The State News recently caught up with sophomore defenseman Brandon Gentile. Gentile and the Spartans leave today for the Frozen Four in St. Louis, where they will play Maine at 4 p.m. Thursday.

The State News: What kind of music do you listen to while getting ready for a game?

Brandon Gentile: Whatever the guys are playing on the CD player. I'm more of an old rock (fan), stuff like that. AC/DC, stuff like that … Ted Nugent.

SN: Do you have a favorite teammate to pick on or is there anyone who picks on you a lot?

BG: Obviously (junior forward) Zak McClellan and (sophomore forward) Dan Sturges are the jokesters on the team, but I live with (sophomore goaltender Steve) Mnich. We're always poking fun at him and stuff like that just because he's a goalie. We just give him crap and stuff. It's all fun.

SN: Do you have any pregame superstitions?

BG: Whatever works at the time, I'll just keep doing that until it stops. Putting on my gear, I always put my left side of all my equipment on first. Left shin pad, then right. Then left skate, then right. That's my main thing. That's a major one. All the other ones, if it's working, I'll go with it. If we lose, I'll stop.

SN: Anything working right now?

BG: I can't even remember (laughs). I can't even remember, it's been a week and a half between games. I'll probably remember when we get going again, but nothing major that sticks out now.