If this isn't the year to follow MSU hockey, then I don't know when is.
Much like the men's basketball team, this is a team I expect to "go places" in quest of claiming a conference crown and receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Both look great on paper, but both have a lot to prove.
Just a few seasons ago, the hockey team was riding high on their recent successes.
Rewind to 2000-01 when sophomore goaltender Ryan Miller's Hobey Baker Award-winning year led the Spartans to their second straight CCHA title en route a trip to the Frozen Four, MSU's second appearance in just three seasons. Miller became just the second goaltender in win the Hobey Baker, college hockey's top honor, and the team looked forward to a replica year.
The following season brought some finalities as it was Ron Mason's last year as MSU's head coach after 23 years and Miller announced his decision to forego his senior year following the season. This also was the year MSU set a modern-day attendance record at a hockey game with the outdoor "Cold War" at Spartan Stadium to kick off the 2000-01 season.
In the next year, with Mason assuming athletic director, Rick Comley took over as head coach. The team, which graduated leading scorers John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast after the season, did not make a post-season appearance for the first time in nine years.
Last season the icers made it back to the NCAA Tournament only to be shellacked, 5-0, by Minnesota Duluth.
This is a program rich in tradition. Take a walk inside Munn Ice Arena and look at the plaques, banners and trophies. Names like Mike Donnelly, Jason Woolley, Shawn Horcoff and Anson Carter show the team's storied history, and the commitment to excellence MSU hockey brings forth. The players of yesterday have passed on the torch to the Vicaris, Booths and Potters.
Only three players are absent from last year's squad - Joe Markusen and Steve Swistak due to graduation, and Brock Radunske who left school early for a professional contract. This means the team has good experience.
They also have a solid, big-sized senior class, which they lacked last season with only two seniors - an area Comley said on different occasions was important in a successful squad. They'll be looked upon to take the reins and run with it, so to speak.
Sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari had an impressive rookie season, earning the best CCHA goaltender award and earned a gold medal with the U.S. National Junior Team over winter break. He posted two shutouts against Michigan - including one at Joe Louis Arena. He's shown the poise of a veteran, but at times he's shown his inexperience. He struggled in game one of the conference playoff as MSU squeaked by Ferris State, 6-4.
The Spartans failed to get past Northern Michigan in the conference quarterfinals and Vicari was pulled in the game against Minnesota Duluth. But no doubt, his experience in playoff play, will is valuable and expect another strong season for this net-minder. If he should falter any time, senior Matt Migliaccio is a more than capable of stepping in right away.
Forward Jim Slater is back for his final year as the Spartans' leader, one of last year's Hobey Baker finalists, the heart and soul of the team. Penalty kill? Power play? Any game situation - you bet Slater's out there. He could've bolted early for the Atlanta Thrashers, but he didn't.
But it's the hunger and will to win a championship that drives him, which is sure to rub off onto his teammates. If he continues to play the way he did last season, he'll again lead the team in points, be one of the top players in college hockey and again be a finalist for the Hobey Baker.
With sophomore defenseman A.J. Thelen emerging and if the Spartans stay injury free, there's a lot to like about this year's team.
It's time to sharpen the dull skate blade and dust of the uniforms - hockey's around the corner and a spark of MSU's past might be back to shine this season.
Esther Gim is a copt editor at the State News. She can be reached at gimesthe@msu.edu.
