Saturday will be the final time six MSU seniors touch the ice for a regular season hockey game at Munn Ice Arena. Here are thank-you notes addressed to each of the seniors for their tenures at MSU and what each brought to the team:
The MSU hockey team was red hot entering Saturday’s game at Bowling Green. After defeating the Falcons 3-2 on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena, the Spartans were riding a five-game unbeaten streak.
Bowling Green, Ohio — Saturday’s game was a first and a last for Bowling Green senior goaltender Jimmy Spratt. In the Falcons 4-0 victory over the MSU hockey team, Spratt earned his first career home shutout during his last game at BGSU Ice Arena.
After each goal scored by the MSU hockey team, members of the Spartan Brass take a celebratory lap around Munn Ice Arena with their instruments. But when MSU scored its third goal of the night, the band didn’t start the lap at their usual rallying point. Instead, they were 50 feet away from their section – trying to make it back from an MSU goal that was scored only 26 seconds earlier.
It’s once again that time to guess the outcome of this weekend’s games with the State News prognosticators.
Nobody wants to finish in last place. But with the 10th place MSU hockey team playing a home-and-home series against last place Bowling Green this weekend, it’s not farfetched to say the loser of the weekend might finish at the bottom of the pile in the CCHA this season.
Scoring first has been the catalyst for the success of the MSU hockey team of late. The Spartans have scored the first goal in each of the last five games, going 2-1-2 in that span — earning seven points to pull into a tie for 10th place in the CCHA.
The MSU hockey team had the towel in hand. After being pushed around, pummeled and knocked down time and time again this season, it would have been easy to simply toss in the towel and prepare for the next fight — or next season.
As the losses have piled up this season, the MSU hockey team has become accustomed to returning to the locker room after a game in poor spirits. But after Saturday’s 2-1 win and Friday’s 1-1 tie and shootout victory against No. 16 Ohio State, the Spartans had a reason to celebrate on Valentine’s Day.
The MSU hockey found some love this Valentine’s Day. With Saturday’s 2-1 victory over No. 16 Ohio State, the Spartans earned a four point weekend for the first time since Nov. 1.
With the final minute of the game slowly creeping by, it seemed like freshman forward Brett Perlini was going to be the hero of the night for the MSU hockey team. But a win wasn’t going to be that easy for the Spartans. Not today – not on Friday the 13th.
MSU hockey head coach Rick Comley thinks his team’s recent schedule cluster is the toughest in the CCHA this season. After this weekend the Spartans will have played 12 conference games against three of the top four teams in the league — all of which are ranked in the top 20.
Imagine spending your whole life dreaming of scoring goals and thinking up new moves to trick defensemen. Then imagine being flipped into the complete opposite role mid-season late in your hockey career. That’s exactly what forward-turned-defenseman Kurt Kivisto has done this season.
It’s all smiles around Munn Ice Arena this week. Maybe it’s the unusually warm weather, the first 3-point weekend since Nov. 1, or the two upcoming home games this weekend, but the mood surrounding the MSU hockey team is upbeat.
It’s no secret the MSU hockey team hasn’t caught many breaks this season. So Saturday, the team did what it needed to — scratching and clawing its way to a gritty 1-0 win over Ferris State at Ewigleben Ice Arena.
Big Rapids — For a second consecutive night, senior goaltender Jeff Lerg came through with an effort good enough to lead the MSU hockey team to victory — only this time, the Spartans were able to hold on to an early lead.
In years past, a tie with Ferris State would not be looked upon as a successful outcome for the MSU hockey team. But in the midst of a tough season — one that includes winless streaks of 11 and, currently, six games — any point is a good point for the Spartans. Despite losing a 2-0 lead for the second straight game and losing the shootout 2-1, MSU head coach Rick Comley will certainly settle for the point the 2-2 tie brings his team.
It’s once again that time to guess the outcome of this weekend’s games with the State News prognosticators.
The comforting confines of the locker room and the shouts of encouragement from friendly fans have become distant memories for the MSU hockey team.
All signs are pointing to the return of Corey Tropp to the MSU hockey team next season. Tropp is coming back to school to take classes and stay eligible for a possible reinstatement to the team at the conclusion of this season. If reinstated, he will be a junior.