Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Icers Kick Off Home Slate
10/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 14, 2008
Michigan State welcomes Hockey East entry UMass-Lowell for a two-game set which opens its home slate. UMass-Lowell was picked seventh in the Hockey East pre-season poll, and started the year with a 2-1 loss at Colgate last Saturday.
the particulars
Date/Time: Thurs./Fri. Oct. 16-17; 7:05 p.m.Tickets: A limited number of tickets remain. Purchase Tickets
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Audio: Friday: WVFN 730 AM; Saturday on WJIM 1240 AM; all audio can also be heard at msuspartans.com
Television: (Thurs.) Comcast Television; (Digital Channel 900 in Mid-Michigan.)
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series history
Thursday's game will serve as the seventh meeting of the schools; the teams have split their previous six meetings with three wins each. The last time the teams met was in January of 2004, when MSU took the first game (2-0) before Lowell rebounded with a win in the next contest (3-2). Two of the teams' six previous meetings came in thr 1994 and 1996 NCAA Tournaments; the Riverhawks prevailed, 4-3, in the 1994 tilt and again in 1996 by a 6-2 score. The teams first met in 1984 in a two-game set swept by the Spartans.
east coast bias
MSU is 7-5-0 against teams from Hockey East in Rick Comley's tenure, which includes a 0-1-0 mark last season and 1-1 so far this year. Comley owns a 36-26-1 mark in his 37-season tenure as a collegiate coach against HEA institutions; he has never coached a game against UMass-Lowell in his coaching career.
gaining ground
Rick Comley owns a 740-561-95 (.564) career overall coaching record. He needs five wins to surpass Bob Peters for fourth place on the all-time wins list. Peters, who coached from 1964-2001 at North Dakota and Bemidji State, has 744 victories. Comley needs 10 wins to reach 750, and would become just the fourth Division I coach in history to reach the 750-win plateau. Former MSU coach and athletic director Ron Mason finished his career behind the bench in 2002 with 924 wins, while Jerry York of Boston College has 804 and Jack Parker of Boston University has 783.
ompete with the east
The Spartans open the 2008-09 season with four straight games against Hockey East competition: the Spartans went 1-1 at last week's Icebreaker Tournament, as MSU defeated Massachusetts, 3-1, in the season-opening game, then fell to host Boston University, 2-1, in the championship tilt.
in-season honors
Jeff Lerg and Jeff Petry were named to the Icebreaker All-Tournament Team. They were joined by Darcy Zajac of North Dakota, Alex Berry of Massachusetts, and Nick Bonino and Kevin Shattenkirk of Boston University. BU's Colin Wilson was named Tournament MVP.
ccha outlook
The Spartans, who finished third in the 2007-08 season, are projected fifth in the CCHA's preseason coaches poll (96 points), while the media surveyed had MSU third, with two first-place votes and 776 points. The groups were split on their decisions - the coaches selected Notre Dame (128 pts., eight first-place votes) as the favorite, followed by Michigan (122 points, three first-place votes), Miami (108 points, one first-place vote), Northern Michigan (102 points), and the Spartans. From the media poll, the Wolverines were selected as the front-runner (945 points, 43 first-place votes), then Notre Dame (915 points, 35 first-place votes) and the Spartans. In the media poll, Miami was fourth (746 points, two first place votes) and Northern Michigan fifth (700 points, one first-place vote). Ferris State was the consensus sixth-place finisher.
they're honored
The Spartans were well-represented on the pre-season All-CCHA teams. Senior netminder Jeff Lerg, a First-Team All-CCHA selection as a junior, was a first team pick in the preseason as well. Also getting first-team nods were forwards Erik Condra (Notre Dame), Aaron Palushaj (Michigan) and Justin Mercier (Miami) and defensemen Mark Mitera (Michigan) and Kyle Lawson (Notre Dame). Spartan alternate captains Tim Crowder and Jeff Petry are both second-team preseason picks. Crowder was selected along with fellow forwards Carter Camper (Miami), Mark Olver (Northern Michigan) and Ryan Thang (Notre Dame), while Petry and Ian Cole (Notre Dame) are the blueline selections. Michigan's Billy Sauer is the second-team goaltender.
law of averages
MSU's roster averages: 6-0, 175 lbs., and the average age is 20 years, six months. Among CCHA schools, MSU is one of seven that averages 6-0, the Spartans are the lightest team on average, and are tied with Notre Dame as the second-youngest. (Michigan's roster averages 20 years, five months.)
if it was baseball, we'd win the cy young
MSU has won 20+ games in 16 consecutive seasons, and has won at least 25 in three straight.
simply the best
Michigan State finished the pre-playoff portion of its schedule in 2007-08 with a 23-9-5 record, the most regular-season victories in the Rick Comley era.
