Tim Hearon is ready to close the book on his hockey career - one year earlier than most people expected.
The versatile junior forward from Southgate decided last month to skip his senior season, choosing instead to take his finance degree into the real world. The 5-foot-9, 167-pounder skated with MSU's other six seniors during Senior Night festivities Saturday.
"Staying around would have just put off getting on with my life by another year," Hearon said. "I think (MSU head coach Rick Comley) is kind of eager to get his own team in here, so this gives him an opportunity for another spot. It just works out the best for everybody."
Hearon's situation is similar to that of men's basketball forward Adam Wolfe, who announced earlier this month he will graduate and forgo his senior season. But unlike Wolfe, Hearon was never redshirted by MSU.
He went to Bellevue University for a year while playing junior hockey in Nebraska, which allowed him to graduate with a degree from MSU in three years.
Hearon, 24, is the second-oldest player on the team. He played off-and-on last season, but has become a solid contributor for MSU this year, appearing in 30 games. He gets a regular shift with the fourth line and is one of MSU's top penalty killers.
He scored the only goal of his career against Lake Superior State on Oct. 24, and has 12 career assists.
"With Timmy, you know exactly what you're going to get every time he's on the ice," Comley said. "He doesn't score a lot, but that line with him and (senior forward) Troy Ferguson is a good line no matter who they're playing with."
After the season, Hearon will move to Omaha, Neb., to be with his longtime girlfriend. He doesn't have a job lined up yet, but he is confident he's making the right decision to give up hockey.
"I'm not getting any younger," Hearon said. "And I don't see hockey as part of my future, so playing another year of hockey wouldn't really benefit me.
"I'm ready to be done. I've been playing a long time. The thing I'll miss most is just hanging out with the guys. There will be a little bit of a void there, but I think I'll do all right."
Hearon's departure means MSU will only have one true senior next year - defenseman Joe Markusen. Right wing Steve Swistak will also be in his fourth year, but because he didn't play in the 2000-01 season, he will technically be a redshirt junior.
Fun with numbers
0.00 - Goals against average of sophomore goaltender Matt Migliaccio the last two Friday games.
2 - Assists by Migliaccio during the last two weekends, marking the first two points of his career.
3 - Number of Spartans who have cracked the 40-point plateau this season (senior defensemen John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast and sophomore center Jim Slater). The last time three MSU players reached 40 in the same season was 1997-98.
5.00 - GAA of Migliaccio the last two Saturday games.
9 - Short-handed goals MSU has scored this year, which leads the CCHA.
11 - Consecutive games Fast has registered a point, the longest such stretch for MSU this season. Fast has two goals and 16 assists during the run.
Back with the big boys
MSU (21-13-2 overall, 17-10-1 CCHA) is ranked in the USCHO.com national poll for the first time since Nov. 4. The Spartans garnered 47 votes this week, placing them No. 15 in the 15-team poll.
MSU is also No. 15 in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine ranking, earning 24 votes.
Impermeable
Liles didn't score on his Senior Night, but not for lack of trying.
"I got the post once, and I think I hit (freshman left wing David) Booth a couple times in front," Liles said. "I told him to just fall down the next time I shot."
No cigar
Liles and Fast finished sixth and 12th, respectively, in online fan voting for the Hobey Baker Award.
Ferris State forward Chris Kunitz won the fan vote, meaning he will receive one of 61 votes to become a finalist for the award. All 60 Division I head coaches also have votes.
The 10 Hobey finalists will be announced March 20, and the third stage of fan voting starts the following day at www.voteforhobey.com.
They're Fretter than the rest
Freshman right wing Colton Fretter is the CCHA Rookie of the Week after a three-point weekend against Western Michigan. He also earned the honor in early December.
Fretter had two goals in Friday's 4-0 victory over Western Michigan, and he added an assist in Saturday's 8-5 win. His roommate, Booth, was also honored this week. Booth is one of four forwards on the CCHA All-Rookie Team after amassing 16 goals and 19 assists in his freshman campaign.
Smart guys
The honors kept on coming Tuesday, as six Spartans received academic accolades from the league. Fast, Ferguson and Hearon earned honorable mention on the CCHA All-Academic Team, while Markusen, Swistak and sophomore left wing Kevin Estrada were given special mention.
