Although he stands between the pipes at a less than intimidating 5-foot-6, freshman goaltender Jeff Lerg has given college hockey teams plenty of reason to fear him.
"That's kind of what my point is to everyone when I get on the ice," Lerg said. "The opposing teams, all the opposing players, they look at me and probably think this is going to be an easy night.
"Every time I get out there, I want to send a message to the other team that it's not going to be easy."
The Livonia native played every game for the No. 14 Spartans in January, compiling a 6-2-2 record for the month including two shutouts.
Lerg opened the month leading the Spartans in weekend sweeps against Wayne State and Alaska Fairbanks.
He was then the choice of MSU head coach Rick Comley to face rival Michigan. He blanked the Wolverines to a 2-0 win.
"That was probably the best feeling I've had in awhile from hockey," Lerg said. "It was a big game for us. We were just starting to play well.
"Obviously when we shut out Michigan in front of a home crowd, it was a really good feeling."
Lerg's next two games came in the familiar territory of Omaha, Neb. — where he played two years of junior hockey for the Omaha Lancers and raked in numerous USHL awards.
Although he was in Nebraska as a Spartan this time, Lerg received cheers and a warm welcome from Mavericks fans, fitting for the place that taught him the most about the game.
"That was probably the best thing that I ever could have done," Lerg said about playing for the Lancers. "That program is just unreal. Losing wasn't an option there, and playing bad any game of the year wasn't an option there.
"That kind of gave me the mentality that I have now. They took it more as a business out there."
Lerg has been praised by teammates for his effort in practice and nonstop work ethic. That devotion has earned him a 2.04 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in 18 games.
In the process, Lerg has left little playing time for junior Dominic Vicari — the player who he hoped to compete for playing time with.
Comley said he was close to starting Vicari for the Jan. 21 contest in Omaha and the Jan. 24 game against Ferris State, but opted to go with the hot hand.
Comley said Vicari has been handling the situation professionally.
"It's very difficult obviously, and it's hard for anybody to handle it perfect," Comley said. "But I have no complaints at all with how he's dealt with it."
Lerg said that he has benefited from the encouragement of Vicari.
"He and I can't control who goes in the lineup," Lerg said. "I supported him when he was playing a lot more at the beginning of the year, and he's been supporting me when I've been in."
As for playing games, however, that's one aspect of the game that Lerg hopes to continue. That is what he came here to do.
"I just got to roll with it and take advantage," he said.
