Michgian State Hockey Media Day
10/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 1, 2008
Michigan State Hockey Media Day Quotes
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Senior Forward Tim Crowder (Alternate Captain)
On beginning his senior season...
Time went really fast. It feels like just yesterday I was a freshman and now I'm a senior. Hopefully we go far this year, it would be a great way to end my career. We've got a good team, and I'm looking forward to it.
On the expectations after the CCHA Preseason Poll was released...
Expectations are the same. Everyone knows we're a good team and we're always looking to be one. It's not worrying us too much, we're just going to focus on the task at hand and doing our best.
[The poll] means nothing. It just depends how good we are game- in and game-out. If we go out there and work hard, hopefully we can get up there around the top. We can't really tell how good we are right now, we haven't played anyone. I think we have a good team, so hopefully we can get out there and prove it this season.
On returning to the National Championship game...
We want to get back. Last year we could've been better than we were, and we're eager to get it going this year so we can get back and have another shot.
On Jeff Lerg...
We've got a great goalie. He's been good and always will be, so we're happy to have him back there. He's definitely the leader of the team. It's good he's got the `C' on his chest because he deserves it.
On scoring more goals this year...
I'm hoping to. I've been working in the offseason, so I look to get a few more in the net. I've been working on my shot by focusing on targeting, shooting on goalies more, and just working hard.
On the Green & White game this Sunday...
Obviously the game is a big thing. It is hard, there are not a lot of lines, so we get out there and get moving and we get tired. It's a good thing to get back in shape so we are happy to do Green and White every year.
On the road trip to Boston...
That is going to be really exciting. We are going out there and playing a couple of tough teams. It will be a good test for us to see how we match up against everyone else in the nation.
On who needs to be leaders this season...
All of the older guys. We have all been around here for a while and we saw all of the upperclassmen do it for us when we were young. So we all have stepped up and things have been going really well.
Senior Defenseman Brandon Gentile
On playing the Green & White game on Sunday...
Green and White is fun, everyone gets out here for the first time. We have a chance to get our timing down and it's just fun to play against our guys. We play against them all the time in practice, so it will be fun to get out there and play against them in a real-game situation, maybe score a few goals and get the horn going. It also gets the freshman going. The atmosphere really gives them a taste of what is to come throughout the rest of the season.
On the team's trip to Boston...
It's going to be awesome. They have a great facility there and everyone is looking forward to it. Great facility, great team and its going to be a great matchup. It will be like last year going into North Dakota, it will be the same kind of atmosphere and should be really fun.
On being ranked fifth in the preseason CCHA poll...
Every year there are new polls, and it is a new year. You need to go out there and prove yourself. Polls don't really matter; you see it in every sport. It is the preseason. Every week someone is falling. You just need to go out and play hard and prove to everyone that you belong there.
On starting the season strong...
We just want to come out of the gate strong. That is usually our biggest goal. In a couple years in the past, we have come out of the gate strong, then we taper off a little bit and then pick it up and get going in the second half. We just want to stay consistent and play hard in the first half and build on that heading into the second half.
On winning the national title in 2007...
After we won that summer, I felt like I wanted to win it again. After I had tasted that and experienced it, you just want it again. It's not just the day after or the week after, it was the entire summer. It's unbelievable, everyone is congratulating you. It was a great feeling and we all want it more.
Sophomore Defenseman Jeff Petry (Alternate Captain)
On being named an alternate captain his sophomore season...
It shows that coach has confidence in me. I'm a very vocal guy out on the ice and that helps. He says to lead by example, so I look to do that especially with the freshmen this year.
On beginning his sophomore year and the adjustment into the season...
I feel better, it's still going to have that beginning. Those first couple games are always tough, you have to get used to the speed and so on, but I think it will come more quickly than it did last year.
On being a leader...
I've been trying to be open to them [the freshmen]. Last year's seniors and a few other guys really helped me out, so I'm trying to do the same thing for the freshmen this year.
On being paired with Brendon Gentile and the overall defense...
I think with both of our forwards and our defense, we're more of a defensive team overall so we'll be strong there. We have five returners, so it will be easy for the freshmen to slide in and adjust. It also doesn't hurt having Jeff Lerg behind us.
On Jeff Lerg anchoring the defense...
He looks good right now, so we hope he has a good season. We're going to need him at the beginning of the season, with everyone transitioning, but I think towards the middle of the year we'll have it all figured out.
On replacing the departing senior class...
We don't have the firepower that we had last year. It is still kind of early to tell where this team is at. It will be nice to get a game under our belt, so hopefully after these next two games we can see where we are at. I know we are going to miss some of the guys from last year, but we need to just play well.
