Jim Slater is one of the easiest players to spot while playing for the MSU hockey team, which is probably because the sophomore center is always around the puck.

Whether he's scoring goals (he notched the game-tying tally in last year's Cold War) or crunching opponents against the boards, Slater is ubiquitous on the ice.

He notched two goals and an assist in MSU's 5-4 win over Niagara on Saturday - all after being a game-time addition to the lineup because of a hyperextended left elbow.

"The pain is something you can't worry about when you're playing," Slater said. "You just have to forget about it, go out there and play your own game."

Part of Slater's toughness probably stems from the fact that his father played in the NFL in the 1970s.

And, as the only underclassman in MSU's trio of assistant captains this season, the Lapeer native figures to be in line for the team captaincy next season.

For more of this feature, see Tuesday's edition of The State News.