The MSU hockey team released its 2002-03 schedule Thursday, and there is no shortage of intriguing games on the docket.
Among the highlights, the Spartans will face nonconference powers Boston University and Denver in regular-season tournaments. The Terriers will be the Spartan’s first-round foe in the Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, while Denver will face-off against MSU in the first round of the Maverick Stampede in Omaha, Neb.
Both Boston, which plays in Hockey East, and Denver, which plays in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, were ranked in the top five nationally last season.
“Those are great opponents,” senior defenseman Brad Fast said. “That’s what coming to a school like Michigan State is all about - playing against the best teams.
“I’m real excited. It’ll be tough, but we’re not going to complain about any schedule they give us.”
MSU also will play archrival Michigan four times down the stretch of the season. The Wolverines and Spartans share a CCHA scheduling cluster, along with Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State. That means the Spartans play U-M, Northern and the Lakers four times each in league play. MSU plays the other eight CCHA teams twice each.
Perhaps the most anticipated part of MSU’s schedule is the CCHA-opening October trip to Northern, where new Spartan head coach Rick Comley coached for 26 years. Comley, who had been the only coach in Northern’s history, came to MSU in March to replace longtime friend Ron Mason.
Comley anticipates an intense atmosphere for his return to Marquette.
“It’ll be as big of a hockey event we’ve had in Marquette in a long time,” Comley said. “You’re always concerned about going back to a school you left, but the parting was good, so I think the reception would be good.
“But of course, the (Northern) players will want nothing more than to beat me as the coach of Michigan State.”
MSU also will be tested when it travels to face Big Ten rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin for the annual College Hockey Showcase on Thanksgiving weekend. The Golden Gophers and Badgers both play in the WCHA.
Aside from the showcase and the two regular-season tournaments, MSU’s only other nonconference action this year will be a two-game set against Niagara at Munn Ice Arena in November. The Purple Eagles play in College Hockey America.
In preseason exhibition play, the Spartans have scheduled a rematch against the U.S. Under-18 National Development Team for Oct. 5. The national squad, comprised of exceptional American players younger than 18, shocked the Spartans, 6-4, in an exhibition game in October 2000.
Oh, captain
Comley said the announcement of next year’s team captains won’t be made until sometime in the late summer.
“It’ll be later than usual,” Comley said. “I want to get the players on the ice and work with them a little bit before making that decision.”