On the freshman class...
It is a great group of guys. I am just trying to be open for the freshman. Any questions that they have, I want to be there for them and help them with things, help them develop. Their success leads directly to the team's success this season. We have some really good freshmen, and we have some guys who did not have a lot of playing time last year step up this season. I think we can definitely be a pretty good team.
On the Green & White game...
It will be good to get a game here. It will be awesome to see fans here. There is a big difference between game speed and practice speed, so it will be nice to go at game speed before we head out to Boston.
On heading to Boston for the season debut...
Going out and getting a win is nice, but playing a real good team off the start helps you develop throughout the year. You're not going to be playing weak teams late in the season, in the CCHA Tournament or at the NCAA Tournament. The CCHA is a competitive league, so it will be nice to get a few tough tests right off the bat.
Senior Forward Nick Sucharski
On the freshmen's view of the Michigan State program ...
They know that we are a prestigious and highly- renowned program, but at the same time, until you step on the ice for the first time and feel the thrill of putting on that jersey for the first time, they are going to wonder a little bit. But I am sure that they will take it in stride and handle it really well.
On whether this is a rebuilding year for Michigan State ...
The way I view it, we rebuild every year. A bunch of guys have left every year, and even though we have been rebuilding we still found a way to get it done, and I am sure the same thing can be said about this year. But right now, we just need to take it one game at a time and do like we do every year and get better with each game we play.
Senior forward Matt Schepke
On goals for the season...
Our goal is always to go all the way and play in the title game. I do feel that if bounces go our way and everyone is all on the same page and working hard like we are right now, then we may get a chance. At this point it is all up to us.
On possibly winning the CCHA regular-season title...
That is a goal. We haven't done that yet. But we need to take it one game at a time and hopefully we can pull it off.
Freshman Forward Ben Warda
On beginning his freshman season...
I'm loving it here. All the guys are great and are truly welcoming the freshmen. They help us give confidence in our game and our individual roles.
On his role thus far...
I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win. Whether its helping the younger guys, because I'm a little older as a freshman, or anything else they ask. I'm going to do what I can to help the team out and focus on winning.
On the freshmen bonding with the team...
We have a great relationship, the older guys always are sure to include us in what they're doing. We're all meshing together really well so far.
On choosing Michigan State...
It was always my number one. I'm from Lake Orion, so I've been a big Spartan fan my entire life. I'm really excited to get things started and put the Spartan jersey on for the first time.
On Coach Comley's expectations for the freshmen...
He's looking for us to come in and make an immediate impact. We need to contribute right away, work our hardest and do our part to get the team to win.
On his style of play and what he brings to the team...
I'm a playmaker mostly, but I work hard on the penalty kill and throw my body around. I'll do whatever it takes to put the jersey on.
On which game he looks forward to the most...
Obviously the Michigan game is going to be one of the biggest, but Coach Comley was telling us that he need to make sure we're ready every night, no matter who the opponent.
Freshman Defenseman Tim Buttery
On beginning his freshman season...
I'm excited to be out here with all the coaches and my teammates. We're all working hard and looking forward to beginning the season.
On what he brings to the team...
Right now I'm focusing on working hard both on and off the ice. Whatever happens, I'm just looking to get on the ice and take advantage of that opportunity. I see myself as someone who tries to make good plays on all areas of the ice. I think its key for us to stay strong defensively in our own zone.
On Coach Comley's expectations for the freshmen...
He expects us to work hard every day. We look up to the older guys and follow their lead, and they've been setting a good example for us so far.
On who he looks up to on the team...
I would say Jeff Lerg is the biggest leader on the team. He's a vocal guy and leads by example. He's also a big part of the defense, so I look up to him for help in my role.
On being a Spartan fan growing up and now playing on the team...
Obviously it's a great program and it was awesome when they won the National Championship. Michigan State has always been a school I've wanted to go to, and it's a great opportunity for me.
On what he expects this season...
As a whole we have a great freshman class. We should have a great season despite being a young team, but we're going to take it game by game. You don't want to look ahead on the schedule, so one at a time is our plan.
Freshman forward Trevor Nill
On the leadership of the team captains...
The leaders will sometimes see something here or there, and they will step in and make sure that things are done right. It is a group effort to make sure that things are done right, but the captains and the seniors really do take charge and they all have a good voice in the locker room.
I think it is important for us to see. It is great for everyone to come in and have a voice and keep everyone accountable for each other. We have Lerg and three alternate captains, and they are all great leaders, so we all need to look at them so that in the future we can model ourselves after them and compete like them.
