Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Set To Open CCHA Season
10/11/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 11, 1999
Fri., Oct. 15 at Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha Civic Auditorium, 8:05 p.m. EDT
Sat., Oct. 16 at Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha Civic Auditorium, 8:05 p.m. EDT
The Week ? After opening the regular season with a 4-1 loss at Colorado College, the Michigan State hockey team starts its CCHA schedule this Friday and Saturday with a series at Nebraska-Omaha. The Spartans visit the Mavericks ? the CCHA?s newest member ? in the Omaha Civic Auditorium (8,314) to begin the defense of the 1998-99 CCHA regular-season championship. It marks the season opener for UNO, which defeated Manitoba, 5-3, in an exhibition game last Friday. Both Friday and Saturday?s games face off at 8:05 p.m. EDT (7:05 p.m. CDT) and can be heard on WVFN-AM 730.
The Coaches ? Head coach Ron Mason (St. Lawrence ?64) builds upon his legendary status with each victory. Mason, in his 21st year at Michigan State and 34th as a college head coach, is the all-time winningest college hockey coach with 837 career victories, boasting an 837-355-70 overall record. He has a 548-245-56 mark at Michigan State.
Nebraska-Omaha coach Mike Kemp (Gustavus Adolphus ?75) is the only coach in Mavericks history, as he enters his third season with the young program. The former Wisconsin and Illinois-Chicago assistant coach is 25-42-3 in his first two years with the Mavericks. Quoting Coach Mason -
On the CC game: ?We started the game flat-footed, which was something I had worried about with the big ice and the altitude. To their credit they came out flying and took advantage. The first period really was the difference, although we played better from the second period on.?
On the Nebraska-Omaha series: ?This is a dangerous series, because we know how much energy there will be in Omaha this weekend. They have a great fan base and I?m sure they will be ready for their first CCHA series.
?They gave us two hard-fought games last year in Munn. I expect an even tougher challenge this weekend.?
The Series vs. the Mavericks ? Michigan State leads Nebraska-Omaha in a brief all-time series, 2-0-0. The Spartans and UNO met in a two-game series at Munn Ice Arena last Dec. 4-5, with Michigan State sweeping a pair of two-goal games, 2-0 and 3-1. Mike Gresl posted the nine-save shutout in the opener, while Joe Blackburn made 21 stops in the Saturday game. Mike York had three goals in the weekend, while Rustyn Dolyny (1-1-2) is the top returning scorer.
About the Mavericks ? Twenty-one lettermen return from last year?s Nebraska-Omaha team which compiled an 11-24 record. In the first two years of the program?s existence, UNO has produced wins over the likes of Maine, Denver, Michigan Tech, Bowling Green and others, and will look for added consistency this year as it joins the CCHA. The Mavericks were picked to finish 11th in both the CCHA coaches and media preseason polls.
Leading the way for UNO are last year?s team MVP, goaltender Kendall Sidoruk (7-14-0, 3.28, .888), and its leading scorer, Jason White (11-16-27). Each of the top six scorers return from last season.
Colorado College Recap ? Colorado College jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead Saturday night and cruised to a 4-1 victory over Michigan State in the U.S. College Hockey Faceoff Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Tigers led, 3-0, midway through the second period before MSU got on the board thanks to a Sean Patchell goal, but the Spartans could not get closer. Colorado College benefited from a 3-for-9 power play, while Michigan State was 0-for-8 with a man advantage. Joe Blackburn (15 saves, 3 GA) and Ryan Miller (13 saves, 1 GA) split time in goal for the Spartans. CC?s Mark Cullen, Paul Manning and Tom Preissing each had a goal and an assist.
If you use just one MSU note this week, perhaps this should be it
Welcome party ? Michigan State was the first CCHA team to play Nebraska-Omaha when the Mavericks visited Munn Ice Arena Dec. 4-5, 1998. This weekend, the Spartans welcome UNO into the league as MSU visits Omaha for the Mavericks? first conference series.
Did You Know?
Three-timers ? This weekend Michigan State begins its defense of the 1998-99 CCHA regular-season championship. The Spartans have won each of the last two CCHA regular-season titles and are seeking to become just the third program to win three in a row. MSU has won back-to-back CCHA regular-season titles three times now (1984-85 and ?85-86, 1988-89 and ?89-90, 1997-98 and ?98-99), but have never won three in a row.
Opening dish ? Michigan State is 14-3-2 all-time in CCHA openers since joining the conference in 1981-82. The Spartans are 6-1-2 in CCHA openers in the 1990s.
Rebounding specialists ? Michigan State has not lost back-to-back games since the end of the 1996-97 season, and are 10-0-1 following a loss in the last two seasons. Last year, MSU was 5-0-0 in the game after a loss.
Eight is more than enough ? Eight freshmen dressed for Michigan State?s season-opening loss at Colorado College on Saturday (Steve Clark, Brad Fast, Troy Ferguson, Kris Koski, John-Michael Liles, Brian Maloney, Ryan Miller, Mike Porter).
