the forecheck in the WMU D-zone.

“We call it the ground game, we just needed to make WMU defend for a while and just have our guys throw pucks on the net.” Brett Larson said.

The ground game worked as Grant Cruikshank (of course) scored just 1:05 into the first period and it was a stark contrast from Friday.

SCSU did have to face some adversity though, as they had to kill of a 5-on-3 powerplay opportunity about midway through the first. They were able to do so, and momentum stayed on the side of the Huskies.

The Huskies would then continue to dominate the period until another noted goal scorer, Aidan Spellacy would slot one home on a rebound out in front to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.

(BILL PROUT CENTERICEVIEW)

“Coach told me that this was the first time he had ever given a first goal puck to a 28-year-old.” Spellacy (who is actually 24) said. “I’m just really happy that it happened to be honest.

The Huskies outshot the Broncos 13-2 in the opening period and the game would continue to stay on their side in the second.

Jami Krannila would score about nine minutes into the second on another “grease pan” type goal that would give the Huskies a 3-0 lead.

“I was actually laughing as I was scoring,” Krannila said. “Okabe kicked me the puck in front just like we do in soccer before the game, and I just put my stick on it.”

The Huskies would hold the 3-0 lead until there was about three minutes left in the game, as Ryan McAllister would fire a rocket top shelf, glove side on Dominic Basse to make it 3-1.

WMU would pull Rowe but Jami Krannila would score the empty-netter to put this one in the books 4-1. Krannila has scored 4 goals in his last 4 games.

GOALIES

Jaxon Castor and Dominic Basse both platooned this weekend once again, and both put out decent performances.

Castor was the subject of the more worse team effort on the weekend, making 26 saves on 30 shots.

“He made saves that kept us in this game,” Brett Larson said. “I think he played fine. He isn’t the reason we lost.”

Dominic Basse had a little less work though, only having to make 10 saves on 11 shots.

“Dom played well. He made some saves that were very good, and you can’t really do that much about the one he let in.” Larson said.

NEXT SERIES

The Huskies travel out west once again, but this time to Colorado Springs to play the Tigers (5-6-1).

A series that dates back to 1989, the Huskies hold a 60-50-9 record all-time against the Tigers. SCSU has won 8 of the last 9 contests and is 34-23-3 on the road against CC. SCSU won all four of the contests last season including a sweep at Ed Robson arena.

STORYLINES

Dominic Basse and Grant Cruikshank return to CC for the first time since transferring, Basse of course transferred over the offseason, and Cruikshank, who was the Captain of CC during the 2020-21 season transferred to Minnesota last year before finding a home in St. Cloud. Basse was a 2-year-starter at CC before transferring to SCSU where he has found a new beginning, with heightened statistics.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Assuming Brett Larson platoons Castor and Basse again, it will be a Saturday Basse homecoming and I’d expect him to get a very warm welcome.

Cruikshank leads the Huskies in goals, and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t think he has this game circled. If he scores this weekend, it’ll be fun to see what the reaction is.

HOW TO LISTEN

This weekends games can be found on 88.1 FM KVSC or streaming online at KVSC website with Alexander Fern, Brian Moos, and Zac Chapman on the call. If you would like to help assist in sending student broadcasters to away games, please feel free to click on the donate tab and donate today!

Thank You Underwriters

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