Spartan Hockey Hosts Ice Breaker Tournament This Weekend
10/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 7, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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THIS WEEK'S ACTION
2003 Ice Breaker TournamentOctober 10-11, 2003Munn Ice Arena (6,470) * East Lansing, Mich.
Thursday, October 9 (Practice Times)Findlay, 2-2:50 p.m.Michigan State, 3-3:50 p.m.Boston College, 4-4:50 p.m.Minnesota-Duluth, 5-5:50 p.m.
Friday, October 10Boston College vs. Minnesota-Duluth, 5 p.m.Michigan State vs. Findlay, 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 11Third-Place Game, 5 p.m.Championship Game, 8 p.m.
MSU Radio: WJIM 1240-AM (Scott Moore, Damon Whitten)Television: Comcast Cable (Lansing/East Lansing only) -MSU games only (Eric Peasley, Joe Campbell)
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
Michigan State hosts the 2003 Ice Breaker Tournament at Munn Ice Arena as No. 4 Boston College, No. 15 Minnesota-Duluth and Findlay head to East Lansing. This marks the first time in Spartan hockey history that State will host the annual event. It also is the second time that MSU will play in the annual event.
LAST WEEKEND RECAP
Thursday, Oct. 2 - Green and White Game
The White squad picked up a 9-8 victory over the Green Team in the annual Green and White game on Thursday, Oct. 2.
Sunday, Oct. 5 - Michigan State 6, Windsor 0
Behind the strength of freshman forward Tommy Goebel's natural hattrick, MSU picked up a 6-0 win over Windsor on Sunday afternoon. Goebel's three markers in a span of 9:14 gave the Spartans an early 3-0 lead as MSU outshot the Lancers, 50-11 for the game. Matt Migliaccio and Dominic Vicari split time in net for the Spartans, stopping eight and three shots, respectively.
FOR STARTERS
* MSU returns 17 players (12 forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders) and welcomes nine newcomers (four forwards, four defenseman and one goaltender) to its rotation for 2003-04.
* State was picked to finish second in the CCHA Media Poll and third in the CCHA Coaches Poll, which was released at the annual CCHA Media Day at Joe Louis Arena (Sept. 16).
* The Spartans have 40 total regular-season games this year, including 24 at Munn Ice Arena, 12 road contests and four neutral site games.
MICHIGAN STATE QUICK HITS
* MSU, under the direction of second-year head coach Rick Comley, compiled a 23-14-2 overall record and a 17-10-1 CCHA slate in 2002-03. However, MSU was one of the hottest teams down the stretch, posting a 15-5-1 mark over the team's final 21 contests.
* Junior forward Jim Slater is MSU's leading returning scorer. Slater registered a career-best 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) to rank as MSU's third-leading scorer in 2002-03. The All-CCHA First-Team honoree has 76 career points (29 goals, 47 assists) in 74 career contests.
* All told, MSU returns 61.9 percent of its scoring from one year ago, including 93.1 percent (94-of-154) of its goal production.
* Spartan captains for 2003-04 include Slater (team captain), junior forwards Mike Lalonde and Adam Nightingale and senior defenseman Joe Markusen.
* The Spartans kick off their 63rd year of varsity competition hosting the Ice Breaker Tournament this weekend. MSU has compiled a 1,041-763-92 all-time mark and are one of just two CCHA schools with at least 1,000 victories.
* The Spartans are 5-2-3 in their last 10 season openers.
FINDLAY QUICK HITS
* Findlay, under the direction of first-year head coach Pat Ford, compiled a 10-21-4 mark in 2002-03. The Oilers return 10 players from last year's squad, including sophomore forward Andrew Radzak who compiled 15-9--24 totals one year ago.
* The Oilers opened the season with a 4-1 win over the U.S. National Team on Oct. 1.
* Findlay head coach Pat Ford spent two years (1992-94) as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan under Rick Comley.
* Findlay assistant coach Mike Szkodzinski and MSU volunteer coach Damon Whitten grew up together in Brighton, Mich.
* Senior forward Brian Sherry is from Holt, Mich., and will be playing at Munn for the first time in his collegiate career.
BOSTON COLLEGE QUICK HITS
* Boston College, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Jerry York, is ranked third in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine and second in the USCHO.com polls.
* BC opened the season with a 5-3 win at Vermont on Oct. 4.
* Jerry York spent 15 years (1979-94) behind the bench at Bowling Green where he won the 1984 NCAA National Championship.
* Assistant coach Ron Rolston played his collegiate hockey at Michigan Tech (1986-89) and spent five years as an assistant coach (1990-95) at Lake Superior State.
