After sophomore forward Brock Radunske scored his first career hat trick Friday night, he jokingly said he had the puck on his stick so much because his linemates had owed him a couple passes.
It was a valid point.
Radunske, a 6-foot-4, 203-pounder, has been the MSU hockey team's most dangerous play-maker during the last month. His creative, unselfish passing abilities have opened the doors for two of the most torrid Spartans - his linemates, sophomore center Lee Falardeau and senior left wing Brian Maloney.
Radunske has eight assists in his last eight games, including helpers on two game-winners. His long body frame, deceptive speed and sharp ice vision allow him to get the puck to teammates in creative ways.
"On a goal I had earlier this year, he drew like two or three guys over to him and then he dished it to me," Falardeau said. "I was pretty much wide open. He takes a lot of the pressure off me and Maloney.
"He's a heads-up passer. And they're rarely bobbled passes - they're usually ones you can handle."
Even after his three-goal effort Friday, Radunske was still thinking about setting up his teammates.
"I was looking to pass, but everyone was covered, so shooting was my only other option," Radunske said of his first goal, scored on a tough angle from along the goal line. "Maybe all their (defensemen) thought I was going to pass."
Music man
Although Maloney will be gone next year, at least one of his contributions to MSU's program will probably live on.
Maloney helped MSU head coach Rick Comley choose "Sirius" by the Alan Parsons Project to be the team's theme song during player introductions. The song is often associated with the NBA's Chicago Bulls, who also use it during introductions.
"I don't know why Coach picked me, but he just pulled me aside into his office," Maloney said. "He had a stack of CDs and he was playing them and just saying, 'I like that one, I like that one!'
"I don't even think he needed me there, because he picked it anyway. He was asking me what I think, and I was like, 'Whatever, sounds good.' It only lasts five seconds anyway."
Comley decided to add music to the pregame routine to generate a little more noise at Munn Ice Arena, notoriously one of the quietest buildings in the league.
Injury update
Sophomore right wing Mike Lalonde, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee Saturday, is out roughly four weeks. At the earliest, Comley said the player would be back in action for the Frozen Four, April 10-12.
Lalonde is MSU's sixth-leading scorer with 31 points.
All dressed up in D-town
The annual CCHA Awards Banquet takes place tonight at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.
Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Daniels will host the event, at which several league-wide awards will be presented. Social hour starts at 7 p.m., followed by the awards presentation at 8 p.m.
Tickets are available for $10 and fans are encouraged to dress in business attire. Call (248)888-0600 for more information.
Surging Spartans
MSU (23-13-2) moved up a spot to No. 14 in both national polls this week. The Spartans are also No. 14 in the Pairwise Rankings, which projects the 16-team NCAA Tournament field.
