http://statenews.com Stories from The State News en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:03:36 -0400 webmaster@statenews.com http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/tropp_petry_have_nhl_decision_ahead As the season likely has come to a close for the No. 16 MSU hockey team, two players have big decisions looming. Junior defenseman Jeff Petry and junior forward Corey Tropp might decide to leave school early to join the NHL teams that own their rights. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:03:36 -0400 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/tropp_petry_have_nhl_decision_ahead http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/tough_luck_hits_spartans_in_series_loss_to_um The No. 10 MSU hockey team couldn’t have drawn a worse opponent in the quarterfinals of the CCHA Tournament. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:47:18 -0400 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/tough_luck_hits_spartans_in_series_loss_to_um http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/embarrassing_series_likely_ends_season After such an impressive start, the No. 10 MSU hockey team’s season is likely over much earlier than many would have thought. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:40:53 -0400 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/embarrassing_series_likely_ends_season http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/breaking_down_ccha_bracket_team_matchups It’s finally playoff time. The Spartans will host a best-of-three quarterfinal series March 12-13 — and March 14, if necessary — after the first-round winners are reseeded. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:26:55 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/breaking_down_ccha_bracket_team_matchups http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/grading_msus_regular_season_performance Although the Spartans posted an impressive regular season, everything is on the line as the CCHA Tournament approaches. MSU still is a bubble team trying to earn an at-large bid into the 16-team NCAA Tournament. And they likely will need a deep run in the conference playoffs to receive an invite to the “big dance.” Here’s a look at the Spartans’ regular season grades as they prepare for the CCHA Tournament: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:47:47 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/grading_msus_regular_season_performance http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/msu_clinches_2nd_place_now_looks_foward Following the MSU hockey team’s disappointing four-point weekend, hockey reporter Alex Difilippo analyzes the series’ impact on the Spartans’ NCAA Tournament chances and the upcoming CCHA Tournament. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:26:53 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/msu_clinches_2nd_place_now_looks_foward http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_tie_bowling_green_22_fall_in_shootout Bowling Green, Ohio – The game was packed full of energy and end-to-end action throughout, but after the teams played to a 2-2 tie through regulation and overtime, the Falcons won the ensuing shootout, 1-0. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:43:41 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_tie_bowling_green_22_fall_in_shootout http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_send_out_seniors_with_52_win_over_bowling_green During Senior Night at Munn Ice Arena senior forwards Nick Sucharski and Jay Sprague each recorded goals as the No. 12 MSU hockey team got back into early season form to rout Bowling Green, 5-2. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:11:40 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_send_out_seniors_with_52_win_over_bowling_green http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/thank_you_hockey_seniors This season’s class of four seniors has been part of the highest of highs (2007 National Championship) and the lowest of lows (everything about last season). Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:32:00 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/thank_you_hockey_seniors http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_look_to_end_regular_season_with_sweep_of_bowling_green The No. 12 MSU hockey team is trying to keep an even keel entering the final weekend of the regular season. At this point, the worst thing the Spartans can do is overlook the Falcons. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:29:49 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_look_to_end_regular_season_with_sweep_of_bowling_green http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_look_to_end_regular_season_with_sweep If the Spartans can get one game of their home-and-home series this weekend against Bowling Green to a shootout, MSU will clinch a spot in the top four in the CCHA standings and receive a first-round bye and home-ice advantage in the second round of the CCHA Tournament. Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:40:56 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_look_to_end_regular_season_with_sweep http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/miller_great_ambassador_for_msu_us Following the U.S. men’s hockey team’s 5-3 defeat of Canada Sunday night, all the talk on ESPN, MSNBC and Twitter was about goalie Ryan Miller. Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:52:35 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/miller_great_ambassador_for_msu_us http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_weekend_split_key_for_ccha_tournament_seeding Friday’s bus ride home from Big Rapids wasn’t fun for the No. 12 MSU hockey team. The Spartans had just played one of their worst games of the season, losing 4-1 to No. 14 Ferris State. MSU looked completely out of sync, and after the game, head coach Rick Comley called out his team’s work ethic. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:46:37 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_weekend_split_key_for_ccha_tournament_seeding http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_victory_keeps_msu_ferris_state_tied_in_ccha Needing a victory to once again pull even with Ferris State in the CCHA standings, junior forward Dustin Gazley scored the game-winning goal in the middle of the third period to push MSU past the Bulldogs, 3-2. Saturday’s crucial victory made up for the Spartans’ sluggish 4-1 loss Friday to Ferris State. The Spartans close the regular season with a home-and-home series next week against CCHA bottom dweller Bowling Green. Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:21:30 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_victory_keeps_msu_ferris_state_tied_in_ccha http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_fall_to_ferris_state_41 MSU’s bye-weekend caused the No. 12 Spartans to come out of the gates flat and out of sync, eventually leading to a 4-1 loss to No. 14 Ferris State at Ewigleben Ice Arena. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:10:06 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/icers_fall_to_ferris_state_41 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/the_correct_path After years of juggling hockey and baseball, Jeff Petry was worn out and finally decided one sport had to go. Baseball was it, and he didn’t know how to tell his dad. Imagine breaking that news to the 13-year Major League Baseball veteran, who helped pitch the Detroit Tigers to the 1984 World Series title and wanted to lend his expertise to the team Jeff was about to quit. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:06:45 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/the_correct_path http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/ncaa_implications_in_msu_ferris_state_weekend_series The last time the MSU hockey team earned a clean conference sweep was on Dec. 12, 2009, against Bowling Green. Since then, the No. 12 Spartans (17-10-5 overall, 12-7-5 CCHA) haven’t been able to put together a complete weekend. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:03:31 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/ncaa_implications_in_msu_ferris_state_weekend_series http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/spartans_aim_for_4_more_wins_ccha_1stround_bye It still is uncertain how many wins would lock up a top-four finish in the CCHA for the No. 12 MSU hockey team, a valuable position that guarantees a first-round bye and home-ice advantage in the second round of the CCHA Tournament. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:46:19 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/spartans_aim_for_4_more_wins_ccha_1stround_bye http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/lots_of_hockey_left_but_msu_should_be_in It was a good weekend for the No. 13 MSU hockey team. And the Spartans didn’t even have any games on the schedule. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:31:52 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/lots_of_hockey_left_but_msu_should_be_in http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/spartans_alaska_face_off_in_weekend_series After an emotional weekend split against Michigan and a long voyage up to Alaska, the No. 12 MSU hockey team is ready to empty its tank this weekend against the Nanooks. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:08:53 -0500 http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/spartans_alaska_face_off_in_weekend_series