No. 1 Men's Hockey Hosts Ferris State

March 13, 1998

Dates March 13-15

Site Munn Ice Arena

Note of the Night
The whammy, MSU style - Michigan State has never lost a CCHA first-round playoff series at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans are 15-0 in home playoff series and 28-4 in first-round games at Munn.

Six Pack of Notes No Media Person Should Be Without
1. Another whammy - The top seed in the CCHA tournament has won its first-round series in each of the 21 years since the first round went from one game to a series format. The last top seed to fall in the first round was Bowling Green, which lost to Western Michigan, 3-2 in overtime, in a one-game semifinal in the 1976 CCHA playoffs.

2. Best of both worlds - Michigan State was the leading goal-scoring team in the CCHA, with 110 goals in league play, and the top defensive team, allowing only 54 goals. Michigan (109 and 69, respectively), finished second in both categories.

3. Simply the best - Michigan State,s goals-against per league game of 1.80 made it the best defensive team in CCHA history Ron Mason,s 1978-79 BGSU team (2.25) held the previous record.

4. A special team - Michigan State leads the CCHA in both power play and penalty killing, while standing fourth in the nation in power play and first in penalty killing. The power play is clicking at 24.8% in league play and 23.0% overall. Meanwhile, MSU has killed off 90.1% of its opponents, power plays, even better than last year,s school record of 87.3%.

5. Simply the best - Senior goaltender and Hobey Baker candidate Chad Alban finished with a 1.63 goals-against average in CCHA league games, the best GAA in league history. His .922 league save percentage is the third-best in CCHA history. Alban also finished in the top 10 in eight career CCHA categories: 10 shutouts (1st), 2.42 GAA (4th), 61 wins (4th), nine ties (5th), .900 save percentage (6th), 5,209:06 minutes (7th), .744 winning percentage (8th) and 90 games (9th).

6. Powerful - Michigan State has three players with 10 or more power-play goals (Sean Berens 13, Mike York 11, Rustyn Dolyny 10). No other team in the nation has more than one player with double digits in power-play goals.

All About Alban
Goaltender Chad Alban scored a 185-foot empty-net goal in his last game against Ferris State (2/28).

Other notes:

has a better winning percentage, GAA and save percentage than Robb Stauber had in 1987-88, when he became the only goaltender ever to win the Hobey Baker Award

leads the CCHA in GAA and save percentage in league and overall games, the first Spartan since Bob Essensa (1986-87) to lead the league in league GAA * has allowed two goals or fewer in 28 of 35 games and three or fewer in 33 of 35

handles the puck over 30 times per game and makes outstanding decisions with it when he does

Quote board: ,Forwards typically win the Hobey, and Boston University center Chris Drury and Michigan right wing Bill Muckalt are leading candidates who are worthy of the trophy. But only Alban, who hails from Kalamazoo, Mich., plays 60 minutes a game and makes an impact on all areas of the ice. He deserves the award.0/00 -- Sports Illustrated, 3/2/98

Silencing the big guns - The top two scorers in CCHA league play, Ohio State,s Hugo Boisvert and Michigan,s Bill Muckalt, combined to score one goal and one assist in six league games against Michigan State. They averaged 1.63 points per league game against the rest of the CCHA.

Y ask y? - Freshman RW Rustyn Dolyny led all CCHA rookies in scoring and was seventh overall with 34 points in league play. One of two unanimous CCHA All-Rookie Team choices, Dolyny,s 39 points overall are the most by a Spartan freshman since Steve Suk (52 points) and Rem Murray (51) were rookies in 1991-92. His 18 goals are the most since Anson Carter had 19 as a freshman.

Builder of leads - Senior goaltender Chad Alban has a .947 save percentage in the first period, helping MSU outscore opponents 46-16 in the opening stanza and score first in 28 of its 38 games (MSU is 24-1-2 when scoring first).

Protector of leads - In his three years as MSU,s primary starting goaltender, Alban has a 55-0-3 record when leading after two periods, including 21-0-2 this year.

Better rebounders than Dennis Rodman - MSU is 3-0-1 following a loss this season and 12-3-1 after a loss in the last two years. They are 5-0 in that time after a loss by more than two goals.

FOXy team - MSU is 7-0-1 in games broadcast by FOX Sports Net and/or FOX Sports Detroit.

Two for 50 - Centers Mike York (51 points) and Sean Berens (50) leads the Spartans in scoring. The Spartans last had a 50-point scorer in 1994-95, when Rem Murray (56), Anson Carter (51) and Steve Guolla (51) all surpassed the half-century mark.

Two for 25 - Centers Sean Berens (32 goals) and Mike York (24) are on the verge of becoming the first Spartan teammates to both score 25 goals since Dwayne Norris (44), Bryan Smolinski (30) and Peter White (26) all had over 25 in 1991-92.

