Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Hockey Readies For College Hockey Showcase
11/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 19, 2001
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THIS WEEK
Michigan State (8-2-1 overall, 7-2-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) closes out its seven-game home stand with the College Hockey Showcase, which brings together four of the nation's top programs for the ninth straight season. The Spartans kick off the weekend on Friday (Nov. 23) when they welcome Wisconsin to Munn Ice Arena for a 7:05 EST faceoff. On Sunday, the nation's top-ranked team, Minnesota, comes to East Lansing to face MSU. Faceoff is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
RADIO
Both College Hockey Showcase games can be heard live on the home of Spartan hockey, WVFN-AM 730 "The Fan." Play-by-play man Scott Moore, in his fifth season as the radio voice of MSU hockey, will call the action. Former Spartan All-American goaltender Joe Blackburn provides color commentary.
Spartan fans can also hear live play-by-play action of MSU hockey via the Internet. Broadcasts can be accessed by logging on to www.msuspartans.com, the official website of Spartan athletics, or www.espn.com.
TELEVISION
This weekend's games will not be televised in the greater Lansing area.
MSU INJURY UPDATE (as of Nov. 19)
The Spartans report no injuries heading into the week.
TICKET UPDATE
Reserved seating is still available for both of this week's games. Cost is $18 for the general public and $8 for MSU students with a valid ID. Reserved seating is also available for three future games - Jan. 4-5 vs. Quinnipiac and March 2 vs. Ferris State.
A five-game ticket plan can also be purchased for the 2001-02 hockey season. The plan includes this week's games vs. Wisconsin and Minnesota as well as those against Quinnipiac (Jan. 4-5) and Ferris State (March 2). Cost is $90 for the general public and $40 for MSU students with a valid ID.
For more information on Spartan hockey tickets, contact the MSU ticket office at (517) 355-1610 or 1-800-GO STATE.
THE SPARTANS... Have not posted back-to-back College Hockey Showcase sweeps in the eight-year history of the event. MSU was 2-0 in the 1997 College Hockey Showcase and repeated the feat last year. Have never been swept by Minnesota and Wisconsin in Showcase play. State posted splits in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Own a 10-6-0 record in College Hockey Showcase play since its inception in 1993. Only Michigan (11-4-1) owns a better record. Need just one win to become the tenth program in college hockey history to post 1,000 victories. Incidentally, Minnesota (1,408) and Michigan (1,258) rank first and second, respectively, on college hockey's all-time wins list. Close out a seven-game home stand with this week's games vs. Wisconsin and Minnesota. It's MSU's longest stretch of games at Munn Ice Arena since they hosted seven straight from Feb. 8-March 1, 1986.
THE BADGERS... Are 1-7-0 against Michigan State since the start of the College Hockey Showcase series in 1993. Wisconsin's lone win vs. MSU came in 1999, when then-freshman Dany Heatley scored three goals in a 5-1 win. Fell to the Spartans twice last season. MSU recorded a 6-2 win against Wisconsin in a College Hockey Showcase game in Madison (Nov. 25) and beat the Badgers 5-1 in an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal match in Grand Rapids, Mich. (March 25). Own a 24-9-3 (.708) road record since the start of the 1999-2000 season. Bucky is 2-2-0 vs. non-conference opponents away from Madison during that same span. Lead the nationally in penalty minutes, averaging 25.6 PIMs per game, but also boast the nations's fourth-best penalty-killing unit with a .922 (59-64) success rate. Are led by goaltender Scott Kabatoff. The junior from Sherwood Park, Alta., who played in seven career games as Graham Melanson's backup the previous two seasons, owns a 1.88 goals against average, a .947 saves percentage and a 5-3-0 record.
THE GOLDEN GOPHERS... Enter the week with a 10-0-1 record and are one of two teams in the nation without a loss. Denver, at 8-0-0, is the other. Own the nation's top scoring offense (6.27 goals per game) and second-best power play (26-68, .388 success rate). Have beaten the Spartans 97 times since the series between the two teams began in 1926. Only Michigan (122 wins) has more victories against State. Are led by senior forward John Pohl. The Red Wing, Minn., native ranks second nationally in scoring with 9-15--24 in 11 games. Fellow senior Jordan Leopold leads NCAA defensemen in points with 9-9--18. Feature six former members of the U.S. Under-18 team. The Spartans have seven players on their roster who played for the Under-18 squad.
