Even as the No. 20 MSU hockey team has started to gather national recognition, head coach Tom Anastos knows his team is far from polished. The weekend split against Northern Michigan illuminated both his team’s triumphs in Friday’s 4-2 win and a lack of mental toughness that led to Saturday’s 2-1 loss on the road. With No.
The MSU hockey team continued CCHA play this weekend in Marquette, Mich., earning a split against No.
Several weeks ago, there were doubts of where the MSU hockey team’s season was headed. Coming off a sweep at the hands of Lake Superior State and opening the season at 1-3-0, it looked like the first season of the Tom Anastos era would be a trying one.
As Tom Anastos and the MSU hockey team walked out of Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo on Saturday, there was a sense of appreciation in what the team was able to accomplish. The No.
Facing one of the toughest weekends of the season, the MSU hockey team turned the tables on No. 5 Western Michigan.
As the MSU hockey team prepares to take on No. 5 ranked Western Michigan, being a mentally tough opponent is just as important as being physically tough. After a week off from game action, the Spartans will open up a two-game series on the road this Friday and Saturday at the unfriendly confines of Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo.
Even as the MSU hockey team looks ahead to the Western Michigan series, it has to look back on a tough week of practice. The team lost freshman Branden Carney for the season as he suffered a fracture to his C1 and C2 vertebrae last week.
MSU hockey defenseman Branden Carney sustained a serious neck injury in practice Thursday at Munn Ice Arena.
With more than a week before the MSU hockey team sees game action, a break is being welcomed with open arms. After receiving an outpouring of offense in a sweep against Robert Morris at Munn Ice Arena during the past weekend, the Spartans have time to catch their breath before turning their sights to Western Michigan (Nov.
Just one night after witnessing linemate Greg Wolfe flash his fangs and strike fear into Robert Morris’ goaltending, Lee Reimer took his turn on Saturday night. The sophomore forward notched his first career hat trick and added two assists to power the MSU hockey team past RMU, 6-2, Saturday night.
It wasn’t pretty, but the MSU hockey team did what it took to get the job done on its home ice. Despite MSU racking up 12 penalties, sophomore forward Greg Wolfe led the way with two goals and an assist, as the Spartans got the most out of their offensive depth and would overpower Robert Morris, 5-2, Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. “Our whole team did a really good job of blocking shots and clearing pucks on the penalty kill,” Wolfe said.
After a late-week split with Ohio State, the Spartans will open up a series this Friday and Saturday with Robert Morris at Munn Ice Arena. Both games will start at 7:05 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena.
Following a late-week split in the Ohio State series, head coach Tom Anastos is beginning to see his players make progress.
The MSU hockey team did its best Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde impression in its two-game series against Ohio State late last week. In the regular season home opener at Munn Ice Arena on Thursday, the Spartans rode the strong play of senior goalkeeper Drew Palmisano to down Ohio State, 3-0.
One of the major flaws of the MSU hockey team this season has been making mistakes that turn into goals for the opposing team. Following a 3-0 shutout win Thursday night, the Spartans made some costly errors that turned into goals late and they would fall to Ohio State at Munn Ice Arena, 5-2. “Ohio State came out real hard, as we expected that they would,” head coach Tom Anastos said.
After a disappointing start to the season, it appears a little home cooking was all Tom Anastos and the MSU hockey team needed. In the regular season home opener at Munn Ice Arena on Thursday, the Spartans got a strong performance from senior goalkeeper Drew Palmisano along with three combined goals from three different players to shut down Ohio State, 3-0. “Overall, I thought that was a good team victory,” junior defenseman Torey Krug said.
The Spartans (1-3-0, 0-2-0 CCHA) return home this week to face off against CCHA opponent Ohio State (2-2, 1-1 CCHA) at Munn Ice Arena. Although MSU holds a forceful all-time series lead (81-25-8), it enters the game looking to make a statement against a formidable conference opponent.
With a change in staff and personnel, the team has had some noticeable growing pains early in the year. Even as they continue to build, Anastos wants to focus on correcting costly mistakes and forcing other teams to make mistakes of their own.
Late scoring and mistakes ultimately doomed the Spartans this weekend as they were swept in two games by CCHA opponent Lake Superior State. The Lakers’ victories snapped a four-game MSU winning streak in the series, which spanned back to 2009-10.
The Spartans will open up a two-game road series this weekend at Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., against Lake Superior State.