MSU head coach Rick Comley said he likes who he has coming back and coming in for the Spartans next season.
"We had a lot of young guys gain great experience this year that should be better next year," Comley said last week.
"I think we have an outstanding senior class next year that is really going to help the hockey team. We're supplementing the returning kids with some very good incoming players. It certainly is a good group."
With a balanced variety of returning players, Comley has added some talent to compensate for this year's graduating seniors and weaknesses from last year, signing six players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period last fall and working to recruit others in recent weeks.
Three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender have been inked and most are expected to make an immediate impact.
Justin Abdelkader of the USHL's Cedar Rapids Rough Riders will add size, strength and scoring to the MSU lineup.
This season, his first with the Rough Riders, Abdelkader posted 21 goals and 23 assists in 50 games to rank fourth on the team in scoring.
"He's an extremely hard worker," Rough Riders head coach Mark Carlson said.
"He's physical, but he can score. He's going to be a heck of a player - Spartan fans are going to love him."
Tim Kennedy of the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers and Nick Sucharski of the OPJHL's Wexford Raiders will complete the incoming Spartans forwards.
Kennedy and Sucharski have both proven that they can put up points in their respective junior leagues. Kennedy also is a close friend of current freshman forward Chris Mueller.
Brandon Gentile from the U.S. National Under-18 Team and Ryan Turek of the USHL's Omaha Lancers are the future Spartans freshmen blue liners signed to letters of intent.
"I would expect Gentile to play and be a very good player for us," Comley said. "Gentile will be a key player next year."
Jeff Lerg will be the lone goaltender coming into the program. Although only 5-foot-6, Lerg leads the USHL in shutouts.
Lerg is the cousin of current freshman forward Bryan Lerg and also the current teammate of Turek on the Omaha Lancers.
"I think Jeff Lerg coming in is going to add depth to the goaltending position," Comley said of the incoming netminder.
Lerg will come into the program as a backup to current sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari.
Aside from the six that have been inked to national letters of intent, Comley said the team currently is talking to probable recruits Kurt Kivisto and Matt Shouneyia of the NAHL's Cleveland Barons.
Despite reports from various sources that the two committed to play for the Spartans, Comley said nothing is official yet.
Comley will be on the road recruiting for upcoming years until the middle of May. The Spartans will begin the 2005-06 season in October.
Former Spartans to compete in World Championships
Former Spartans standouts John-Michael Liles and Mike York have been selected to represent Team USA in the upcoming World Hockey Championships.
Liles wore the green and white from 1999-2003 before becoming a permanent fixture in the Colorado Avalanche's defensive lineup, where he posted 34 points in his rookie NHL season of 2003-04.
York donned the Spartans jersey from 1995-99 and will continue playing for the Edmonton Oilers when the NHL resumes.
York and Liles both played for the Iserlohn Roosters in Germany this season to keep busy during the NHL lockout.
