No. 20 icers playing beyond their years

Within 10 minutes, two MSU teams almost suffered identical fates.

Alex Difilippo

The news of the MSU football team’s heartbreaking loss on the last play of the game against Iowa made its way to Oxford, Ohio at 10:24 p.m.

And for those of us who knew the final result of the football game — thanks to a text message from a friend or from following a live box score — it appeared the No. 20 MSU hockey team was going to mimic the football team’s last-minute failure.

The icers had a 2-0 lead entering the third period, but watched No. 1 Miami (Ohio) tie the game and hold all the momentum in the final frame and beginning of overtime.

It became a question of when the RedHawks were going to score the game-winner, not if they would score it.

But 10 minutes after the final play of the football game, at 10:34 p.m., MSU junior forward Andrew Rowe was the hero for the Spartans, scoring at 3:19 of overtime to upset the best team in the country and prevent two heartbreaking MSU losses within 10 minutes of each other.

Rowe pulled off two phenomenal moves that made two Miami defensemen look silly before netting the game-winner.

The win was enough for the Spartans to enter the national rankings, vaulting the Spartans to No. 20 in the USCHO.com poll. Although the Spartans only have played six games (4-2-0 overall, 1-1-0-0 CCHA), this year’s team in no way resembles last season’s squad.

MSU legitimately could be undefeated at this point, if not for giving up two late game-winners, the first against Maine with 1:39 left in regulation and the other with 1:58 remaining in regulation Friday against Miami.

Looking at that four-game road stretch a month ago, it would have seemed the Spartans would be lucky to sneak out one win, let alone being in every game until the final two minutes.

The Spartans usually dress eight freshmen (of 18 skaters) for each game, and the rookies have been a big part of the Spartans’ success this season.

And the MSU coaches deserve some credit for bringing in such a talented freshman class.

The deficiencies of last year’s team were obvious, and the coaches made a point in the offseason to bring in older, stronger and more mature freshmen.

Mission accomplished.

Two newcomers — forward Derek Grant and defenseman Torey Krug — have been playing the roles of upperclassmen so far this season.

Grant skates on the first line and has a knack for finding himself in the right place at the right time. At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, he is a big body that can play physical and make his presence known in front of the net. But he has a nice set of hands, as well, recording multiple points in five of the Spartans’ six games this season.

Krug is the youngest incoming freshman, but plays the most mature. He’s paired up with junior defenseman and co-captain Jeff Petry on the Spartans’ first defensive line.

Krug is a little guy at 5-foot-9,175 pounds, but he still manages to play physically.

Both of MSU’s power play goals Saturday came as a result of Krug making a great play to pinch up the boards and keep the puck in the zone.

I’ll admit — I picked the Spartans to finish ninth of 12 teams in the CCHA in the preseason media poll.

I didn’t see the freshmen walking in the door and having an immediate impact. I saw a tough schedule for the Spartans, competing in a cluster with Michigan and Notre Dame. And I had no idea where goals were going to come from.

Yes, it’s still early in the season, but I don’t see this season’s team fighting to stay out of the league’s cellar again.

I see them putting up a fight for a conference title.

Alex DiFilippo is the State News hockey reporter. He can be reached at difilip3@msu.edu.