Kris Koski's senior season has been filled with uncertainty.

Sometimes he plays forward in practice, sometimes he plays defense. He rarely knows whether he'll play - or even travel - until after he completes a full week of grueling practices.

The Schaumburg, Ill., native wasn't even sure what to do during his Senior Night festivities Saturday.

Koski was the first Spartan player to be introduced, so he had no precedent to follow. As public address announcer Jerry Marshall broadcast his career highlights to the Munn Ice Arena crowd, Koski stood and listened in the MSU players' tunnel.

But something other than Marshall's voice was also audible to Koski - the MSU underclassmen shouting, "Go! Go! Go!" from the adjacent bench.

He was tardy in heading out for his ceremonial, spotlighted lap around the rink.

And in his haste to make up for lost time, he skated past the bench and committed the cardinal sin of Senior Night.

"I forgot to give five to all my teammates," Koski said. "Then I wanted to go back and do it and I couldn't. I got a little discombobulated out there.

"I was pretty nervous."

That's the way it has gone for Koski, 23, in his senior season. The 6-foot-4, 224-pounder has played just three times this year after participating in 80 games during his first three seasons with the Spartans.

Koski, a right wing by trade, played against Michigan Tech on Dec. 29 and earned a nod for the next game, at Lake Superior State on Jan. 3.

But the Spartans suffered their most embarrassing loss of the season that night - a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of the lowly Lakers - and Koski didn't make it back to the lineup until Saturday.

MSU head coach Rick Comley said Koski simply hasn't been as good as freshman right wing Chad Hontvet, his main competition for playing time. Hontvet has played 13 games this year, usually when Comley wants to add a physical force to the lineup.

"If a freshman is a little bit better than older players, you're going to give the freshman more time to see whether you can take him to the next level," Comley said. "Kris is a great kid, he works hard, he comes every day, but when I evaluate talent, I don't rate him as high as the players who have played."

But Comley appreciates that Koski hasn't sulked about not playing much this season. In fact, the player has willingly switched to playing defense in practice to help out.

"I understand how it is," Koski said. "As you move up in sports, it's all about winning, so you have to stick with what wins. It's not easy, but it's something you learn to deal with as you grow older.

"I feel I've still gotten better - I've learned a lot about the game. I'm taking a lot from my years here."

On the ice, physicality is the hallmark of Koski's game. Going by listed measurements, he's the heaviest and second-tallest player on the team.

And during his first shift on Senior Night, he made himself known to Western Michigan defenseman Mike Jarmuth. After Jarmuth advanced the puck out of the Bronco zone, Koski rushed in and leveled him with an open-ice body check.

"It's a good way to get yourself into it," Koski said. "It sets you up for looking for hits the rest of the game. I like to bring a little bit of emotion to the team."

Koski has taken five shots this season, but has recorded no other statistics. For his career, he has two goals (both as a freshman), three assists and 38 penalty minutes in 83 games. His first career marker was a game-winner against Michigan at Joe Louis Arena.

Koski will graduate with a communication degree this year. He hasn't ruled out pursuing a pro hockey career, but he admitted he has his first interview for a "real job," with an investment company this week.

Odds are, Koski won't play again for MSU. When he looks back at his collegiate career, he said he'll think of his teammates first and foremost.

"You spend so much time with these guys, they're like brothers," Koski said. "It's like one big family to me.

"It's pretty tough to say goodbye."