Fast start ? Freshman defenseman Brad Fast became the first MSU rookie to make the scoresheet with his assist on Sean Patchell?s second-period goal vs. the Tigers.
Patch things up ? Junior left wing Sean Patchell, who had three goals all of last season, has scored goals in each of MSU?s last two games dating back to the NCAA semifinal against New Hampshire.
A good sign ? Michigan State opened its season against Colorado College for just the second time in history. The first came in the Spartans? first national championship season (1965-66), a 4-0 loss to the Tigers in Colorado Springs.
Foreign relations ? Guelph scored the first goal in last Tuesday night?s exhibition meeting with the Spartans, but even if the Gryphons had scored on all of the rest of their shots, Michigan State still would have won. The Spartans responded with 11 unanswered goals to rout the visitors, 11-1. MSU held a 61-7 shot advantage. Offensively, senior center Shawn Horcoff (two goals, four assists) and freshman left wing Brian Maloney (three goals, one assist) did much of the damage, as 14 Spartans had at least a point. Junior goaltender Joe Blackburn and freshman goaltender Ryan Miller split time in the goal, with neither seeing much activity.
Omaha connections ? UNO forward Kyle O?Keefe?s older brother, Kevin, was a forward for Michigan State from 1996-98. Kevin was the Spartans? fourth-leading scorer (13-18-31) his senior year.
? MSU goaltender Mike Gresl, currently out with a fractured left hand, played with UNO?s Billy Pugliese with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL.
Slow start ? Michigan State lost its season opener for the first time since 1989. The Spartans finished the 1990s with a 7-1-2 record in season openers.
Hello old friend ? Nebraska-Omaha?s roster features former Spartan Dan Zaluski. Zaluski transferred to UNO after the 1997-98 season. He played three career games for the Spartans (two in 1996-97 and one in 1997-98) and did not record a point.
New team, veteran coaches ? Nebraska-Omaha head coach Mike Kemp coached against Michigan State while he was an assistant at Illinois-Chicago and Wisconsin. UNO assistant coach David Quinn coached against MSU while an assistant at Northeastern.
Oh captain, my captain ? Senior center Shawn Horcoff was elected captain of the 1999-2000 Spartans by his teammates. Senior defenseman Mike Weaver and junior forward Rustyn Dolyny are the assistant captains.
Everybody?s All-Americans ? Junior goaltender Joe Blackburn and senior defenseman Mike Weaver are the only two returning All-Americans in the CCHA or WCHA. Blackburn was a first-team All-America last year after establishing school and conference records for goals-against average and save percentage. Weaver was a second-team selection, as well as a first-team All-CCHA pick and the CCHA?s Best Defensive Defenseman.
Great goalies ? In addition to returning first-team All-American goaltender Joe Blackburn, Michigan State boasts tremendous depth in the nets. Senior Mike Gresl will miss the start of the season with a left hand fracture, but posted remarkable numbers (1.22 goals-against average, .940 save percentage) behind Blackburn last year. Meanwhile, freshman Ryan Miller enters with strong credentials. The cousin of Kip, Kevin and Kelly Miller won the USA Hockey Goaltender of the Year award in 1998, the same award Blackburn took home in ?97.
Blackburn and Miller split the goaltending duties in the Spartans? season opener and the exhibition game against Guelph.
Dominant defenses ? Each of the last three seasons, Michigan State has improved upon its school records for goals against per game and penalty killing. Last year, the Spartans allowed just 1.52 goals per game (the second-best average in college hockey since the Great Depression) and killed off 92.0 percent of opponents? power plays.
Family ties ? Michigan State?s roster includes some terrific hockey bloodlines. Sophomore forward Joe Goodenow is the son of NHL Players Association Executive Director Bob Goodenow. Freshman goaltender Ryan Miller?s several family connections to the MSU program are highlighted by NHL cousins Kip, Kevin and Kelly Miller. Freshman forward Troy Ferguson?s father, Sheldon, is the director of player personnel for the Carolina Hurricanes. Freshman forward Pat Brush?s father, Craig, is the president of the ECHL Florida Everblades and a former player at Cornell.
Two years at the top ? Michigan State has had more All-Americans in the past two years (seven) than any other team in college hockey and has the second-best winning percentage in that time (.791, second to North Dakota?s .804).
INJURY REPORT ? Fr. F Pat Brush (left knee injury, out indefinitely), So. F Joe Goodenow (left hip injury, out indefinitely), Sr. G Mike Gresl (left hand fracture, out 5-7 weeks), So. D Andrew Hutchinson (sprained right shoulder, out 7-10 days), Jr. LW Damon Whitten (fractured toe, probable for this weekend).
MSU CAREER LEADERS vs. NEBRASKA-OMAHA Player (Yr., Pos.) Statistics Rustyn Dolyny (Jr., F) 2 GP, 1-1-2 Brad Hodgins (Sr., D) 2 GP, 0-2-2 Andrew Bogle (Jr., C) 2 GP, 0-1-1 Joe Blackburn (Jr., G) 1-0-0, 1.00, .955 Mike Gresl (Sr., G) 1-0-0, 0.00, 1.000
