SHARKSPAGE

ACHA D2 National Tournament in San Jose Day 1: Michigan State 6, Montclair State 2

MICHIGAN STATE GOALTENDER #31 DRAKE TODD FLASHES GLOVE IN 1ST

MICHIGAN STATE TIED FOR POOL B LEAD WITH 6-2 WIN MONDAY NIGHT

MONTCLAIR STATE G #30 KEVIN FOX MADES A PAD SAVE

Sharkspage was on night duty for the opening round of the 2011 ACHA D2 National Championship tournament in San Jose. The very busy Sharks Ice facility is several blocks down the street from San Jose State University, and legions of student volunteers filled in all manner of positions for the ACHA D2 national tournament. Buying an entrance ticket, students. Scorekeepers, announcers, hospitality staff and in-house djs’s (each rink had their own dj)? Students. About the only position not filled by SJSU students was bartender at Stanley’s bar/resturaunt upstairs. Pouring beers with panoramic views of 3 of the 4 rinks was not an option because many were still not 21.

In the first of 4 night matches, Michigan State faced off against New Jersey based Montclair State in Pool B action. About a dozen NJ family members made the trek to San Jose for the tournament, and for their efforts they had to endure humid and chilling rain outside. The one time of year SJ is more New Jersey than California. According to one family member, that doesn’t make a difference. They are going to be indoors watching hockey all week. Michigan State forward Evan Hess got the Spartans on the board in the first period. After a Montclair goal by Nick Lieback 37 seconds into the second, Hess scored again to regain a 1-goal lead. Michigan State had a clear 3-on-1 rush into the offensive zone, but on entry two forwards collided springing the puck for a 4-on-2 rush in the other direction.

Montclair’s Nick Lieback added his second goal of the game at 11:35, but from there on out it was all Michigan State. They scored 4 unanswered goals en route to a 6-2 win and earned a share of the top spot in Pool B after the first day of action. A small black and white photo gallery from the game is available here. Free streams of live action, and paid archives of past games are available via fasthockey.com.