MSU shouldn't have any trouble slipping past the Joe Louis Arena metal detectors entering Friday's semifinals matchup against Michigan.
The Spartans failed to receive nominations for CCHA individual and team honors, which will make Thursday's CCHA awards banquet at the Fox Theatre in Detroit a forgettable one.
But the Spartans maintain that lack of recognition makes their performance in the CCHA tournament and their national ranking more impressive from a team perspective.
"We didn't have a single player who made the top three in any of the league awards or any of the all-star teams or anything," MSU head coach Rick Comley said after Saturday's 4-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha. "Nobody got a sniff. And we're one of four (teams remaining), so that's pretty good."
A few notable Spartans were left off the All-CCHA teams. Junior forward Bryan Lerg led the NCAA in game-winning goals with eight and the team in goals with 22, which also puts him sixth in the CCHA. Lerg also is tied with sophomore forward Tim Kennedy for the team lead in points with 34.
Sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg started all 36 games this season, finishing with a 2.40 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and three shutouts. He stopped 882 shots on the season, putting him third in the league behind U-M's Billy Sauer and Lake Superior State's Jeff Jakaitis.
Sophomore forward Justin Abdelkader, who represented the bronze medal-winning Team USA at the World Junior Championships in Sweden, finished the season with 27 points and has been considered one of the best defensive forwards in the league.
Getting defensive
Senior Tyler Howells has been the epitome of versatility this season, which was exemplified by his switch back to defense Saturday after several weeks of playing left wing.
Howells had requested to play defense two weeks ago, but Comley couldn't fit him into the defensive fold. Comley found space for Howells on Saturday and is glad he did.
"Howells, I thought, had an outstanding game," Comley said Saturday. "I don't think he was (one of the game's three) star (selections), but he was the first star of the hockey game."
Comley was unsure after Saturday's game whether or not Howells would be back on the blueline against U-M, but the picture was a little more clear Monday.
"Right now, I think I will leave Tyler there," Comley said. "I thought he was the difference in the hockey game.
"He added talent to the position."
