Taking a six-game unbeaten streak on the road, the No. 15 MSU hockey team (6-3-1 overall, 5-2-1 CCHA) travels to Miami (0H) for a weekend series in Oxford, Ohio.
The RedHawks (5-5-2, 3-2-1) have been on a surge themselves, staying unbeaten in their last three contests.
Last time the Spartans and RedHawks faced off, Miami spoiled the night in East Lansing, winning 5-3 last January.
In two road contests this season, against Western Michigan and Ferris State, the Spartans are a perfect 2-0. MSU head coach Rick Comley sees the trip to Miami as yet another test in a long line of them this season, making playing away from Munn Ice Arena the least of his worries.
"I think we've had plenty of tests," Comley said. "At Western is tough; at Ferris is really, really tough. Miami is a very good offensive team with an excellent power play, and obviously we struggle killing penalties.
"So it's their strength against our weakness, you don't like that match-up."
MSU junior captain Jim Slater is on the same wavelength as Comley. Slater said the road contests at two of the CCHA's loudest arenas serve as tutorials to road games for the young team.
"Going into Western, winning there, and going to Ferris the next weekend and winning there, we've pretty much played in the two toughest environments that you can play at on the road," Slater said. "I'm sure we're going to be just as ready.
"It's good to go to Western first and then Ferris just to get used to it for the freshman. We won both on the road, and we want to keep the streak going there."
Dry ink
Comley received binding commitments from two junior hockey players for his 2004 recruiting class Wednesday.
Peder Skinner, a forward from Mississauga, Ont., and defenseman Daniel Vukovic of Toronto, Ont. each signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Spartans next fall.
Last season with the St. Michael's Buzzers of the Ontario Provincial Junior "A" Hockey League, Skinner and Vukovic tallied 50 and 30 points, respectively.
In 24 games this season, Skinner has 42 points (16 goals and 26 assists), ranking him second on the team.
"Peder is a highly skilled forward," Comley said.
"He is only about 5-8, but he skates and moves the puck well. He knows how to distribute the puck and has a way of making the other players around him better."
Playing in only 19 games this season, Vukovic has 14 points (3 goals and 11 assists).
"He is a young, talented defenseman," Comley said. "He has excellent skills, sees the ice extremely well and is a physical player. He is a very well-rounded player, as he can play on either the power play or penalty kill."
