Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey to Host Lake Superior in CCHA First Round
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 8, 1999
Fri., March 12 MSU vs. LSSU, Munn Ice Arena, 7 p.m.
Sat., March 13 MSU vs. LSSU, Munn Ice Arena, 7 p.m.
Sun., March 14 (if necessary) MSU vs. LSSU, Munn Ice Arena, 7 p.m.
The Weekend - Michigan State, which split with Ferris State last weekend, winning 4-1 and losing 2-1, enters this weekend with a 26-4-7 overall record (20-3-7 and regular-season champion in the CCHA). The Spartans were ranked second in the nation in last week's USCHO poll. This weekend the Spartans host Lake Superior (11-21-4, 10-17-3) in a best-of-three first round series as the CCHA Tournament begins at Munn Ice Arena (6,170). Friday's game is being shown live on FOX Sports Detroit (nation-wide on mini-dish systems; no TV Saturday or Sunday). Bench seat tickets ($14 for the general public; $6 for MSU students) are available for all three games at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office (800-GO-STATE). All MSU games can be heard on WVFN-AM 730 (world wide at www.gamecruiser.com/michiganstate/index.htm).
The Coaches - Head coach Ron Mason (St. Lawrence '64), in his 20th year at Michigan State and his 33rd as a head coach in college hockey, builds upon his legendary status with each victory. He is the all-time winningest college hockey coach with 834 career victories, boasting an 834-353-70 overall record. He has a 545-243-56 mark at Michigan State.
Lake Superior's Scott Borek (Dartmouth '85) is 45-53-13 in three years at LSSU and 78-86-18 in six years overall, including three with the White Mules of Colby College. Quoting Coach Mason -
On the 23-game unbeaten streak: "That's impressive, to go that long without a loss. When you look at how competitive this league is, top to bottom, it's unbelievable. It is certainly tougher to do now than it was in 1985."
On the Lake Superior series: "They played us tough all year. The game up there they really took it to us, and obviously they are playing well right now.
"Every team in this league is a good team. We are going to have to work hard and play our best."
About the Lakers - Lake Superior and Bowling Green are the only teams entering the CCHA Tournament with three-game winning streaks, as the Lakers had to fight past Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the final weekend. LSSU defeated Michigan (3-2) and Western Michigan (5-1) to earn its first sweep of the year last weekend. Tobin Praznik (13-11-24) and Trent Walford (9-12-21) lead the Lakers offensively. Jayme Platt (8-14-2, 3.08, .894) has been the goaltender of record in 10 of Lake Superior's last 11 games, with former Spartan Mike Brusseau (3-3-2, 3.36, .888) providing support.
The Series vs. the Lakers - MSU leads, 43-27-8, entering the 79th meeting. The Spartans won all three games this season and hold a 22-11-2 advantage in East Lansing. MSU has a 5-4-0 edge vs. LSSU in the CCHA Tournament, including a 1-1 record in a two-game, total-goals first-round series in 1981-82 (MSU won the series, 12-5, in the only time the two teams have met in the first round). Two of the three meetings this year were decided by one goal. MSU has won each of the last seven meetings and is 7-0-2 in the last nine.
Last weekend's recap - Michigan State established a new school record for longest unbeaten streak with a 4-1 win over Ferris State Friday night. It marked the 23rd straight outing for the Spartans without a loss. MSU got four goals in a span of 7:14 of the second period, highlighted by a short-handed goal by Rustyn Dolyny which held up as the game-winner. Dolyny had two goals, while Bryan Adams, Shawn Horcoff and Mike York also registered multiple-point games.
Michigan State set a new record Friday night only to see it snapped in Saturday's regular-season finale. Following Senior Night festivities to honor the seven graduating players on the MSU roster, Ferris State built a 2-0 lead in the first two periods. MSU managed a third-period goal from Mike York, but couldn't complete the comeback. "We didn't think about the streak much," York said. "The fact that we lost this game is more disappointing to everyone than the fact that the streak is over."
If you use just one MSU note this week, perhaps this should be it
Reaching the Joe - Michigan State has never lost a first-round CCHA Tournament series at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans are 16-0 in first-round series and 30-4 in first-round games at Munn. The only time MSU hasn't advanced to Joe Louis Arena in its 17 years in the CCHA, the Spartans lost their first round series on the road.
