Riding the bear.

That's been the superstitious motto of the MSU hockey team's recent five-game winning streak after a goofball bear hat purchased by senior captain Jim Slater at an airport in Alaska has proven to be an unlikely good luck charm.

"I was going to get a wolf one," Slater said. "But the people there were telling me to get the bear hat."

Slater has worn it to the rink the past five games, and MSU has come away with wins during the duration of the hat's presence. Needless to say, the bear hat has become a respected item to the players.

"He has worn it and we've been winning, so you can't really deny that it hasn't been working," sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari said.

"It's funny. I think it kind of loosens up the mood a little bit in the locker room."

Slater also has worn the same tie, pants and purple shirt to games during the team's streak. Slater said his clothes haven't been washed since the winning streak started.

Mr. Clutch

Junior forward Colton Fretter scored many important goals in his breakout year this season, and he came through again on his 23rd birthday Saturday when his team needed him most.

Fretter scored the game-tying and game-winning goals in a 5-4 overtime win over Miami (Ohio).

"That was one of the biggest games we've played all year," Fretter said after Saturday's win.

"Being down two goals with seven, eight minutes left in the game - that's just huge for our team to come back from that. It just shows the kind of character we had, and that's what we need to be a championship team."

Just as important as his overtime winner against Michigan to win the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament, his game-winner Saturday avoided a game three against the RedHawks in the best-of-three first-round CCHA playoffs and sent the Spartans to the CCHA Super Six.

Fretter is second in scoring with 42 points, a big turnaround from the 17 points he posted in his sophomore season.

Finding his touch

Junior forward Chad Hontvet scored the first two goals of his collegiate career in Friday's 2-1 game one win over the RedHawks.

Hontvet appeared in eight games this season and recorded only one point on his season stat sheet up until Friday.

"In the playoffs, you need everyone to step up," Hontvet said. "Now we're going to a one-game shot, so everyone needs to be at their best, and whoever can get the puck in the net, that's what you need."

Hontvet's goals came via the power play and helped secure a victory in game one of the first-round playoffs against Miami.