The CMU club hockey team swept its two-game series against Northern Michigan after its fifth consecutive loss Friday night against Lindenwood.

Central (7-10) lost to Lindenwood on Friday, 6-3, and won 8-3 Saturday and 5-4 Sunday against Northern Michigan.

Saturday was Central’s first win since Oct. 24 against Bowling Green.

Central senior captain Marty Lipar said the difference between the wins and loss was Central’s start. Lindenwood scored first Friday and later scored five unanswered goals. But Saturday, Central scored 11 seconds into the game, the first of five unanswered goals. The team also scored first in Sunday’s game.

“It’s just crazy how different we play if we score that first goal or if we let that first goal in,” Lipar said. “If we let that first goal in, we kind of get down but, if we get that first goal, we’re a whole different team.”

Central coach Mike Jakubik said the team’s lack of communication Friday led to turnovers and, consequently, goals.

“All the goals we gave up were lack of concentration,” he said about Friday’s loss. “We just made it too easy for the other team.”

He said Saturday’s win came because of a notable physical presence and improved communication from Friday.

Special teams

It was not the only change, however. Going into the weekend, the power play was unsuccessful for CMU.

Central had scored just seven power-play goals in 26 power plays dating back to Oct. 2 against Western Michigan. Central scored four power-play goals in 13 power plays over the weekend.

Bowen made 60 saves this weekend and gave up seven goals against Northern. Freshman goaltender Zach Silver got the start against Lindenwood, allowing six goals.

Senior center Mike Lesnau played his first games in the top line with senior left winger Jordan Jakubik and sophomore right winger David Sitarski. The line had eight goals and 12 assists.

With three games this weekend, the CMU club hockey team looks to hault a four-game losing streak when it plays Lindenwood and Northern Michigan.

But Central (5-9) has constantly dealt with a lack-luster power play which has produced seven power-play goals out of 26 power plays. The team has also had injuries, illness and recently, coach Mike Jakubik said, commitment issues.

“The only problem we have right now is players not making it to practice,” he said. “I might even go with three lines Saturday and Sunday and sit eight people.”

Jakubik said the two hours of practice per week decide who plays and who sits out games.

“Saturday, we played the best game as a team the whole season,” he said. “We took a step forward and three steps back during the week … I’m looking for them to come out 110 percent Friday.”

Central plays Lindenwood (11-3) at 9 p.m. today. The team also plays Northern Michigan (10-6) on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. All games are at the Isabella County Events Arena.

“For the most part, Friday will be a big game against Lindenwood because they’re ranked higher than us and we lost to them the first game, so we need to split,” Jakubik said. “If we lose to them again, then we will never be ranked higher than them this season.”

Central lost the first game to Lindenwood 9-3 on Sept. 27.

Injuries

Freshman defenseman Alec Sherman will not play this weekend, said Jakubik. He did not get x-rays on his swollen foot and will rest through the week.

Jakubik said senior right wing Jordan Jakubik has a sore finger from a slash he took against MSU. He had to have his swollen finger drained and will try to play this weekend.
Senior defensemen Tyler Pons left practice during the week, but his injury is unspecified. He missed the first month of the season because of a shoulder injury. Sophomore goaltender Zach Knaus will also miss this weekend because of a sore wrist.

The approaching semester break also presses Central’s motivation.

“Well we want to end on a positive note, and winning three games this weekend could help us do that,” Pons said.

The club hockey came away from this weekend’s sweep by Michigan State with a better feeling than previous weekend sweeps.

However, it took four consecutive losses for the team to gauge its strengths and weaknesses after entering the weekend with a full lineup for the first time in weeks.

Michigan State, No. 1 in the Central Division of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, swept both games this weekend. Central lost 8-1 Friday in East Lansing and 2-1 in Mount Pleasant.
The weekend before, Saginaw Valley State beat Central in both games, 6-5 in overtime and 11-4 the next day.

Sophomore defenseman Murphy said he noticed Michigan State applied more pressure than other teams Central has played this season. The pressure in all zones led to Central’s indecisive execution, leading to turnovers and odd-man rushes.

“We haven’t really been tested like that,” Murphy said. “The reason we came out so flat is because – Michigan – they’re bad. DePaul wasn’t very sharp. Saginaw Valley was good … Yesterday, that was the first game that we really, really played a good team.”

Central coach Mike Jakubik said he does not like to think of the losses against Michigan State as “good” losses, but the games revealed the team’s abilities against a top-ranked opponent. The games tested Central’s juggling lineup after senior forward Mike Lesnau played his first games of the season against Saginaw Valley. His return created a ripple effect through the rest of the lines as forwards had to be moved down to accommodate Lesnau.

“(Saturday) we came out and played like we did in the first (Friday),” Jakubik said. “We stuck to our gameplan throughout the whole game. Everyone knew the rule; played defense first and back-checked.”