* BC sophomore defenseman Paul Harrold and MSU freshman forward Tommy Goebel were teammates at Cleveland from 2000-02. Harrold, Goebel and MSU junior forward Jim Slater also played together at Cleveland in 2000-01.
* The Eagles compiled a 24-11-4 record last year, advancing to the NCAA East Regional finals where the team fell to Cornell 2-1 in overtime.
MINNESOTA-DULUTH QUICK HITS
* Minnesota-Duluth, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Scott Sandelin, compiled a 22-15-5 overall mark last year.
* UMD dropped a 3-2 decision to North Dakota in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game (Oct. 4) to open the season.
* The Bulldogs are ranked 14th in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll and 15th in the USCHO.com poll.
* UMD returns 21 letterwinners, including 13 forwards, seven defensemen and one goalie.
* Sophomore forward Tim Stapleton (14-28--42) and junior forward Junior Lessard (21-16--37) are the Bulldogs top returning scorers.
SERIES INFORMATION
* Friday's meeting with Findlay marks the first-ever meeting between State and Findlay.
* MSU leads the all-time series with Boston College, 15-5-1, including a 7-3 mark in games played in East Lansing. The last time the teams met was on Dec. 29, 2000 at the Great Lakes Invitational where the Spartans posted a 4-1 victory.
* State holds a 32-19 advantage in the all-time series with Minnesota-Duluth, including a 21-7 edge in games played in East Lansing. If the teams meet on Saturday, it would mark the first meeting between the schools since Jan. 10, 1981 when MSU was still a member of the WCHA.
ICE BREAKER HISTORY
The 2003 season marks the seventh season of the Ice Breaker Tournament. The inaugural Ice Breaker Tournament took place in 1997 in Madison, Wis., with Michigan State taking the title with a 2-1 overtime victory over host Wisconsin. The tournament's goal was to attract top teams from four major Division I conferences, including Hockey East, ECAC, CCHA and the WCHA.
Sponsorship for the inaugural tournament was obtained from the WCHA, the American Hockey Coaches Association and the University of Wisconsin. Since 1997, 21 different teams have taken part in the tournament.
1997 at Madison, Wis. (Dane County Coliseum)-games considered exhibitionHosted by WisconsinWisconsin def. Clarkson, 7-1Michigan State def. Boston University, 3-1Michigan State def. Wisconsin, 2-1 (Championship game)Boston University def. Clarkson, 5-4
1998 at St. Paul, Minn. (Civic Center)Hosted by MinnesotaSt. Lawrence def. Minnesota, 6-4Boston College def. Ohio State, 4-3Boston College def. St. Lawrence, 3-2 (Championship game)Minnesota def. Ohio State, 4-3
1999 at Denver, Colo. (Mangass Arena)Hosted by DenverProvidence def. Notre Dame, 2-1Denver def. Union, 4-1Denver def. Providence, 3-2 (OT) (Championship game)Notre Dame def. Union, 4-0
2000 at Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Arena)Hosted by MichiganNew Hampshire def. North Dakota, 3-2 (shootout, but game counts as tie for both)Colgate def. Michigan, 3-2 (shootout, but game counts as tie for both schools)New Hampshire def. Colgate, 7-3 (Championship game)Michigan tied Colgate, 5-5
2001 at Orono, Maine (Alfond Arena)Hosted by MaineSt. Cloud State def. Clarkson, 5-1Maine def. Bowling Green, 9-1St. Cloud State def. Maine, 6-2 (Championship game)Bowling Green tied Clarkson, 1-1 (BG wins 1-0 in shootout to take 3rd place)
2002 at Madison, Wis. (Kohl Center)Hosted by WisconsinRPI def. Wisconsin, 5-1Northern Michigan tied BU, 4-4 (BU wins shootout, 4-3)BU def. RPI, 5-1 (Championship game)Wisconsin def. Northern Michigan, 4-3
HOCKEY TICKETS ON SALE
Fewer then 200 Michigan State hockey season tickets are still available. Tickets for the 27-game home schedule are $486 each and may be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office located in Jenison Field House, by phone at (517) 355-1610 or online at www.msuspartans.com.
"Michigan State has a great ice hockey tradition," said athletics director Ron Mason. "We've reduced the number of complimentary tickets that the University issues and are able to offer the public season tickets for the first time in more than 20 years."
In addition to the full-season ticket plan, the University still has hockey "Mini-Plan" and student season ticket packages available. The eight-game mini-plan is $144 and the tickets are located in sections T-C (Northeast corner). The eight dates, which are not included on the student season-ticket plan, are: Windsor (Oct. 5), the Ice Breaker Tournament (Oct. 10-11), Minnesota (Nov. 28), Wisconsin (Nov. 29), U.S. National Team (Dec. 17) and Northern Michigan (Jan. 2-3).
