Michigan State University Athletics
Four Spartan Skaters Ink Pro Contracts
3/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 31, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Four seniors from the Michigan State hockey team have inked contracts to play professional hockey in the past week. Defensemen Brad Fast (Fort St. John, B.C.) and John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.), along with forwards Troy Ferguson (Kitchener, Ont.) and Brian Maloney (Bassano, Alta.) are currently playing in the American Hockey League.
Fast signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, who drafted him in the third round (No. 84 overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, and the club assigned him to Lowell. The Lowell Lock Monsters are the Hurricanes' American Hockey League affiliate in Lowell, Mass.
Fast, who served as the team captain, tallied 11 goals and 46 points in 39 games for MSU in 2002-03 to rank as the team's second-leading scorer. His 46 points ranked second among blueliners in the CCHA and third in the country in points per game among rearguards (1.18). Fast was selected as the CCHA's Best Defensive Defenseman in addition to earning All-CCHA first-team honors.
Fast closed his career, playing in 164 contests and posting 30-84-114 totals. His 114 career points ranks seventh all-time on MSU's defensemen scoring chart, while his 30 goals rank fifth and his 84 assists rank ninth.
Liles signed a long-term deal with the Colorado Avalanche and the club assigned him to Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. Liles was an eighth-round pick (No. 159 overall) of the Avalanche in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
 John-Michael Liles  | |
Liles, a two-time CCHA Best Offensive Defensemen and All-CCHA first-team honoree, led MSU in scoring with 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) in 2002-03. In doing so, he became the first Spartan blueliner to pace the club in scoring in back-to-back seasons. His 50 points ranks fourth in the CCHA overall scoring race and paces the nation among blueliners in points per game (1.28). Liles is one of 10 finalists for the 2003 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the nation's best player.
Liles closed his career with 138 points (44 goals, 94 assists) in 162 games to rank third on MSU's career defensemen scoring chart. The 44 goals rank first all-time in MSU blueliner goal history, while the 94 assists are sixth.
Maloney signed a deal with the Atlanta Thrashers and will report to the Chicago Wolves (AHL). The 2003 Terry Flanagan Award winner appeared in 39 games in 2002-03, totaling 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points. He paced MSU and tied for third in the CCHA with nine power play markers.
 Brian Maloney | |
Maloney was a key member of the Spartan squad down the stretch. After posting just three points in MSU's first 13 games, he registered 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists) in the last 26 games. He also tallied his second career hat trick in MSU's quarterfinal loss to Northern Michigan (March 20).
In 160 career games, Maloney tallied 63 goals, including 27 on the power play, and 74 assists for 137 points. In addition, he totaled 292 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of +51.
Ferguson signed a contract with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round (No. 276 overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
 Troy Ferguson | |
The versatile forward has been a key member of the Spartan penalty-killing unit as State led the CCHA with nine shorthanded tallies during the season. He scored a shorthanded marker in MSU's loss to Michigan at Joe Louis Arena (March 1).
The pre-med major earned CCHA All-Academic first-team honors in 2001-02 and was an honorable mention All-CCHA academic selection in 2002-03. Ferguson closed his career, playing in 161 contests and tallied 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points. Among his 12 goals were three power play markers and three shorthanded tallies.
