After a week off, the MSU hockey team returns to action with a home-and-home series with Western Michigan this weekend. The Spartans (3-5 overall) and Broncos (3-5-2, 2-2 NCHC) will face off at 7:05 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena on Friday night before heading to Kalamazoo, Mich., for a matchup at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Lawson Ice Arena.
The first trip to Houghton, MI in almost 30 years for the MSU hockey team was a series to forget, but for David Bondra, it was a journey he’ll never forget.
In their first trip to Michigan Tech in almost 30 years, the MSU hockey team came away with a pair of losses this weekend. The Spartans (3-5 overall) fell 3-0 on Friday night, followed by a 3-2 overtime loss to the Huskies (3-6-1 overall, 1-1 WCHA) on Saturday.
The MSU men’s hockey team is going to uncharted territory this weekend — at least for the last 29 years. The Spartans (3-3 overall) head to Houghton, Mich., for the first time since 1984 to take on Michigan Tech (1-6-1 overall, 1-1 WCHA) in a two-game series Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
Lee Reimer has caught the attention of Tom Anastos. After the first of a two-game weekend series sweep against American International, the head hockey coach called his senior forward the “unsung hero” of the season so far.
Mackenzie MacEachern tallied two goals as the MSU hockey team finished the weekend sweep of American International with a 4-0 win Sunday afternoon at Munn Ice Arena. Freshman forward Joe Cox netted his second career goal, and senior forward Greg Wolfe scored his team leading fifth in the Spartans (3-3-0 overall) third win in a row. “A more complete game tonight certainly makes us feel a little better,” head coach Tom Anastos said.
While most of East Lansing is dressed up and asking for free candy, the MSU hockey team is focused on winning, and that’s what they did Friday night against American International. The Spartans (2-3-0 overall) beat the Yellow Jackets (1-2-0 overall, 1-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) 5-4 in the first game of a two game set.
As focus turns to the biggest rivalry at MSU, Tom Anastos is focused on a team he’s never seen before.
There are few challenges harder in sports than comeback from an injury, but two members of the MSU hockey team worked together to get back on the ice. Senior forward Dean Chelios and redshirt freshman defender Rhett Holland both sat out all or most of last year after suffering shoulder injuries. Holland saw action in just three games last season.
One win against a top-15 opponent, and two players scoring their first collegiate goal. Overall, it was a good weekend for the MSU hockey team (1-3 overall). MSU lost to preseason No. 1, and currently No. 18-ranked UMass-Lowell Friday night before scoring three goals in the third period to upset No. 13 Boston University on Saturday.
Three goals in the third period lifted the MSU hockey team to a 3-1 upset of No. 14 Boston University Saturday night. Goals from junior forward Bent Darnell and freshman forward Joe Cox were the difference as the Spartans (1-3 overall) won their first game of the season.
After a disappointing opening weekend that saw the MSU hockey team lose a pair of games against UMass, they hope to bounce back as they hit the ice at home for the first time this season. The Spartans (0-2 overall) take on No. 18 UMass-Lowell on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. and No. 13 Boston University on Oct. 26 at 7:05 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena.
The real games have finally arrived. The puck will drop on the new season for the MSU hockey team when they travel to Amherst, Mass., to take on UMass Friday and Saturday night.
Thomas Ebbing and Mackenzie MacEachern have been friends for years. Both hail from Troy, Mich., and played hockey at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. as well as the?Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League.
In the Spartans’ 4-1 exhibition win against Western Ontario, it wasn’t the seniors who had the biggest impact, but the underclassmen. All three stars were from the freshman and sophomore classes.
For Tom Anastos, it was nice to see the puck go in the net. In the hockey team’s first game of the 2013-14 campaign, a 4-1 exhibition win against Western Ontario, the Spartans put up 47 shots, when a season ago they averaged slightly more than 25 a game.
Welp, I’m 0-1 as a coach. At the MSU hockey Green and White game, head coach Tom Anastos asked yours truly and other members of the Lansing media to put down their notebooks and pick up a whistle.
A hot goaltender can make or break a team. Tim Thomas carried the Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011, and Jonathan Quick did the same for the Los Angeles Kings the following year.
Tom Anastos is a man who likes experience, and fortunately for him, this year’s MSU hockey team is gaining in that area. “This year, for the most part, we have guys that know what the expectations are,” Anastos said. “We have guys that have college experience now, where last year we didn’t have that.”
The last time the hockey team had more losses than last year’s 25-loss squad was the 1977-78 team, with 27. The 2012-13 team was coming off of its first playoff berth since the Spartans won the National Championship in 2007. However, with the graduation of nine seniors and Torey Krug’s departure to the NHL, MSU found itself with with a sizable incoming class with 10 true freshmen and two transfers.