Student season tickets for Michigan State hockey are still on sale. The price is $64 for the eight-game package and the order deadline is Friday, Oct. 10, 2003. There are two eight-game packages, and students will have the option of Ticket Plan A or Ticket Plan B.
THE NUMBER TO KNOW
Since the start of the 1995-96 season, the Spartans are 176-3-13 (.951) when holding a lead after 40 minutes of play.
SPARTAN NOTEBOOK
* MSU head coach Rick Comley has an all-time mark of 16-11-3 in season opening games. Comley was 1-2 at Lake Superior State, a 15-8-3 mark at Northern Michigan and is 0-1 vs. Michigan State.
* Almost seven years separate the Spartans' oldest player from their youngest skater. Adam Nightingale is the elder statesman as he will turn 24 years old on Dec. 19, 1979. On the flip side, freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen is the second-youngest player in NCAA-I hockey with a March 18, 1986 birthday. The youngest player in NCAA-I hockey is freshman forward Adam Pineault from Boston College, who has a May 23, 1986 birthdate.
* The last three captains from the Cleveland Barons (North American Hockey League) will be on the ice at Munn this weekend. MSU junior forward Jim Slater was Cleveland's captain in 2000-01, Boston College sophomore defenseman Peter Harrold was the team captain in 2001-02 while MSU freshman forward Tommy Goebel was Cleveland's captain in 2002-03.
MSU HEAD COACH Rick Comley
Entering his second season behind the Michigan State bench is Rick Comley. Comley, who was named head coach on March 25, 2002, became just the fifth head coach in MSU hockey history.
He enters the 2003-04 season with a 620-489-73 (.555) career record in 30 seasons and ranks seventh all-time on the NCAA hockey coaches wins list. In addition, his 620 career victories ranks third among active NCAA coaches, behind Boston University's Jack Parker (680 wins) and Boston College's Jerry York (666 wins).
In his first season, he led the Spartans to a 23-14-2 (.615) overall mark. He became one of just seven coaches to reach the 600-win plateau, a feat he accomplished on Oct. 24, 2002, when the Spartans beat Lake Superior State, 7-0.In addition, he coached a pair of All-Americans in senior defensemen John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast. Liles led the team in scoring en route to earning the CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman award, while Fast finished second in scoring and was the recipient of the CCHA's Best Defensive Defenseman award.
Comley brings 30 years of head coaching experience and a proven record of success at the conference and national levels. During his career, he's coached eight Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists, including 2003 finalist John-Michael Liles; 12 All-Americans; four league players of the year; 23 first-team all-league selections, including 2003 honorees Liles, Brad Fast and Jim Slater; and 80 academic all-league selections.
SEEING DOUBLE
Double-check the last name on the jersey for the Spartans this season as the MSU roster will contain a pair of brothers. Jared, a sophomore defenseman, played in 38 games in 2002-03, registering 1-3-4 totals. Meanwhile, Adam, a junior forward, sat out the 2002-03 season after transferring from Lake Superior State. It marks the first time since the 1987-88 season that a pair of brothers (Kevin and Kip Miller) have played on the ice at the same time.
SPARTANS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
The Michigan State hockey team is ranked 12th in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine and 11th in the USCHO.com polls this week (Oct. 6).
Minnesota is the No. 1 ranked team in both polls, while Michigan, Boston College, New Hampshire and North Dakota round out the top five in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll. Boston College, Michigan, New Hampshire and North Dakota are two through five in the USCHO.com poll.
THE LONE SENIOR
Defenseman Joe Markusen is the lone senior on the Spartans' roster in 2003-04. The 6-0, 185-lb. assistant captain has appeared in 119 career games, registering three goals and 18 assists for 21 points. As a junior in 2001-02, he doubled his offensive output from his first two years combined, posting two goals and nine assists for 11 points. He scored his first goal since Feb. 23, 2001 in a 4-0 victory at Michigan (Feb. 28, 2003), as the goal also turned out to be the game winner.
FAMILY LINEAGE
Freshman forward Drew Miller will bring some Spartan family lineage with him to the MSU hockey program. Miller's father (Dean - 1978-79), grandfather (Butch - 1956, '59), brother (Ryan - 2000-02) and uncle (Lyle - 1964) all lettered for the Spartans, as did cousins Kip (1987-90), Kevin (1985-88) and Kelly (1982-85) Miller and Curtis (1996-99) and Taylor (1996) Gemmel. Kip captured the 1990 Hobey Baker Memorial Award after leading the nation in scoring for a second-consecutive season with 101 points on 48 goals and 53 assists. Meanwhile, Ryan became just the second netminder to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2001. Ryan posted a 31-5-4 record, a 1.32 goals-against average, a .950 saves percentage and 10 shutouts.