More injuries

Freshman Alec Sherman left Friday’s game because of an injury. Jakubik said Sherman’s foot was either broken or bruised but, nevertheless, he stood alongside Jakubik behind
the bench on Saturday.

Sherman, a 6’4’’ 225-pound defenseman, is highly regarded by teammates as a physical player. Murphy said Sherman’s absence impacted the defensive core and affected the team’s physical gameplan against Michigan State.

Murphy also talked about goaltender Zach Knaus and his play against Michigan State over the weekend. Knaus started both games and made 23 saves Saturday, despite screens and the MSU strategy of often placing two forwards in the slot.

“(Friday) we kind of left him out to dry,” Murphy said. “He’s a great, great goalie … He played a hell of a game.”

Murphy said Knaus’ composure is influential.

“I was in front of the net; I went to go lift a kid’s stick and he got the shot off,” Murphy said. “I looked between my legs and I didn’t see Knaus behind me. They got the shot off and I thought ‘Man, they scored.’ I went into the corner with my head down and I turned around and seen Knaus in the corner with the puck in his glove.”

The looks on the players’ faces Saturday defined the club hockey team’s mood — it was a weekend to forget.

Central was swept by Saginaw Valley State after an overtime loss Friday and a seven-goal loss Saturday.

The team gave up a 4-2 lead Friday in the third period and lost 6-5 in overtime. However, Central never led in Saturday’s 11-4 loss. It was the most goals allowed in a series by Central since it gave up 18 to Ohio State Jan. 30 and 31 of last season.

Saginaw Valley scored 26 seconds into Saturday’s game, and Central could only hold a one-goal deficit for seven minutes.

Central coach Mike Jakubik said in his seventh year associated with the team, he does not recall a weekend “so horrible.”

“The team lacked heart,” he said. “We didn’t have any effort or drive out there, it seemed like.”

The power play continues to curb Central’s offensive opportunities, Jakubik said. He said the team cannot afford to blow 5-on-3 advantages, which it did Friday. It also had five power-play opportunities Saturday, but failed to score.

Different competition

Saginaw Valley is a Division III team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. CMU competes at the Division II level. However, Saginaw Valley (8-5) won its division’s national championship last season.

Jakubik said he expects Central will take a hit to its American Collegiate Hockey Association No. 7 ranking after the new rankings come out this week.

“Maybe having the week off, we got lazy and forgot how to play. I don’t know,” he said. “But we’ll make sure that they get their conditioning skating this week, that’s for sure.”

Senior center Mike Lesnau played his first games this year after a full recovery from shoulder surgery and rehabilitation. He said it was not the kind of returning weekend he envisioned.

“We just need to get our stuff together,” Lesnau said. “Everyone needs to start contributing.”

Central (5-7) faces No. 1 Michigan State (7-2) next weekend in a home-and-home series. The 9 p.m. game Friday is in East Lansing and the 4 p.m. Saturday game is in Mount Pleasant.

After a 4-2 homestand that included a sweep against Bowling Green, the club hockey team takes a full roster to Saginaw tonight after a weekend off.

The team plays Saginaw Valley State at 9 p.m. in the Saginaw Bay Ice Arena. The teams then play at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Isabella County Events Ice Arena.

After uncertainties about whether senior Mike Lesnau would be back on the team, it appears he will be in the lineup this weekend.

“We’re pretty rested up and we got Lesnau back,” said senior left winger Joe Vandermarliere. “So we should get some scoring back.”

Lesnau was second on the team last year for points scored, with 46 total, including 22 goals.

Central coach Mike Jakubik has had to deal with a depleted lineup recently. Sophomore goaltender Zach Knaus left the second game against Bowling Green after hurting his knee.

Sophomore right winger David Sitarski said the team has not lost focus during the weekend off in preparation for Saginaw Valley State, a Div. III American Collegiate Hockey Association team.

“We’re all going into the weekend with the same intensity no matter who we’re playing and what division they’re in.”

The CMU club hockey team has this weekend off after its first 10 games.

Central is 5-3 with two overtime losses and is one of 12 teams in the Central Division to earn double-digit points early in the season out of 45 teams.

The team held a skills competition Thursday to change what has been a business-like approach on the ice. The light-intensity week was also gave a chance for Mike Lesnau and Tyler Pons to get back on the ice since missing time.

Lesnau has not played this season because of offseason shoulder surgery and rehabilitation that lasted into the season’s start. Pons was injured early in the season and has sat out since with shoulder problems similar to Lesnau — a torn rotator cuff and ligaments. Both practiced this week and are hopeful to return in the Nov. 6 game against Saginaw Valley State. Lesnau’s specific return, however, remains uncertain.

