Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Notes: PSU’s Surprise Star in Net

Musico shines for Lions, Army’s two-sport star, Denver’s catalyst on D and more.

Notes: PSU's Surprise Star in Net
P.J. Musico has a .920 save percentage in his last five decisions (4-0-1) (Photo by Craig Houtz / Penn State Athletic Communications).

By Nate Ewell

While many consider Penn State’s 15-7-4 record in just the program’s third varsity season a surprise, the role of junior goaltender PJ Musico (Orange, Calif./Flin Flon-SJHL) in the Nittany Lions’ recent run is downright shocking. Penn State is unbeaten in eight straight heading into this weekend’s series at Michigan State and Musico – who spent all of last year and most of this season as the team’s third-string goalie – has the team’s last five decisions (4-0-1). A surfer, as you might expect from his California roots, Musico is also a skilled juggler who has a reputation for keeping the mood light in the Nittany Lion locker room. | Onward State: Musico, hockey’s unsung hero | O.S. Register: Tending his craft
Friday’s game is on FOX Sports Detroit; Saturday is on BTN

Must Read/See/Head Material

Detroit Free Press: High-scoring Hyman writes kids’ books on the side
Boston Globe: Roy has learned Beanpot history
Mankato Free Press: Chase Grant is Minnesota State’s OK ‘C’
Wisconsin State Journal: Rockwood copes with college life and a rare enzyme disorder
The Gazette: AFA’s Weissenhofer ‘was made for this place’
Along the Boards: Sheeran follows NHL cousins’ lead to NCAA hockey
Toledo Blade: The roar is back at BGSU Ice Arena
The Daily Collegian: Penn State, college hockey are an exciting duo
Buffalo News: Amherst’s Vicario an inspiration to RIT hockey teams
College Hockey News: UMD’s Krause shining on and off the ice

Five More Storylines No One Should be Without

Two-sport star sparks Army – Army’s win at RIT Friday night was sparked by a three-point effort from junior co-captain Joe Kozlak (Duluth, Minn./Amarillo-NAHL). Kozlak is a rare two-sport Division I athlete – he moonlighted with the Army golf team last September in its third straight win vs. Navy in the annual Star Match between the two service academies. Kozlak, who competed in the Minnesota State Tournament in both sports, is the second member of his family to play hockey at a service academy. His brother, Scott, was a forward at Air Force from 2007-11. | NY Hockey Journal: Kozlak elevated Cadets on ice and links

QU’s latest B.C. connection – Quinnipiac’s hopes this season rested in part on replacing the offense lost from graduated twins Connor and Kellen Jones. The Bobcats, in first-place in ECAC Hockey, have gotten a boost from the continued emergence of junior Travis St. Denis (Trail, B.C./Penticton-BCHL), who came to the school in part because his friends from home, the Jones brothers, were there. St. Denis has points in nine straight games (6g-7a) and ranks second on the team in goals (13) and third in points (24). Along with 5-foot-8 Sam Anas (Potomac, Md./Youngstown-USHL) and 5-foot-9 Matthew Peca (Petawawa, Ont./Pembroke-CCHL/TB), the 5-foot-7 St. Denis is part of the Bobcats’ fleet of smaller skilled forwards, and he brings some grit as well – he leads the team in penalty minutes with 68.

Denver’s catalyst – Denver visits North Dakota for a top-10 series this weekend, and as has been the case since he set foot on campus, the Pioneer attack will start from defenseman Joey LaLeggia (Burnaby, B.C./Penticton-BCHL/EDM). The dynamic LaLeggia was named the NCHC Defenseman of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year last spring, but rather than turn pro, returned for his senior season to complete his business degree at DU. The Pioneers are young, with a freshman goaltender and a freshman leading scorer, but LaLeggia brings experience as well as his terrific two-way play. | The Pipeline Show: Joey LaLeggia

Most Career Points, Active Defensemen
116 – Joey LaLeggia, Denver (EDM)
112 – Ryan Misiak, Mercyhurst (played F for three years)
100 – Steve Weinstein, Bentley
90 – Zach Palmquist, Minnesota State
87 – Andrew Prochno, St. Cloud State

A.A.’s impact at UAA – Alaska Anchorage returns home for the first time in more than a month and the fans may barely recognize the way freshman Austin Azurdia (Wenatchee, Wash./Langley-BCHL) is playing. Azurdia has 3-1—4 in the last 5 games, all away from home, after posting 1-2—3 in the first 15 games of the year. Although he scored in his college debut, a slow start would be understandable for Azurdia – in addition to learning the NCAA game, he was recovering from a broken leg suffered in April that required a plate and eight screws to be inserted in his left ankle. Now he seems to have hit full stride, and is showing the kind of offensive ability that produced this viral video during his BCHL days.

Poturalski leads UNH rookies – In an 11-member freshman class that has needed to contribute right away, no rookie has meant as much to New Hampshire as center Andrew Poturalski (Williamsville, N.Y./Cedar Rapids-USHL). Poturalski, the Hockey East Rookie of the Week, has scored goals in 8 of UNH’s 10 wins this season, including two goals in each of the team’s last two wins. He ranks fourth on the team in goals (11) and points (22), and is averaging a point per game since Christmas.
Friday’s game vs. BU is on NESN/TSN2; Saturday is on FOX College Sports

NHL Note of the Week

Rensselaer goaltender Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, Man./Des Moines-USHL) is the second current college player whose rights have been acquired by the Buffalo Sabres in as many years. Last March the Sabres traded for Minnesota forward Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn./U.S. NTDP), who was originally drafted by Los Angeles.

Fries at the Bottom of the Bag

Robert Morris is idle this weekend, but could be the first team to clinch a regular-season title depending on the results of their closest competitors in Atlantic Hockey, Bentley and Canisius … Colgate’s Mike Borkowski (Kanata, Ont./Cornwall-CCHL), originally thought to be out for the season with a knee injury, returned to action last weekend after missing 17 games … No. 8 Bowling Green and Ferris State are in the midst of four meetings in a row, headed to Big Rapids, Mich., this weekend after BGSU won two one-goal games at home last weekend … With around a month left in the regular season, find a breakdown of all the different conference playoff formats here.