For the second straight week, MSU went unbeaten and untied for a weekend and still slipped in one of the national polls.
This time, the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine rankings dropped MSU from No. 4 to No. 5, while the Spartans (6-2-1 overall, 5-2-1 CCHA) remained No. 4 in this week’s USCHO.com poll.
Minnesota (8-0-1), Denver (8-0-0) and St. Cloud State (9-1-0) are ranked 1-2-3, respectively, in both polls.
MSU received one first-place vote in the USCHO poll and is 12 points ahead of No. 5 Boston University (5-0-1).
The Terriers, bolstered by a 3-2 overtime win against No. 14 Maine, claimed the No. 4 spot in the USA Today poll with 14 points more than the Spartans.
“I think we’re happy that we’re playing well and we’re winning, but we’re definitely not where we want to be,” junior right wing Troy Ferguson said. “If you were asking me if we’re a National Championship team right now, you know, I don’t think so.
“But that’s our goal, to continue to get better throughout the year and get to that caliber.”
Other CCHA teams in the rankings include Northern Michigan (6-1-1, 6-1-1) at No. 6 in both, Nebraska-Omaha (7-3-0, 4-2-0) at No. 7 in both, Michigan (4-4-1, 3-3-1) at No. 12 in both and MSU’s next opponent, Miami (Ohio), at No. 13 in USA Today.
Ohio State also received votes in both polls, Western Michigan received votes in the USCHO poll and Alaska-Fairbanks received a vote in the USA Today poll.
Cluster’s first stand
The Spartans’ series against Miami (6-3-1, 4-1-1) on Friday and Saturday will be their first set against a cluster opponent this season.
Each year, the CCHA divides the league’s 12 teams into three scheduling clusters.
Teams within a cluster play each other four times a year and play non-cluster teams only twice.
This year, MSU is grouped with Miami (Ohio), Ohio State and Ferris State.
MSU beat Ferris 2-0 in a one-game battle on Oct. 20 and will also play the Bulldogs on Jan. 15, March 1 and March 2.
The Spartans will play the Buckeyes four consecutive games from Jan. 25-Feb. 2 and will travel to Oxford, Ohio, to face Miami again on Feb. 22-23.
Pointless statistic
Sophomore defenseman Joe Markusen, who scored one goal and four assists last season, is the lone Spartan regular without a point this season.
“No one’s said anything yet, but I kind of have that in the back of my mind,” said Markusen, who has 13 shots in nine games this year.
“It is something that gets frustrating after a while if points don’t come, but I just keep waiting and hopefully it will happen soon.”
Hobey cut-down
The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation announced the pool of finalists for the Hobey Baker Award will be trimmed from 10 to three on March 26.
In the past, the 10 finalists have stayed in the running until the actual award presentation, but the foundation decided to add an intermediary cut this year.
MSU junior goaltender Ryan Miller won the award as college hockey’s outstanding player last year. This season’s recipient will be announced on April 5 in St. Paul, Minn.
Ticket update
Standing room only tickets are still available for both games against Miami (Ohio) for $9 each.
Also, five-game hockey mini-plans are still available. The packages include games against Wisconsin (Nov. 23), No. 1 Minnesota (Nov. 25), Quinnipiac (Jan. 4-5) and Ferris State (March 2) and are $40 for students and $90 for the general public.
Call (517)355-1610 or 800-GO-STATE for more information.
Injury report
Senior right wing Adam Hall is still nursing a “skate bite” above his ankle and didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday. Mason said Hall will play this weekend.
Junior right wing Kris Koski, who has played one game this season, also missed practice Tuesday after injuring his right shoulder in Monday’s practice.