More on the centers of attention - York and Berens have combined for 40.0% of Michigan State,s goals and 28.1% of the team,s points.

NCAA leaders - Where the Spartans rank among the NCAA stat leaders (as of 3/9). Note that NCAA stats do not recognize games in the Ice Breaker Invitational or vs. Canadian teams.

Category                    Team/Individual Rank    Figure
Scoring Offense             Michigan State  12th    3.67 goals/game     
Scoring Defense             Michigan State  1st     1.72 goals/game     
Scoring Margin              Michigan State  3rd     1.94 goals/game     
Winning Percentage          Michigan State  3rd     .806    
Penalty-Killing Percentage  Michigan State  1st     .908    
Power-Play Percentage       Michigan State  4th     .244    
Points Per Game             Sean Berens T-19th      1.44/game   
Goals Per Game              Sean Berens 2nd         0.94/game       
                            Mike York   18th        0.69/game
Power-Play Goals            Sean Berens 2nd         13
                            Mike York   T-4th       11
                            Rustyn Dolyny   T-7th   10
Game-Winning Goals          Sean Berens T-3rd       6
Goals-Against Average       Chad Alban  1st         1.56    
Save Percentage Chad Alban  1st                     .925
Goalie Winning Percentage   Chad Alban  4th         .844

INJURY REPORT - Jon Gaskins (Sr., LW, OUT, right knee sprain, out for the season).

The fries at the bottom of the bag - MSU alum Tony Tuzzolino recently became the 39th player to play for Ron Mason at Michigan State to reach the NHL ... The Spartans are 11-0-1 when they have more penalties than their opponent ... MSU is 13-2-1 on the road ... sixteen former Spartans have appeared in the NHL this season, the most of any college ... Rod Brind-Amour (Canada) recently became the ninth Spartan to play in the Olympics ... MSU is shooting for its eighth 30-win season and first since 1989-90.

2 - Jon Gaskins (Sr., LW)

while plagued with injuries his freshman and sophomore seasons, he had played in 76 consecutive games before suffering a right knee sprain Feb. 20 which will sideline him for the season

3 - Brody Brandstatter (R-Fr., D)

the ninth East Lansing native to play for MSU

4 - Chris Bogas (Jr., D)

led the team in plus/minus rating as a freshman and sophomore and is +52 for his career

has the GWG in both games he has scored in this year

5 - Mike Weaver (So., D)

leading all MSU defensemen with 4-18-22, 15 points more than he had all of last year

had 2-2-4 vs. Michigan in the GLI, earning tournament MVP honors

paired with Tyler Harlton as MSU,s top defense unit

6 - Tyler Harlton (Sr., D)

in his third year as a team captain

one of five finalists for the Humanitarian Award, given annually to college hockey's finest citizen

last season,s CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman and an all-league choice

earned numerous academic distinctions for his 3.75 GPA in Political Theory and Consitutional Democracy

had a perfect 4.0 GPA this fall

leading the CCHA with +34 rating and has had only four games with minus ratings

MSU is 29-2 all-time when he scores a point, including 11-0 this season

three times has matched up vs. Hobey candidates (Chris Drury, Bill Muckalt - 10/25 & 2/20) and not allowed a point while he was on the ice

7 - Brad Hodgins (Fr., D)

leading team with 12 power-play assists

9 - Sean Patchell (Fr., W)

second among MSU freshmen with 6-9-15

10 - Shawn Horcoff (So., C)

returned from a broken right thumb to play last weekend and had an assists

11 of his 22 career goals are PPGs

12 - Kevin O-Keefe (Sr., RW)

has played more games and scored more points at MSU than he did at UIC before transferring

two years ago at this time was in last place at UIC; now the fourth-leading scorer for MSU

14 - Damon Whitten (Fr., LW)

played goaltender until his junior year of high school

16 - Bryan Adams (Jr., LW)

returned from separated shoulder to score the first goal of the game Feb. 20

plays LW on Mike York,s line

18 - Sean Berens (Sr., C)

leads the nation with 32 goals

leads the CCHA with 26 goals in league games

his 32 goals are most by a Spartan since Anson Carter's 34 in 1994-95

has 9-3-12 in nine games vs. ranked foes

Jan. 3-10 became the first MSU skater to net consecutive three-goal games since Kip Miller in 1989-90

second on team in scoring (32-18-50)

leading the nation with 13 PPGs

MSU,s best faceoff man, he wins 72.0%

19 - Rustyn Dolyny (Fr., RW)

leading MSU freshmen in scoring and third on the team (18-21-39)

one of three Spartans with at least 10 PPGs

led all CCHA rookies in league points (17-17-34)

21 - John Nail (Fr., RW)

had a big goal, his third of the year, in the title-clinching game at Lake Superior

22 - Andrew Bogle (Fr., C)

the youngest player in the CCHA and third-youngest in Division I (18; 12/22/79)

