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.
Ryan Miller was born a Spartan, and now he’s being enshrined as one as well. Miller, along with four other former Spartan athletes, will join the ranks of MSU’s Athletics Hall of Fame as the 2013 class.
Kip Miller can remember just about every time he’s put on a jersey at Munn Ice Arena. The third generation MSU hockey player, who played from 1986-1990, will join four other former Spartan greats, including his cousin Ryan Miller, as the 2013 inductees for the Spartan Hall of Fame.
Former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame today, along with fellow Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan and Anehiem Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer. Both of Chris’ sons, Jake and Dean, play hockey for MSU.
The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks are set to compete for the Stanley Cup starting on Wednesday, and two former Spartans — one from each team — are entering the fray.
Former MSU hockey player Torey Krug has so far had a storybook start to his NHL career. After being called up from the AHL’s Providence Bruins into the thick of Stanley Cup playoff hockey on May 16, the 22-year-old rookie has outplayed many of the veterans.
Former MSU hockey player Torey Krug has made an immediate impact for the Boston Bruins amidst the ongoing battle for Lord Stanley.
As a junior defenseman in 2012, Torey Krug lead the Spartans to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008.
Champions have been crowned, nets have been cut to shreds and the final buzzer has sounded for MSU winter athletics, bringing despair to some Spartans whose seasons ended too soon and sweet relief to others whose seasons couldn’t end soon enough.
Tom Anastos has closed the book on his second season with the MSU hockey program.
When Tom Anastos didn’t get the call, he knew something was up. It was September 2010, and Anastos — now the MSU hockey coach — was serving as commissioner of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, or CCHA — one of the most historically successful hockey leagues in the U.S. Penn State just announced it received an $88 million donation, which eventually turned into $102 million, to start Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs. The CCHA had a spot open with 11 teams in the league, three of which belonged to nearby Big Ten schools.
It’s a bittersweet ending. Before Sunday’s game, the MSU hockey team was told by head coach Tom Anastos to “empty the tank” Sunday night. They had to play with the awareness that the season rested on the outcome, forcing them to leave it all on the ice.
It was a mucky hard-fought series at Steve Cady Arena this weekend, but the Spartans couldn’t manage to pull past the No. 3 Miami (Ohio), as a 4-1 loss in the CCHA playoffs sealed the end of the MSU hockey season.
When the MSU hockey team steps on the ice Sunday night, its season sits on the line for the second time in one week.
Oxford, Ohio— MSU hockey started Saturday’s CCHA playoff game in a similar fashion as Friday’s win: with a goal by freshman forward Matt DeBlouw from junior linemate Greg Wolfe.
MSU hockey started Saturday’s CCHA playoff game in a similar fashion as Friday’s win: with a goal by freshman forward Matt DeBlouw from junior linemate Greg Wolfe.
The MSU hockey team will take the ice Saturday against Miami (Ohio) for the second consecutive night with hopes of a trip to Joe Louis Arena hanging in sight.
This season — especially during the rough patches — freshman goaltender Jake Hildebrand kept MSU hockey in many games.