Lesnau said he will focus on getting back in shape to regain a lot of ice time.

“Tuesday was a little rough,” Lesnau said. “We scrimmaged and, after the first couple shifts, I was a little gassed. (The shoulder) feels good now.”

Goaltender Zach Knaus said he is looking forward to the weekend off after hurting his knee against Bowling Green.

Goal-scoring

Eighteen of 19 skaters have scored a goal so far. Jordan Jakubik, Marty Lipar and Nick Badder account for about 52 percent of the points scored.

Jakubik leads the team with 22 points, including nine goals.

Captain Marty Lipar said the weekend off is a turning point to the season because Lesnau’s return, a player who had 46 points last season, along with the return of Pons and Knaus. Lipar said Central adds more depth to an already competitive roster.

“That’s a great addition, that gives us even more depth,” he said. “(Lesnau) was one of our top producers last year … that’s going to make practices even more tough because one more guy is going to have to sit out each game.”

The CMU club hockey team had 91 shots on net en route to a two-game sweep against Bowling Green last weekend.

Central beat Bowling Green 7-4 on Saturday and 5-2 on Friday. It was the team’s first sweep since it beat Rochester Institute of Technology 8-3 on Jan. 23 and 8-2 on Jan. 24.

CMU averaged more than 15 shots per period on the weekend.

Right wing Jordan Jakubik had five points for Central in both games, including four in the second period of Saturday’s game. He leads the team with 22 points in 10 games.

“We thought they’d be a good team, and we haven’t had a sweep all year, so it was good to get a sweep,” Jordan said.

Bowling Green could only muster offense on the man-advantage, scoring three power-play goals. It had just 15 shots on 10 power-plays combined in both games. Bowling Green totaled 55 shots in the series.

Central coach Mike Jakubik said the team employed a new defensive look that has limited the opposing offense.

“Without (Alec) Sherman today, I thought everyone picked up their game and they made up for his loss,” Mike said. “They played well – cleared out the guy in front of the net.”

Sherman, a 6’4”, 225-pound defenseman, served a game misconduct Saturday because of a Friday night fight.

Goaltender Zach Knaus made 10 saves in Friday’s game before Zach Silver replaced him. Knaus said his knee locked up during the second period, but he expects to be fine. Silver finished with 17 saves on 19 shots in relief.

The Music Building was evacuated Monday night because of wafting hydrochloric acid fumes, Facilities Management officials said.

The source of the smell was in the mechanical air-handling room on the second floor of the building, said Jay Kahn, Director of Facilities Operations.

He said an employee was cleaning a heating coil with less than two gallons of the mild acid, diluted with about 10 gallons of water.

“The employee went home for the day and accidentally left the lid off of the product,” Kahn said. “So what we’ve got is about five gallons – the other five gallons are in the heating coil itself which is isolated.”

He declined to comment the employee’s identification and said any disciplinary actions are pending a subsequent investigation into the incident.

Kahn said the problem with the situation was the ability for the chemical to saturate the air with vapors.

“If you open it up in one room, you give it about five or six hours, it’s gonna get around,” he said. “The problem here is not so much the initial concentration of the product but the fact that it was left uncovered for such a long period of time.”

CMU Police Sgt. Chris Pryor said the department had first received the original call at 5 p.m. regarding a “sulfur-like” smell. Rumors of a natural gas leak were deposed after a chemical detection device used by the Mount Pleasant Fire Department indicated no presence of natural gas in the air.

However, the first Central Alert System call was distributed at approximately 10:45 p.m. – more than five hours since CMU received the first call about the odd smell.

CMU Police Officer Carl Williams said nobody, including the Mount Pleasant Fire Department, knew which building contained the source of the smell because people in town also noticed the smell. He could not confirm whether the calls from town were related to the incident or coincidental.

Williams said the MPFD and CMU Police searched campus buildings including Brooks Hall and Dow Science Complex.

After searching the other buildings, Sgt. Pryor located the smell in the Music Building. He said he immediately called the department, which soon after sent out a public address announcement exclusively in the Music Building.

Because some students practicing vocals and instruments may not have heard
the announcement, Sgt. Pryor said he had the department send out the first Central Alert System notification as a precautionary measure.

Within an hour, another notification was sent out that said the building was clear. Pryor said the building was being cleared, not that it was reopened.

“We were trying to keep it open but somehow it got sent out that the building was clear,” he said. “That was not the case. It was clear to the fact that we were clearing the building out but it was still not clear for people to enter at that time.”

The Central Alert System notification also doubled to alert the rest of campus about the situation and keep them from the vicinity of the building, he said..

The Isabella County Hazardous Materials team arrived at 1 a.m. and was briefed about the situation. As of 1:30 a.m., the team was suited and finalizing preparations before it entered the building.

Check cm-life.com for more updates.