big picture
The Spartans made their 26th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008 - their third straight selection to the field - with a 25-12-5 overall record and finished third in the CCHA regular-season behind Michigan and Miami. MSU advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals for the third straight season. Just three programs have been in an NCAA regional final in each of the last three seasons - Michigan State, North Dakota, and Boston College.
we've got this going for us
The Spartans were the first defending champion in three years to qualify for the tournament the year after winning the championship: both the Denver Pioneers (2005 champions) and Wisconsin Badgers (2006 titleists) failed to qualify for the 16-team field the season following their title.
milestone
The 2008 NCAA West Regional Semifinal was the 250th game behind the Michigan State bench for head coach Rick Comley. He owns a 143-86-24 (.614) mark in his six-year tenure as the head coach of MSU.
2008-09 season recap
Michigan State finished third in the CCHA standings, with a 19-6-3 CCHA record. The Spartans were three points behind league champion Michigan and two behind second-place Miami. MSU won five of the last six games of the regular season, and were an impressive 10-3-1 on the road. MSU's only road losses this season came in the curtain-lifter at No. 1 North Dakota, and a sweep at Northern Michigan in Marquette. The Spartans were swept in only two CCHA sets- at home against Miami in November, and at Northern. The Spartans swept Northern Michigan at Munn, Alaska, Lake State, and Ohio State on the road, and took home-and-home series with Ferris State, Bowling Green, and Western Michigan. In addition, MSU posted three-point weekends against Notre Dame, Lake Superior, and Michigan. There were only two weekend splits, and both came in February: against Nebraska-Omaha, and in the home-and-Joe series against Michigan.
pro losses
Three Spartans gave up their remaining eligibility to sign pro deals since the end of the 2007-08 season.
• Justin Abdelkader made his professional debut with the Detroit Red Wings on April 4 and played in two regular-season games. He was a member of the "Black Aces", training and traveling with the team throughout its Stanley Cup run. He had his day with the Cup in August, and brought it back to his high school, Muskegon Mona Shores. He has been assigned to Detroit's AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids as one of the last cuts in the Red Wings' preseason camp. • Blueliner Michael Ratchuk gave up his final two years of eligibility and signed with Philadelphia in April; he appeared in three games for their AHL affiliate Phantoms. He scored his first professional goal on April 12, and begins the 2008-09 season there as well. • Tim Kennedy opted to forego his senior year and signed with the Buffalo Sabres over the summer. Kennedy was one of the final six players sent to Buffalo's new AHL affiliate in Portland.
quite the cluster
MSU finished the season tied with Michigan for the most wins in games among its clustermates in 2007-08 with a .708 winning percentage. (Michigan State and Michigan were paired last season with Lake Superior and Northern Michigan). MSU went 7-3-2, while the Wolverines were 7-2-3, Northern Michigan was 4-5-3, and the Lakers went 1-8-3. The cluster of MSU, UM, Northern Michigan and Lake Superior had an overall winning percentage of .584 (77-52-20), and finished third, first, sixth, and 10th respectively in the CCHA standings. Miami (2nd), Ohio State (11th), Nebraska-Omaha (T-7) and Alaska (T-9) went a combined 67-69-14 (.493), while Notre Dame (4th), Bowling Green (T-7), Ferris State (5th) and Western Michigan (12th) were 65-72-12 (.477). MSU's cluster in 2008-09 features Miami and Ohio State, in addition to Michigan.
strong second halves
During the Rick Comley era, the Spartans have traditionally been a second-half team. The first three months (October, November, December) of his first five seasons (2002-07), the Spartans were a combined 48-43-8 (52.5%), then compiled a 69-33-10 mark in the second half (66.1%). The 2007-08 Spartans had their best first-half record under Comley (12-5-2, 68.4%), and were 13-7-3 in the 2008 portion of the schedule (63%).
roadies
The Spartans played 23 of their 42 games at home last season, and owned a 11-3-1 mark in 15 road contests, which includes a 3-1 win over Colorado College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on the Tigers' home ice. Nine of the 11 road victories came as part of CCHA sweeps - at Alaska, Lake Superior, and Ohio State and in home-and-home series with Ferris State, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green. The Spartans earned their road tie at Notre Dame (Jan. 13), and defeated Michigan at Yost in a three-point weekend. The Spartans went 0-4 in neutral-site games, three of which were played at Joe Louis Arena. Michigan State snapped its losing streak in neutral-site games with its 3-1 victory over Massachusetts in the first game of the 2008-09 season.
