Hildebrand was the first four-time team MVP in MSU history. Along with Hildebrand’s departure, though, was the one of redshirt-senior, Nate Phillips.

While Phillips didn’t get much playing time — he played in one game throughout his career, 1:37 on senior day — he was one of three goaltenders the Spartans carried on their roster last year.

Two seniors, Hildebrand and Phillips, are gone from the team, leaving just one returner. The lone guy back is junior Ed Minney, who received the start in the net during the exhibition game against the University of Toronto.

MSU is back to carrying three goaltenders on their rosters, bringing in two freshmen to fill in the departing seniors’ spots. Freshmen John Lethemon and Spencer Wright are the two adding to the team’s overall youth.

For Minney, though, it’s a transition with the two new Spartans on the roster. Minney is going from being the underclassman looking up to two guys, to the experienced veteran teaching the youngsters.

“It’s a little different change of pace (being the older guy),” Minney said. “It’s nice learning from those upperclassmen my first two years, so I’ve been around them a lot. It was nice to take some things from them and kind of pass it on and hopefully fill some big shoes.”

While the team was limited in practices, Minney has had the chance to see the other guys in practice and give them pointers. But he said he’s been giving them a lot more advice than just hockey so far this year.

“It’s more of like an off-the-ice and kind of how you treat every day kind of a thing (on mentoring the freshmen),” Minney said. “Not necessarily teaching them on-ice techniques or anything. It’s more just kind of how to balance everything on and off the ice. And when you do come on the ice, how to leave stuff behind and just play hockey.”

Looking at the matchup ahead, head coach Tom Anastos said during his weekly press conference he’s not sure who will be starting at the net come game time. Instead, he’ll make the announcement later in the week closer to the match.

Minney might have received the start in the exhibition game against Toronto, but the playing time between him and Lethemon was comparable. Lethemon subbed into the game midway through the second period before playing the rest of the way.

During the Green-White game as well, both goalies got the start for their respective teams. Through the two-period scrimmage, they stayed in the net the entirety of the match, gaining reps on the ice.

All eyes will be on the position battle for goalie, but Anastos said instead of sticking with just one guy throughout the season, the team might go a different route.

“I’m pretty open-minded about (the goaltending) actually,” Anastos said. “If one guy really emerges as ‘the guy,' I’m not hesitant to do that. If we found a rotation where two guys can play and be very effective and give us a chance to win every night, I’m good with that.”

During Anastos’ time at MSU, he’s had a situation in which multiple goalies battled for playing time. Because of that, he said he’s alright with going with whoever’s doing better in the net at the time, even rotating guys in and out every night.

Anastos said he’s hopeful he’ll get the play he wants from his goaltenders in whichever route he chooses to give them playing time. As far as which one he chooses, though, he’s keeping his options open.

“As long as it gets good results and we get good performance, we’ll kind of settle,” Anastos said. “We’re going in with our eyes wide open right now.”

MSU will begin the season on Friday, when they head to Lake Superior State University on the road for a weekend series Oct. 14-15. The first game will be at 7:30 p.m. while the second one is at 6 p.m. with both matches on the radio at Spartan Sports Network.