Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Set To Close First Half vs. Alabama-Huntsville
12/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 6, 1999
Sat., Dec. 11 vs. Alabama-Huntsville, Munn Ice Arena, 7:05 p.m.
The Week ? The Michigan State hockey team, which split against Notre Dame last weekend, losing, 1-0, and winning, 4-1, closes out the first half of its schedule this Saturday against non-conference foe Alabama-Huntsville. The Spartans (12-5-0 overall, 11-3-0 CCHA), ranked fifth in the nation last week, face the Chargers (7-2-3 overall, 4-2-0 College Hockey America) at Munn Ice Arena (6,170) Saturday at 7:05 p.m. EST. Standing-room tickets ($7) are available for Saturday?s game at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office or by calling 800-GO-STATE or 517-355-1610. The game is on AT&T Cable Services in the Lansing area (Ch. 13 or 17), with Eric Peasley and former Spartan Joe Campbell calling the action. Both games are on WVFN-AM 730 and at www.broadcast.com/sports/ncaa/MichiganState, with Scott Moore calling the play-by-play and volunteer assistant coach Jim Mullin providing color commentary.
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 849 career victories, boasting an 849-359-70 (.692) overall record as he stands on the precipice of the unprecedented 850-win plateau. He has a 560-249-56 (.680) mark at MSU.
Alabama-Huntsville head coach Doug Ross (Bowling Green ?76) owns a 382-193-26 record in his 20th year of collegiate coaching, including a 326-158-24 mark in 18 years at UAH. Ross played for Ron Mason at both Lake Superior and Bowling Green.
Quoting Coach Mason ?
On the Notre Dame series: ?Friday night was very frustrating for us, because I felt that we played very well in the first period, got some good chances in the third, and yet still lost, 1-0. Saturday I was impressed with the way our kids bounced back, especially in the physical style of game it was. It is important that we learn to play in whatever type of game we are faced with, and I thought Saturday was a good indication of that.?
On the Alabama-Huntsville game: ?When I coached at Bowling Green and Lake Superior, I alwayus appreciated the coaches from the established programs who agreed to play us, and I like being able to return the favor at this point.
?Obviously the key for us heading into our break is to end on a good note and be playing as well as we can headed into the Great Lakes Invitational.?
The Series vs. the Chargers ? First meeting.
About the Chargers ? Alabama-Huntsville enters Saturday?s game on a four-game winning streak after sweeps of Wayne State and Bemidji State. The Chargers are 7-2-3 overall, 4-2-0 and in third place in the six-team College Hockey America conference. Dwayne Blais (5-11-16) and Nathan Bowen (8-7-15) lead the offense, with three players tied at 12 points apiece. Steve Briere (6-1-1, 2.64, .903) has handled the bulk of the goaltending.
Notre Dame Recap
Notre Dame?s Ryan Dolder scored on a rebound at 14:56 of the third period, providing all of the offense in Friday?s 1-0 Fighting Irish victory. The Spartans lef tthe Joyce Center frustrated after scoring an apparent power-play goal in the first period, only to see it waved off when the referee called a man in the crease, and firing a shot of the crossbar with 16 seconds left. The Spartans outshot ND, 24-23, but were stymied by freshman goaltender Tony Zasowski, who made 24 saves.
Some unlikely sources contributed to Saturday night?s 4-1 victory over the Irish, as three Spartans scored their second goals of the year. Andrew Bogle and John Nail each had a goal and an assist as their line ? along with Sean Patchell ? was on the ice for three MSU goals. Joe Blackburn outdueled Zasowski in goal, stopping 26 shots in the victory.
If you use just one MSU note this week, perhaps this should be it
Rosses are green ? Alabama-Huntsville head coach Doug Ross, a Dearborn, Mich., native, played collegiate hockey for Michigan State head coach Ron Mason. Ross began his career at Lake Superior State before transferring to Bowling Green and spending 1973-75 with the Falcons. Ross is the only player ever to play for Mason at two different schools. Saturday marks the first time the two have met on opposite benches.
Ross also has ties to Michigan State through his brother, Tom, the all-time Spartan leader in career goals (138), assists (186) and points (324).
We encourage you to use more notes ... perhaps these
Fast start ? Despite dropping three of its last four CCHA games, Michigan State still has enjoyed a conference start equal to last year, when it won the CCHA regular-season title. The Spartans ? who do not play another league game until Jan. 7 vs. Michigan ? enter their holiday break from conference action 11-3-0 in the CCHA through 14 games. That is the same number of points through 14 games that the Spartans had last season (10-2-2).
Quick strike ? Michigan State?s two goals in 23 seconds of the first period Sunday night were the Spartans? fastest back-to-back goals of the year.
