MICHIGAN OVERPOWERS FERRIS STATE, 5-3, TO RECAPTURE MASON CUP
March 22, 2003

The Mason Cup left the Michigan hockey office the other week, but it will soon be finding its way back to Ann Arbor.

For the second consecutive year, it was the captain taking charge in the CCHA Super Six championship game. Fueled by two goals from Jed Ortmeyer and three assists by Brandon Rogers, Michigan overpowered conference champion Ferris State, 5-3, to be crowned back-to-back CCHA Super Six champions.

Ortmeyer was flying all over the ice tonight. When he wasn't putting the puck in the net, he was putting a check on a Bulldog player. At least twice tonight he leveled the Bulldogs top scoring threat, Hobey Baker Award finalist Chris Kunitz.

And once again, Ortmeyer was rewarded for his stellar play as he was awarded the Bill Beagan Trophy as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

A fast-paced, high-actioned opening stanza saw the Wolverines draw first blood 4:25 into the game when CCHA Rookie of the Year Jeff Tambellini's shot from the left point redirected off a Bulldog skate in front of the net and past goalie Mike Brown.

The Bulldogs would even the score midway through the period on the power play. FSU turned to Chris Kunitz, who ripped a one-timer from the blueline past U-M goalie Al Montoya.

In the second period, Ortmeyer netted both of his goals. The first came at 4:45 when he took a dish from John Shouneyia at the left faceoff dot and skated in and slammed the puck five-hole on Brown.

Then late in the period on the power play, Tambellini's shot from the blueline sailed just past the left post, but bounced off the end board right back out to Ortmeyer, and he flipped the puck into the net.

The Wolverines took that 3-1 lead into the third period, but Ferris cut the game to 3-2 on a power play goal by Jeff Legue four minutes into the period.

But a few minutes later, Andrew Ebbett won a draw in the Bulldog zone and Mike Woodford blasted the puck past Brown high glove side to give U-M a 4-2 advantage.

But with 5:01 to play, Woodford took a stupid checking from behind penalty to give Ferris some life. Just as the power play expired, Matt York battled for the puck in front and flipped it past Montoya to make it a one goal game.

Then a wild last minute first saw Ferris almost score on a shot from center ice as Montoya started to sneak around back of net but the Bulldog player decided to shoot the puck on net. Montoya stretched the right pad to make the save, but it was also ruled offsides.

Then on the ensuing faceoff just outside the U-M zone, the Bulldogs won it and quickly broke in on a breakaway, but it was ruled a hand pass.

Michigan would net an empty net goal with 4.7 seconds left to seal the game.

Montoya finished the contest with 19 saves. Brown probably had somewhere around 30. Michigan dominated the second period and did what they needed to win in the third. Experience counts and the Wolverines have it when it comes to championship games.

The NCAA selection show is tomorrow at 6 p.m. on ESPN. Michigan is currently 8th in the PairWise Rankings and should get a #2 seed in the Midwest Regional at Yost Ice Arena.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Forwards: Jed Ortmeyer, Dwight Helminen, Chris Kunitz
Defensemen: Brandon Rogers, Simon Mangos
Goalie: Al Montoya

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net/