Did You Know?
The best defense of the modern era - Michigan State's team defense has allowed just 1.32 goals per game, the best figure in college hockey since the Great Depression. The Spartans and sophomore goaltender Joe Blackburn are among the all-time statistical leaders in college hockey:
Team GA/Game (min. 10 GP) Team GA/Game, post-Depression 1.00 Harvard, 1916-17 (10 GA/10 GP) 1.32 MICHIGAN ST., 1998-99 (46 GA/35 GP) 1.17 Boston University, 1928-29 (14 GA/12 GP)1.48 Cornell, 1967-68 (43 GA/29 GP) 1.29 Boston College, 1922-23 (18 GA/14 GP) 1.59 Cornell, 1966-67 (46 GA/29 GP) 1.32 MICHIGAN STATE, 1998-99 (46 GA/35 GP) 1.73 Michigan State, 1997-98 (76 GA/44 GP) 1.38 Harvard, 1930-31 (18 GA, 13 GP) 1.84 Denver, 1960-61 (59 GA/32 GP)Goaltender GAA (1/3 of teams GP) Goaltender Save Pct. (1/3 of teams GP) 1.27 Godfrey Wood, Harvard, 1961-62 .945 Ken Dryden, Cornell, 1966-67 Bob Peters, North Dakota, 1957-58 .943 Godfrey Wood, Harvard, 1961-62 1.33 JOE BLACKBURN, MSU, 1998-99 .938 Ken Dryden, Cornell, 1967-68 1.46 Ken Dryden, Cornell, 1966-67 .936 JOE BLACKBURN, MSU, 1998-99 1.52 Ken Dryden, Cornell, 1967-68 Ken Dryden, Cornell, 1968-69
This information was compiled through available media guides and the cooperation of various sports information offices. It may be incomplete, especially in early years. Any additions or corrections to these records should be directed to Nate Ewell in the MSU Sports Information Office.
Get the Sensation! - Senior center Mike York leads the Spartans with 20-25-45 totals and has had a hand in 40.5 percent of MSU's goals this year. More York notes:
owns a five-game point-scoring streak and has points in seven of the last eight games
a clutch player, he has scored more than half of his goals in the third period (11 of 20), especially impressive when you consider that 28 of MSU's 37 games have been decided by two goals or less
he has five game-winning goals and has assisted on eight GWGs, both leading the team and meaning that he has had a hand in 13 of MSUs 26 GWGs
has had a hand in almost as many goals (45) as MSU opponents have scored (49)
leads the CCHA with a +30 rating and has been on the ice just two times when an opponent has scored a five-on-five goal in nearly 800 shifts
logs between 25 and 30 minutes of ice time each night, often vs. the opponent's top line
stands 17th at MSU in career points, 19th in career goals and 16th in career assists
just eight points shy of 200 for his career
Streak softly and carry a big stick - Saturday's loss to Ferris State ended a pair of MSU school-record unbeaten streaks. The Spartans had gone 23 games without a loss (18-0-5), breaking the previous record unbeaten streak of 22 games, set in 1984-85. MSU had not lost at home in 29 games (24-0-5), well beyond the previous school record of 20 games.
Kozy on O - Senior defenseman Jeff Kozakowski has emerged as an offensive force in the second half of this season. Kozakowski is fifth on the Spartans in scoring with 5-11-16, including a point in 10 of his last 11 games. A candidate for CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman, he carries a three-game point-scoring streak into the CCHA Tournament.
