The MSU hockey team kept with their scoring pace of an average 3.95 goals per game at the annual Green and White game at Munn Ice Arena on Thursday night.
Last season's average was virtually matched by the Green Team as it defeated the White Team, 3-2 - until the shootout.
The exhibition wasn't your average hockey game. It was played in an unorthodox style with a starting period of regular play for 24 minutes, followed by a 20-minute second period consisting of eight minutes of four-on-four with four 1.5-minute power plays per team and a game-ending shootout.
The rosters even included members of MSU Men's Club Hockey.
The actual final score was a 9-8 White Team comeback after it tallied four of the last five goals in the shootout on junior goalie Matt Migliaccio. Despite having to face the embarrassment of allowing so many goals, he was able to laugh it off postgame and give credit to the Green and White game's new format.
"It gives Coach a chance to look at the different players in different situations," Migliaccio said. "It gives a chance for us to work in different situations, also. It's a lot different than practice.
"I don't know if I like it because it gives a lot of close chances for a goalie, but it makes it fun and competitive and stuff like that."
For MSU coach Rick Comley, who didn't man either bench, the different game situations served as a tutorial for his youthful squad in the different phases of a game. It also was used to test the endurance levels his players will need during the CCHA season.
"I like intrasquad games because they're out there in game situations and they get tired," Comley said. "They never get real tired, they don't get game tired. No matter what you do with them you can't create that. With so many freshmen on this team, they need to see a game environment and I thought that happened tonight."
On the freshman side of the puck, the experience on the ice in a game-type situation was exciting. Freshman goaltender Dominic Vicari, who Comley said will split net-minding duties with Migliaccio on Sunday against the University of Windsor and next week against the University of Findlay, said the Green and White game's style was great preparation for larger opponents but also was leisurely in ways.
"When you do have a shootout, it's usually five guys, not 15 to 20," Vicari said with a smile. "It was a little bit of challenge; it was all in good fun. It wasn't that serious - guys were joking around."
The Green Team ignited the Spartans' season when sophomore forward David Booth notched the first goal of exhibition play from assists from defensemen sophomore Corey Potter and senior assistant captain Joe Markusen.
Junior MSU Club forward Justin Price tapped the puck back from behind the net to junior forward Joe Swistak, who notched a goal just past the right side post, giving the Green Team a 2-0 edge in the first period's 11th minute.
Down 2-0, the White team answered as sophomore forward Colton Fretter struck a slap shot from a few feet inside the blue line off assists from junior forward Ash Goldie and freshman defenseman Brandon Warner.
The moves cut the Green lead in half.
The power-play portion of the contest saw only one goal in the White Team's first try by junior Lee Falardeau. The remaining power plays ended in penalty kills.
In the shootout, 12 players registered goals and the White Team achieved bragging rights until next October.
The Spartans' next contest is a home exhibition against Windsor at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Munn. The regular season begins at home against Findlay in the Ice Breaker Tournament on Oct. 10.
Tickets still available
MSU is offering the sale of public season hockey tickets for the first time in more than 20 years. There has been a reduction in the number of complimentary hockey tickets, so approximately 200 season tickets still are available. The remaining tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today.
MSU Athletics Director Ron Mason said the reduction of complimentary tickets opens the opportunity to bring new fans to Munn Ice Arena and revive the rich hockey tradition on campus.
Tickets for the 27-game home schedule cost $486 and are available at the Spartan Ticket Office at (517) 355-1610 or at www.msuspartans.com.
