MSU Hockey Upends No. 2 Boston College
12/29/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 29, 2000
DETROIT, Mich. - Senior captain Rustyn Dolyny (Fort Frances, Ont.) wants to carry on an MSU hockey tradition with another Great Lakes Invitational title. The senior winger brought the top-ranked Spartans one step closer in its quest for a fourth straight GLI crown with two goals and two assists, taking down second-ranked Boston College, 4-1, in the tourney's first round at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit today.
"We take a lot of pride in coming down here and defending our title," said Dolyny. "We were fortunate enough to be on three past teams that won championships and would like to carry that on."
It was an uneventful first period for the Spartans (13-1-4 overall) with Boston College scoring the first goal of the game with 22 seconds remaining in the opening frame on a four-on-four situation. The Eagles' Krys Kolanos took a pass from Brooks Orpik before wristing the puck behind Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.).
"I thought the first five to seven minutes we were still practicing and we couldn't get our feet going," said MSU head coach Ron Mason. "The second period we really got it going. We played a solid game once we laid back and played defensively. It was a good team effort all the way around."
Andrew Hutchinson (Rochester Hills, Mich.) tallied MSU's first goal 1:23 into the second period to tie Boston College. The goal, Hutchinson's first of the season, was set up by senior Damon Whitten (Brighton, Mich.). Whitten was breaking toward the Eagle net down the center of the ice and found Hutchinson all alone near the goalmouth to BC netminder Scott Clemmensen's left.
Dolyny had enough time to look back at the clock as the second period came to a close before blasting the puck past Clemmensen top-shelf at 19:56 for a power-play goal. Jeremy Jackson (Langley, B.C.) and Brian Maloney (Bassano, Atla.) each received assists on MSU's eventual game-winner.
For his second goal of the night and sixth of the year, Dolyny gave the Spartans a 3-1 lead with an insurance goal at 10:01 into the third period. John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.) received the helper.
" We knew that Boston College was going to be a tough test," said Dolyny. "I think every time we come up with a tough game this year the guys have stepped up. The same thing with tonight - we were playing really well and came up with a victory."
Whitten finished the Spartans' scoring with a goal at 16:56 of the the third off a backhanded pass from Dolyny. Brad Fast (Fort St. John, B.C.) also received an assist.
"I thought Michigan State played a very solid game. Our inability to clear the pucks from our end really caused us some problems," said Boston College head coach Jerry York. " Their forechecking was very effective."
Miller made 26 saves for the Spartans. Clemmensen stopped 27 shots for Boston College (12-4-1 overall).
Great Lakes Invitational action continues at Joe Louis Arena tomorrow when Michigan State faces the winner of Friday's semifinal match between Michigan and Michigan Tech in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. EST.