CCHA Tournament notes - Michigan State enters the CCHA Tournament in pursuit of its ninth tournament title (in 18 years) and second in a row. The Spartans have won more titles than any other team. Some more MSU CCHA Tournament notes:
the Spartans are 10-0 in overtime in the CCHA Tournament and 18-4 in one-goal games
last year's CCHA Tournament MVP returns in Mike York
MSU has made the most CCHA Tournament appearances (18), followed by LSSU (16)
MSU has reached Joe Louis Arena 16 times in its 17 years in the CCHA Tournament and is a perfect 16-0 in CCHA first-round series at home
the top seed in the CCHA Tournament has won its first-round series in each of the 22 years since the first round has been decided in more than one game
MSU has the best winning percentage in the history of the tournament (.788, 52-14)
Ron Mason has won 64 CCHA Tournament games, more than twice as many as the next closest coach (Michigan's Red Berenson, 29)
Get that eraser - With the regular season over, Michigan State has secured its place in the CCHA record book. In league games only, MSU set the following records:
team defense: 1.33 goals against per game (breaking MSU's record of 1.80 from last year)
goaltender goals-against average: Joe Blackburn, 1.34 (breaking Chad Alban's record of 1.63 from last year)
goaltender save percentage: Joe Blackburn, .935 (breaking the record set by BGSU's Brian Stankiewicz, who had a .932 in 1977-78)
penalty-killing percentage: .931 (best since 1983-84, when records are first available)
A special team - MSU's penalty killers have scored more short-handed goals (13) than they have allowed power-play goals (12). Michigan State's penalty killing stands at 92.9 percent, leading the nation and better than last year's school-record 90.2 percent. MSU has not allowed a power-play goal in the last eight games (30 opportunities) and has scored three SHGs in that time.
On the power play, the Spartans were ranked as low as 10th in the CCHA at one point. MSU has scored at least one power-play goal in 12 of the last 16 games, however, and is clicking at 20.8 percent (16/77) in that span.
Running and hiding - Michigan State won the CCHA by eight points over second-place Michigan, the largest margin between the No. 1 and 2 teams since the Wolverines won the league by nine points in 1993-94. The Spartans finished with 47 points in league play, one more than their total from last season.
Laker connections - Head coach Ron Mason was the first head coach in Lake Superior history, guiding the Lakers for seven years from 1966-73 (129-47-8 record).
LSSU goaltender Mike Brusseau spent two years at MSU before transferring to LSSU
LSSU defenseman Blaine McCauley is the younger brother of former Spartan Wes McCauley
Two few - Michigan State has allowed one goal or less in 26 of 37 games (70.3 percent). MSU has allowed more than two goals on just four occasions, and not in its last nine games.
Munn-believable - With two wins this weekend, Michigan State would tie its second-best home record in school history (.868 winning percentage, 15-1-3, 1989-90). The Spartans enter this weekend 13-1-3 at Munn Ice Arena. The school record is .913 (20-1-2, set in 1985-86).
About the loss - Michigan State's loss to Ferris State was just its fourth loss of the year ... all four losses have come by just one goal ... it was the first of the four losses not to a Big Ten school ... it marked MSU's first loss on Saturday night (13-1-2) ... it was MSU's first home loss of the year ... it was MSU's first loss not in the month of November.
MSU CAREER LEADERS vs. LAKE SUPERIOR Player (Yr., Pos.) Statistics Mike York (Sr., C) 12 GP, 6-9-15 Bryan Adams (Sr., LW) 12 GP, 5-1-6 Shawn Horcoff (Jr., C) 9 GP, 3-3-6 Jeff Kozakowski (Sr., D)13 GP, 0-5-5 Mike Weaver (Jr., D) 10 GP, 1-3-4 Joe Blackburn (So.) 3-0-0, 1.27, .926SPARTANS IN THE CCHA 1998-99 Final Standings Team (Overall) CCHA Pts 1. MICHIGAN STATE (26-4-7) 20-3-7 47 2. Michigan (20-11-6) 17-8-5 39 3. Ohio State (19-14-4) 17-10-3 37 4. Notre Dame (18-12-5) 15-11-4 34 5. Northern Michigan (19-12-5) 14-11-5 33 6. Ferris State (14-14-6) 13-12-5 31 7. Bowling Green (17-16-3) 13-14-3 29 8. Lake Superior (11-21-4) 10-17-3 23 9. Miami (11-20-5) 9-17-4 22 10. Western Michigan (6-20-8) 5-17-8 18 11. Alaska Fairbanks (11-22-1) 8-21-1 17
First-Round Playoff Pairings #8 Lake Superior at #1 MICHIGAN STATE #7 Bowling Green at #2 Michigan #6 Ferris State at #3 Ohio State #5 Northern Michigan at #4 Notre Dame
Current point-scoring streaks 5 games: Mike York (3-5-8) 3 games: Jeff Kozakowski (1-2-3)