Not just a hockey school ? For the first week in school history last week, Michigan State?s hockey (No. 5/5), men?s basketball (No. 8/7) and football teams were all ranked in the nation?s top 10.
Unlikely sources ? Michigan State?s junior line of center Andrew Bogle (1-1-2), right wing John Nail (1-1-2) and Sean Patchell (0-2-2) all contributed two points to Sunday night?s 4-1 win over Notre Dame. It was the first multiple-point game since Jan. 2, 1999, for Patchell, since March 20, 1998, for Bogle and since Oct. 31, 1997, for Nail.
Unlikely sources II ? Sophomore defenseman Jon Insana took 54 games to score his first career goal, but scored his second just two games later.
Likely source ? Senior center Shawn Horcoff had at least a point Sunday night for the 13th time in 17 outings, and his assist pulled him into a tie for the national scoring lead with Michigan?s Mike Comrie (27 points). Horcoff has a hand in 48.2 percent of Michigan State?s goals overall and 57.9 percent of the Spartans? power-play goals.
A special team ? Michigan State ranks first in the CCHA in both power play and penalty killing in conference games. The Spartans have converted on 19.7 percent of their power plays in CCHA games while killing off 93.0 percent of opponents? power plays (12-for-12 last weekend). The Spartans have scored five short-handed goals in league play (six overall), while allowing just six power-play goals to conference foes.
First one to one wins ? Michigan State improved to 11-0-0 when it scores first Sunday night. The Spartans are just 1-5-0 when its opponent scores first.
Eyeing 850 ? Head coach Ron Mason has an 849-360-70 record in 34 years as a colleg head coach. The winningest coach in the history of the sport, he is nearing the unprecedented 850-victory milestone. For a complete list of Mason?s milsetone victories, see page 37 of the 1999-2000 Michigan State hockey media guide.
Munn-real ? Michigan State is 7-1-0 in Munn Ice Arena, home of 242 consecutive regular-season sellouts dating back to 1985, and 5-3-0 on the road. Here is a statistical comparison of MSU at home and on the road:
Goals/Game GA/Game Shots/Game Shots All./Gm. Save Pct. Opp. Sv.% PP% PK%Home 3.75 1.50 31.4 20.9 .928 .884 20.8% 88.9%Away 2.89 1.78 28.3 22.6 .921 .898 18.4% 87.9%
Power surge ? Eight different players have combined for Michigan State?s 19 power-play goals this year, led by Adam Hall with five. The Spartans have scored three or more power-play goals in a game on three occasions this year
Patriot missiles ? Sophomore right wing Adam Hall and freshman defenseman John-Michael Liles were named to the 2000 U.S. National Junior Team last week. The pair will compete with the rest of the world?s best under-20 hockey players at the 2000 World Junior Championship, Dec. 25 to Jan. 4. They will miss two games for the Spartans, the pair in the Great Lakes Invitational, before returning for the Jan. 7 game against Michigan.
Emerging in Munn ? This Saturday night marks the third straight year that Michigan State welcomes an emerging program to Munn Ice Arena (Mankato State 1997-98, Nebraska-Omaha 1998-99). MSU is 4-0 in those games.
Great goalies ? Michigan State junior Joe Blackburn and freshman Ryan Miller have split the Spartans? goaltending duties almost equally this season. Blackburn made back-to-back starts last weekend for the first time this season. Miller (1.15, .945) and Blackburn (1.29, .938) are first and second, respectively, in the CCHA in conference goals-against average and save percentage.
A group of winners ? Sunday night Brad Hodgins became the eighth Spartan to record at least one of MSU?s 12 game-winning goals this year. Sophomore right wing Adam Hall, whi led the team last year with six GWGs, leads the team and the CCHA this year with four.
Century club ? Junior Andrew Bogle (99 career games played) is on the verge of playing in his 100th career game.
Gentlemen, please remove your hats ? Michigan State players have combined for 29 career two-goal games, but no current Spartan has a collegiate hat trick to his credit.
On the horizon ? Michigan State enjoys two weeks off for the holidays before returning to action for the Great Lakes Invitational (Dec. 29-30 at Joe Louis Arena).
FORMER SPARTAN OF THE WEEK ? Bryan Adams (MSU 1995-99) is fifth among IHL rookies in scoring with five goals and seven assists (12 points) in 20 games with the Orlando Solar Bears. The most recent Hockey News calls Adams, an Atlanta Thrashers prospect, the most skilled player at Orlando. He is tied for second on the team with five goals and is seventh in points. He had an assist in each of the Solar Bears? games this week, both wins.
INJURY REPORT ? Fr. F Pat Brush (left knee injury, out indefinitely), So. F Joe Goodenow (left hip injury, out indefinitely).
