This isn't the first time Findlay hockey head coach Pat Ford has been a part of the Ice Breaker Tournament against MSU.
Findlay's second-year coach was a part of the inaugural tournament in Madison, Wis., as a Badgers assistant in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Spartans in 1997.
The 1997 loss isn't Ford's only connection to the green-and-white. When MSU head coach Rick Comley was the head coach at Northern Michigan, Ford served as an assistant through the 1992-94 seasons.
Tonight, the ex-benchmates will skate their teams in the seventh annual Ice Breaker Tournament's second game at 8 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena. The first contest places No. 4 Boston College against No. 15 Minnesota-Duluth at 5 p.m. Saturday night will showcase the third-place game at 5 p.m. followed by the Ice Breaker Championship at 8 p.m.
If both teams mirror each other Friday night, it should come as little surprise. Ford said his team encompasses some of the characteristics a hockey fan expects from a Comley-coached club.
"I would have to say, in many respects, it is," Ford said of his team's Comley-like style. "I learned a tremendous amount from Rick as far as game strategy. As a bench coach, he is second to none.
"He's obviously solid in every area, but he has that uncanny ability to know who is playing well and which combinations to put out, and matchups - and that's the biggest thing I took away from Rick Comley."
Liles in Colorado
Ex-MSU blueline defenseman John-Michael Liles has been named to the Colorado Avalanche's season-opening roster.
Liles is one of four rookies slated to the 23-man roster made Sunday in preparation for tonight's contest with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Last season, Liles led the Spartans in scoring and was named the CCHA's Best Offensive Defenseman and All-American twice throughout his career.
Comley said he wasn't surprised that Liles made the roster since Avalanche head coach Tony Granato has a college-hockey mind.
"My concern was more if they would give (Liles) a chance," Comley said. "I think if it would have been an ex-pro coach, he wouldn't have made it. The fact that it's Granato, who played at Wisconsin and knows college hockey very, very well, he would be very intrigued by JM's skill and ability to run power plays."
Slater leaving?
With the tragic death of Atlanta Thrashers center Dan Snyder on Sunday and the legal uncertainty of Thrashers forward Dany Heatley, whose car crash resulted in Snyder's death, the team could be in personnel troubles.
Heatley is possibly out for the season with a knee injury.
This could leave MSU junior captain Jim Slater, who was drafted by the Thrashers in the first round and was No. 30 overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, as a viable candidate. But the 6-foot Lapeer native was quick to keep his MSU allegiances known and his chance to play in the NHL on hold Thursday afternoon.
"I said to myself before I came here that I came here for four years and that's what my plan still is," Slater said.
