Johnston leaves team on Senior Night

Four seniors were expected to be honored Friday night during Senior Night at Munn Ice Arena.

But only three participated in the pregame ceremony.

Senior defenseman Justin Johnston quit the team early Friday afternoon. He wasn’t honored in the celebration and wasn’t listed on the linechart at the start of the game.

Because of a strong freshmen class with three starting defensemen, Johnston hadn’t dressed for a single game this season. When he came to the rink Friday morning and discovered he wasn’t going to be in the lineup, he cleaned out his locker without saying a word to anyone.

“Today, when I came into the rink, he cleared out his locker,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said. “I was going to dress him for the warm up and have him go through (the ceremony). That’s all I can tell you. He didn’t talk to any players or staff.”

Johnston finished his MSU career with a 0-3-3 line in 56 games.

The other three seniors excelled on Senior Night in MSU’s 5-2 victory over Bowling Green. Nick Sucharski and Jay Sprague both recorded goals, and backup goaltender Bobby Jarosz was inserted into the game midway through the third period and didn’t give up a goal.

In my column Friday thanking the seniors, I praised Johnston for sticking around and helping out the younger Spartans. I guess that doesn’t ring true any more, but overall, it was a good night for the seniors. There was a big crowd at Munn Ice Arena that was into the game from the get-go. It was a good way to send the seniors out, but Johnston it’s a shame wasn’t able to be a part of it.

“There isn’t a coach alive who doesn’t want to play every senior,” Comley said of the situation. “You just do.”

Commentary

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MSU Alum

(02/27/10 11:58am)
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I’d be pretty ticked off too. I know Justin personally and that’s a really low thing to do, Comley. So what if the freshman class has more depth? You can’t put him in the lineup? Afterall, he is a team member, too. Would be nice to see a coach put being a decent person ahead of wanting to win a game.

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melvin

(03/01/10 11:40am)
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Justin should have suited up and played. I think all of his dedication he gave to the team earned him a spot to play. The guy is a class act. He left with out causing a scene because he was to embarrassed to stay. I dont blame him. I would have been to. Justin is a quiet guy who has his head on straight. It just seems like the Hockey program isnt at the level it used to be at. SAD

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Get real ppl

(03/04/10 1:47pm)
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Oh yeah real classy of him to pass that letter out at Munn slamming the coaching staff and other players. Real classy.

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