Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Hockey Starts Holiday Break
12/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 13, 2000
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THIS WEEK
Top-ranked Michigan State concentrates on final exams and then takes a week-long holiday break as the Spartans (No. 1 U.S. College Hockey Online poll/No. 1 USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll) wrapped up the first half of the regular season as the nation's top-ranked team and first in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings.
MSU returns to action when they face Boston College on Friday, Dec. 29 in the first round of the 36th annual Great Lakes Invitational tournament at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Spartans will take on either Michigan or Michigan Tech the following day.
MSU HEAD COACH RON MASON
MSU head coach Ron Mason (St. Lawrence '64) is in his 22nd season with the Spartans and 35th year as a college hockey mentor. The winningest coach in college hockey history, Mason, who coached in his 900th game at MSU Nov. 10 vs. Northern Michigan, has piloted the Spartans to a 587-257-64 (.682) mark since taking over for the legendary Amo Bessone in 1979. His overall record currently stands at 876-367-78 (.693).
Mason guided MSU to its second NCAA hockey championship in 1986 and his 20 NCAA Tournament appearances are an all-time record. The seven-time Central Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year led the Spartans to league regular-season titles in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1998 and 1999 and CCHA playoff crowns in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1998 and 2000.
Mason, who won the Spencer Penrose Award as national coach of the year in 1992, has coached 19 Spartans to All-American honors and seen 44 of his former MSU skaters move on to the NHL.
GLI SPY
Michigan State returns to action Dec. 29-30 when they participate in the 36th annual Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. This year's field includes the Spartans, second-ranked Boston College, fourth-rated Michigan and and tournament host Michigan Tech.
A handful of MSU GLI facts:
* MSU appearances in the GLI prior to this season: 24
* MSU's first GLI appearance: 1966
* Consecutive GLI appearances coming into this season: 20
* MSU's all-time GLI record: 31-21-0 (.596)
* MSU's GLI championships: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1997, 1998, 1999
* MSU GLI MVPs: Dale Krentz (1982), Dan McFall (1983), Bob Essensa (1984), Don McSween (1985), Mike Weaver (1997), Mike Gresl (1998), Shawn Horcoff (1999)
* Current MSU players who've been named to the GLI all-tournament team: Rustyn Dolyny (1997), Joe Blackburn (1999)
* Record of this year's Spartan seniors at the GLI: 6-0-0
* Boston College's lone prior GLI appearance: 1973 (the Eagles posted a 1-1-0 mark)
* Score of 1973 GLI semifinal meeting between MSU and BC: 12-5
* MSU players who had hat tricks in that game: Two (Steve Colp and John Sturges)
* Number of BC players missing the GLI to play in the World Junior Tournament: Two
* Number of Michigan players missing the GLI to play in the WJC: Three
* Number of MSU and MTU players missing the GLI to play in the WJC: Zero
* Number of GLI games played by junior Adam Hall: None (He's attended the WJC the last two seasons)
* Combined wins of coaches in this year's GLI: 2,267 (Ron Mason, MSU, 876, Jerry York, BC, 605, Red Berenson, Michigan, 434, Mike Sertich, Michigan Tech, 352)
* Rank of this year's GLI coaches on NCAA hockey's all-time wins list: Mason, 1st, York, 6th, Berenson, 15th, Sertich 27th.
* Years of experience of this year's GLI coaches: 100 (Mason, 35th year, York, 29th year, Berenson, 17th year, Sertich, 19th year)