SPARTAN GOALTENDING IN GOOD HANDS
Goaltending could be one of the important keys to the Spartans this season. MSU returns junior Matt Migliaccio, who appeared in 35 of the team's 39 games last year. Migliaccio posted a 21-10-2 record, along with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. He led the CCHA and ranked tied for third in the nation with five shutouts, including a 4-0 blanking at Michigan on Feb. 28, 2003.
Newcomer Dominic Vicari will challenge Migliaccio for playing time. The Clinton Township, Mich., native was selected by USA Hockey as the Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year along with the USHL Goalie of the Year. The 5-10, 180-pounder posted a 28-14-2 overall record, along with a 2.03 GAA and .914 save percentage while his six shutouts led the USHL. In two seasons in the USHL, Vicari posted 53 victories and a 1.91 GAA.
POWER PLAY - ONE KEY TO SUCCESS
One of the keys to Michigan State's success over the past few seasons has been the Spartans' power play. MSU led the CCHA and ranked third in the nation with the man advantage at 27.5 percent (50-of-182) in 2002-03. In conference games only, State paced the league with the man advantage at 29.7 percent (38-of-128). MSU registered at least one power play marker in 30 of the team's 39 games last year. To further illustrate MSU's success, take note: MSU led the CCHA and finished ninth in the nation on the power play in 2001-02 at 22.5 percent (45-of-200). The Spartans also led the CCHA and ranked seventh in the nation at 22.7 percent (52-of-229) in 2000-01, while in 1999-2000, State once again led the CCHA and ranked sixth in the nation at 22.9 percent (56-of-245).
IT'S SIZZLING
Michigan State finished fifth in the nation and second in the CCHA with a 3.95 goals-per-game average in 2002-03. It was MSU's best offensive showing since the Spartans averaged 4.58 goals per game in 1994-95 - a span of eight seasons.
Over the final seven games, the Spartans lit the lamp for 39 goals - an average of 5.6 goals per game - including a season-best 11 against Alaska Fairbanks (March 14). The 11 goals marked the team's best offensive output since Dec. 6, 1991, when the Spartans registered 12 goals in a 12-4 victory over Ohio State.
MSU returns 61.9 percent of its scoring from one year ago, including 93.1 percent (94-of-154) of its goal production. MSU will be led by junior Jim Slater (18-26-44), the team's third-leading scorer and an All-CCHA First-Team honoree in 2002-03, and sophomore forward David Booth (17-19-36), who earned CCHA All-Rookie honors.
DRAFTED SPARTANS
A pair of Spartans were selected in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Sophomore defenseman Corey Potter was selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round (No. 122 overall), while freshman forward Drew Miller was drafted by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the sixth round (No. 186 overall).
All told, seven members of the Spartan squad have been drafted. In addition to Potter and Miller, other Spartan draftees include: Kevin Estrada (Carolina, 2001 - third round, No. 91 overall); Lee Falardeau (New York Rangers, 2002 - second round, No. 33 overall); Colton Fretter (Atlanta Thrashers, 2002 - eighth round, No. 230 overall); Brock Radunske (Edmonton Oilers, 2002 - third round, No. 79 overall) and Jim Slater (Atlanta Thrashers, 2002 - first round, No. 30 overall).
REPLACING LILES AND FAST
The Spartans must replace the blueline duo of John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast, the team's leading and second-leading scorer from 2002-03, respectively. Liles, a two-time CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman and two-time All-American, became the first Spartan blueliner to lead the team in scoring since 1990-91 with 50 points (16 goals and 34 assists). Liles was a catalyst for the Spartan power play and closed his four-year Spartan career with 27 power play markers. Fast, the CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman and All-America Second-Team honoree, registered a career-best 46 points (11 goals and 35 assists) to rank as MSU's second-leading scorer. The defensive partners logged almost 35 minutes of ice time the second half of the season, playing in all situations.
THE Rick Comley RADIO SHOW
The Rick Comley Radio Show will run throughout the season, on Wednesday's, at 6 p.m., on WVFN-AM 730. The hour-long show originates from Reno's East Sports Bar in East Lansing. Jerry Marshall serves as the host of the program.
UP NEXT
Following the Ice Breaker Tournament, Michigan State continues its homestand as Ohio State hits East Lansing Oct. 17-18. The OSU series marks the CCHA opener for the Spartans.
