How would you describe the No. 5 MSU hockey team?

In previous years, you might have called the Spartans underachievers and wanted to pull your hair out while watching games.

But that was in previous years.

If there's one thing the MSU hockey team has proven this season, it's that the Spartans are no fluke.

The Spartans are the definition of the word "team." Multiple players have stepped up this season with game-changing goals, hits and saves. As a team, the Spartans have proven they can compete and beat any team in the nation.

You still might want to pull your hair out during certain games or at least try to hide that nervous twitch you do when your heart is pumping from uneasiness, but you pull yourself together when you realize the result was what you wanted to see.

Now that hockey's postseason is upon us, the Spartans are set to make a run at the CCHA playoff championship and lock up a No. 1 seed in the 16-team NCAA Tournament in the process.

So how would you describe the Spartans this year?

Durable: Sophomore Chris Mueller, freshmen Tim Kennedy and Nick Sucharski and senior David Booth all missed significant time this season because of injuries. Needless to say, the Spartans went into a bit of a winless skid, and although the team was a little frustrated, they weren't desperate. Had they been desperate, would they have been able to go 14-3-3 since Jan. 1 after returning to full health? They could have let the low points of the season get the best of them, but this group stood up and gave the bad times one giant Rick James slap in the face.

Blue-collar: There's nothing flashy about the Spartans. They win games from working hard and playing well defensively. MSU has played some games that have been uglier than a victim of a Chuck Norris assault. It might not be all pretty hockey, but they find a way to get it done.

Deep: The MSU men's basketball team was criticized by a colleague of mine for having the depth of a kiddie pool. The icers, on the other hand, have four solid lines all capable of getting the job done. The Spartans have three defense pairings that can play in any situation and they have a hot goaltender in freshman Jeff Lerg. Aside from that, they have a handful of players watching from the stands in suits each night that are capable of stepping into the lineup. And don't think that junior goaltender Dominic Vicari can't fill in if needed to get the job done.

Grit: The Spartans aren't dirty, but the team isn't afraid to lay into a body and muck it up in the corners. If they're getting bumped around on the ice, don't for one second think that they aren't going to bump back.

Resiliency: How did MSU respond after dropping game one to Alaska Fairbanks in the CCHA playoffs? It wasn't by wrapping their knuckles in tinfoil and calling the Hanson brothers for help against the dirty, sometimes cheap Nanooks. It was simply by shaking off the rust and sending them back to Fairbanks on the red-eye flight. Previous Spartans teams might have folded and lost the series. Not this year's team.

Determination: Any player on the team will tell you that they're unsatisfied. They don't care if they're highly ranked and on par for a No. 1 seed in the national tournament — it doesn't matter to them. What matters to them is continued success. Continued success this weekend at Joe Louis Arena when playing for the CCHA playoff title and continued success in the national tournament.

So what do you get when you put together durability, hard work, depth, grit, resiliency and determination?

Danger.

Eric Fish is the State News hockey reporter. Reach him at fisheric@msu.edu.