27 - Jeff Kozakowski (Jr., D)

second on team with 11 power-play assists

29 - Chad Alban (Sr., G)

owns best-ever career GAA at MSU (2.50)

84 career wins are most at MSU all-time

leads the nation in GAA (1.57) and second in save percentage (.925)

terrific stickhandler who plays the puck over 30 times a game (not counting saves)

College Hockey Showcase MVP

has 0.98, .951 and 3 SO vs. ranked teams

featured in Sports Illustrated as that magazine,s Hobey Baker selection

30 - Joe Blackburn (Fr., G)

has a 2.23 GAA and a .889 save percentage

61 - Mike York (Jr., C)

11 of his 24 goals have come in the first period, and 19 have come when MSU trails, the game is tied or the Spartans are up by one goal

leads MSU in assists (27) and points (51)

was the first sophomore to lead MSU in scoring since Craig Simpson (1984-85)

was just the 11th American to play in three World Junior Championships

averaging 1.22 pts. per game in his career

leads all CCHA forwards at +21

has scored MSU's first goal 10 times

SPARTAN CAREER STATS
Player          GP      G-A-P   Pen/Min
Sean Berens     158   80-73-153  56/142
Mike York       111   54-83-137  43/98
Jeff Kozakowski 118    9-44-53   42/98
Bryan Adams      97   19-33-52   31/92
Shawn Horcoff    69   22-24-46   29/66
Chris Bogas     118   12-34-46   84/182
Kevin O,Keefe    75   16-25-41   14/28
at Ill.-Chicago  68   18-12-30   15/30
Rustyn Dolyny    39   18-21-39   14/28
Tyler Harlton   156    5-31-36  114/243
Brad Hodgins     77    4-28-32   50/138
Mike Weaver      78    4-25-29   50/108
Mark Loeding    102   14-6-20    51/129
Jon Gaskins     119    3-17-20   21/42
Sean Patchell    36    6-9-15    21/53
Damon Whitten    38    4-8-12    20/51
Chad Alban      128    1-9-10    13/37
Curtis Gemmel    62    6-3-9      9/18
Mike Ford        98    5-4-9      8/16
Andrew Bogle     38    3-6-9     10/20
John Nail        38    3-2-5      6/12
Matt Kruzich     16    1-0-1      5/10
B. Brandstatter  25    0-1-1      2/4
Mike Jalaba      17    0-0-0      2/4
Joe Blackburn     4    0-0-0      0/0
Mike Gresl        4    0-0-0      0/0
Dan Zaluski       3    0-0-0      0/0

Goalie       GP     W-L-T   GAA      Svs.   Sv. %
Alban       127   84-29-10  2.50    2,611   .896
Blackburn     5    2-2-0    2.23       72   .889
Gresl         4    0-1-0    5.07       32   .821

1997-98 MULTI-POINT GAMES (75)
Mike York (14; MR: 2/21 vs. Mich.)
Sean Berens (13; MR: 2/28 vs. Ferris)
Rustyn Dolyny (11; MR: 2/20 vs. Mich.)
Kevin O,Keefe (8; MR: 2/28 vs. Ferris)
Bryan Adams (6; MR: 11/15 vs. Mank.)
Shawn Horcoff (5; MR: 1/31 vs. MIA)
Mike Weaver (3; MR: 2/27 vs. LSSU)
Andrew Bogle (3; MR: 1/24 vs. LSSU)
Jeff Kozakowski (3; MR: 2/14 vs. OSU)
3 players with 2 each: Harlton, Whitten, Bogas 3 players with 1 each: Alban, Hodgins, Nail 

1997-98 MULTI-GOAL GAMES (22)
Sean Berens (7; MR: 2/20 vs. Mich.)
Mike York (5; MR: 2/21 vs. Mich.)
Kevin O,Keefe (3; MR: 2/28 vs. Ferris)
Rustyn Dolyny (3; MR: 2/14 vs. OSU)
Shawn Horcoff (2; MR: 1/31 vs. MIA)
2 players with 1 each: Weaver, Bogas

SERIES INFORMATION VS. FERRIS STATE:

MSU leads, 43-21-10

In East Lansing: MSU leads, 25-11-4

In CCHA playoffs: MSU leads, 7-3-0, and has won each of its four first-round series vs. FSU

Last meeting: MSU 6, FSU 3 (2/28/98; Chad Alban scores an empty-net goal to wrap up the win)

First meeting: FSU 6, MSU 3 (12/7/79)

This year,s series: MSU leads, 3-0-0

MSU has outscored FSU 19-4 in the three meetings this year

MSU is 12-1-2 in the last 15 meetings

MSU has scored at least six goals in five of the last six meetings

The 10 ties are the most in any MSU series

Power plays against each other this year: MSU 4-11 (36.4%); FSU 1-12 (8.3%)