Friday, March 29, 2024

Spartans return to ice for Green and White game

September 29, 2001

Defense is supposed to be MSU’s strength this season and Friday’s Green and White intrasquad scrimmage didn’t do anything to shoot down that theory.

Sophomore center Tim Hearon scored the game’s only goal with 6:05 remaining as the Green beat the White 1-0 in a tight-checking game at Munn Ice Arena.

Hearon tipped a shot from sophomore defenseman Joe Markusen over junior goaltender Ryan Miller’s shoulder for the game-winner.

The scrimmage followed the traditional 20-minute first period, 15-minute second period and 10-minute third period format and assigned each team three lines, two defensive pairings and a goaltender.

MSU head coach Ron Mason missed the game to attend his former son-in-law’s funeral in Maine. He’s expected back for Saturday’s exhibition game against Queen’s University (Ontario) at 7:05 p.m. at Munn.

Friday’s game opened with a fairly conservative, scoreless first period.

Miller, the defending Hobey Baker Award winner, made his first big save of the season on a 40-foot blast from sophomore left wing Jim Stephenson, an MSU club team player. Miller kept his right pad on the ice to stop the shot - one of six saves he made in the period and 18 for the game.

Both Miller and the freshman Matt Migliaccio, playing goal for the Green, had to make key saves to keep the game knotted at 0-0 throughout the middle frame.

The Green team peppered Miller with shots late in the period, but the goalie was up to every challenge. Among his stellar saves, Miller stoned Hearon on a breakaway and gobbled up junior left wing Steve Clark’s rebound chance in front of the crease following junior defenseman Brad Fast’s point shot.

Not to be outdone, Migliaccio smothered freshman right wing Kevin Estrada as he tried to go five-hole on a breakaway. He made 22 saves for the shutout in his Spartan debut.

“It was a lot of fun being out there and playing hard,” Migliaccio said. “(Miller is) a great goalie, but I was just playing hard and trying to help the team win.”

Despite the game’s friendly nature, the teams still provided their share of big hits, including an extended pushing match between senior defenseman Jon Insana and junior left wing Brian Maloney late in the third.

Clark said the intensity showed the Spartans were focused on the game and that the ill will didn’t last long.

“The frustration just happens in games where you’re competitive,” Clark said. “You can get a little mad out there even though they’re your best friends. And when the game’s over, they’re your best friends again. You have to leave it on the ice, even when you’re playing somebody other than your own team.”

On the injury front, freshman center Jim Slater’s Spartan debut was delayed at a least a day by an unspecified groin injury. His status for Saturday’s exhibition has yet to be determined.

In other personnel news, senior Joe Goodenow played left wing on a line with freshman center Lee Falardeau and freshman right wing Brock Radunske for the White team. Goodenow has played center for most of his three years as a Spartan.

Friday’s game also marked the competitive unveiling of the Spartans’ new home and road jerseys, designed by Nike, and video boards behind each net.

Also, the four-sided scoreboard that used to hover over center ice has been replaced by two-dimensional scoreboards at the northwest and southeast corners of the arena.

Discussion

Share and discuss “Spartans return to ice for Green and White game” on social media.