Michigan State University Athletics
Mason Earns 900th Win
10/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 20, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - It was only fitting that Michigan State hockey coach Ron Mason notched his 900th career win in a game in which his team played textbook Spartan hockey.
MSU (3-0-1 overall, 3-0-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) used a stingy defense, superior special-teams play and the goaltending of Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.) to hand Ferris State (2-1-0, 0-1-0 CCHA) a 2-0 defeat in front of 6,732 fans at Munn Ice Arena.
"It was another win until I walked out onto the ice and I saw the other (MSU head) coaches and Slap Shots," said Mason, referring to the Spartan hockey student section members who saluted him after the game. "I couldn't believe it when (the coaches) walked out. To see my cohorts, especially (football coach) Bobby Williams - who came off a tough day - to take the time to come here, that's something I'll never forget."
Mason's players were happy to help Mason reach his milestone, but were just as pleased to chalk up another two points with a conference win.
"It couldn't have happened to a better guy," said senior wing and team captain Adam Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich.), who scored MSU's first goal. "He puts so much dedication into the game. I don't think anyone works as hard as he does or worries as much about trying to improve. He's always trying to learn how to become a better coach, and that's one of his best attributes."
Mason was happy with win no. 900, but was more pleased the number of goals scored - or not scored - by his opponent. The shutout was the 20th of Miller's career and the win was no. 50 for last season's Hobey Baker Award winner.
"I thought he earned it tonight," said Mason of his goaltender, who stopped all 23 shots he faced. "I thought our kids had to really dig down to win this hockey game and they did."
Hall's goal came 3:29 into the game when he tipped junior defenseman Brad Fast's (Fort St. John, B.C.) pass from the point past Ferris State goaltender Mike Brown, who made 38 saves.
"(Fast) made a great play just to get the puck to the net," Hall said. "It just ended up on my stick. I kind of swung off of it to the net and it went in for us."
The Spartans doubled their lead with a power-play goal at 14:13 of the second period. Freshman Ash Goldie (London, Ont.), drifting through the slot, took a feed from fellow newcomer Duncan Keith (Penticton, B.C.) and backhanded the puck into the upper corner of the net for his first career goal.
The Spartans play their first road games of the young season next weekend as they travel to Nebraska-Omaha for two games with the Mavericks Oct. 26-27.
