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.
The comforting confines of the locker room and the shouts of encouragement from friendly fans have become distant memories for the MSU hockey team.
It’s once again that time to guess the outcome of this weekend’s games with the State News prognosticators.
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.
For the first time since 1995-96, the MSU hockey team lost twice in a single season to Lake Superior. The 2-0 loss on Friday coupled with the 4-2 loss on Saturday extended the Spartans’ losing streak to five games.
Sault Ste. Marie — The MSU hockey team had a two goal lead with 52 seconds remaining in the first period. But Lake Superior scored four unanswered goals on the Spartans en route to a 4-2 win at Taffy Abel Arena.
Sault Ste. Marie — A goal from 110 feet away put Saturday’s game out of reach for the MSU hockey team.
The MSU hockey team has been plagued with numerous off-ice distractions this season. Whether it was players being suspended from the team, returning to juniors or suffering long-term injuries, the role of captain for MSU senior goaltender Jeff Lerg has been anything but what he expected entering the season.
The University of Michigan Department of Public Safety said Wednesday that it will not press criminal charges against former MSU hockey player Andrew Conboy and sophomore forward Corey Tropp following Saturday’s incident at Yost Ice Arena, according to DPS spokeswoman Diane Brown.