strong starts
MSU scored the first goal of the game in 19 of its final 28 games a year ago and in 25 games overall. The Spartans owned a 22-1-2 record when scoring the game's opening tally, and were 3-11-3 when letting their opponent get on the board first. MSU's only loss when netting the first goal of the game came against Providence in the GLI (Dec. 29). MSU got the first tally of the game against UMass, but watched BU score the first two tallies of the game in the middle period on Saturday.
specialties
The Spartans have started strong on special teams, converting two of eight power play chances (25%) and, more importantly, extinguished all 12 chances against. Michigan State allowed just seven power play goals in its final 24 games, and earlier had a streak of 32 consecutive kills over eight games. The kill was 9-for-9 in its two NCAA Tournament games. In those 24 games, the Spartans killed 102 of 109 chances against (93.6%). The penalty kill finished at 87.3 percent for the season (165/189) and ranked seventh nationally. The MSU power play ranked 10th nationally (48/230, 20.9 percent). Dating back to last Feb. 29 (nine games), MSU has killed off 44 of 45 power-play chances against.
early returns
If Michigan State held a lead in 2007-08 entering the final period, it was a good bet to finish off the game with a win. The Spartans were 22-0-2 if they led at the second intermission, and were 2-3-2 when tied entering the final frame. MSU held a second-period lead against Massachusetts and held on for the win despite losing the shutout in the final period. The Spartans never led against Boston University.
nip it in the bud
The Spartans never lost three straight games in 2007-08 - and three of the four times it lost-back-to-back games, MSU rebounded with a victory.
assert yourself
Only nine times last season was MSU assessed more penalty minutes in a game than its opponent (and was 7-2-0 in those games). MSU was whistled for its season-high in penalties (11) on Jan. 13 at Notre Dame and on Jan. 26 agaisnt Michigan, and its season high for penalty minutes (31) came in the Jan. 19 game against Ohio State and again on Feb. 1 against Nebraska-Omaha. In its first two games, the Spartans were whistled for four more penalties than Massachusetts, and had the same number of infractions as Boston University.
offensive defensemen
Michigan State owned one of the top-scoring defensive units in the country last year, ranking fifth overall and second in the CCHA. MSU's blueliners averaged 2.26 points per game (16-79-95). RIT's defensive corps led the nation (2.54 ppg), followed by North Dakota's (2.51), Miami (2.50), and Wisconsin (2.36).
at the dot
Last year, MSU benefitted from a deep corps of quality centermen who excelled on faceoffs; five pivots had a faceoff winning percentage at or better than 53%. Of the five, only one returns to the roster this season: senior Nick Sucharski who won 176-of-332 (53.0%) a year ago. This season, MSU has won 56 of 121 (46.3 percent); Ben Warda has won 14 of 22 (63.4 percent).
picking up where he left off
Jeff Lerg was named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week on Oct. 13. He posted a .955 save percentage and 1.50 GAA in the weekend tournament; Lerg's 63 saves (on 66 shots) was the second-most of any goaltender on opening weekend (Juliano Pagliero of Niagara had 68). Lerg's 3,019 career saves trails Dave Versical's 3,108 in the Spartans' all-time record book.
he's kind of a big deal
Jeff Lerg's junior season accolades escalate him to a status of the most decorated players in school history, and perhaps the most-honored active player in all of college hockey. He was named a second-team All-American, the CCHA First-Team goaltender and the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In addition, he was a Hobey Baker Finalist, one of five finalists for the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award, and one of three finalists for CCHA Player of the Year. He was also named the Michigan College Athlete of the Year. In addition, he has won MSU's Alderton Award as the top male athlete of the year the last two years. This year, he is a pre-season First Team All-CCHA pick and is one of three returning Hobey Baker finalists from a year ago (Colin Wilson of BU and Princeton's Lee Jubinville are the others).
tight squeezes
In his career (116 GP), Jeff Lerg has 10 shutouts, and 29 games in which he has allowed a single goal. He has allowed just two goals on another 32 occasions - a grand total of 71 of 116 games that he has allowed two goals or fewer.
death, taxes, and Jeff Lerg
Jeff Lerg ranked fourth in the nation in minutes played a year ago (2464:14), and ranked sixth in percentage of team minutes played, (96.3 percent). In 2006-07, Lerg logged 96.9% of available minutes for MSU (2465:06), which ranked second only to Boston College's Cory Schneider.
shooting gallery
Jeff Lerg currently ranks second in the country in saves (63). Last year, he ranked second among all Division I goaltenders in saves (1,136) and faced an average of 27.7 shots per game, the second-most of any CCHA netminder and 13th nationally. Only three goalies ranked in the top 15 in saves per game played for teams that are better than .500: Lerg, Alex Kangas of Minnesota, and Kevin Regan of New Hampshire.
little big man
Jeff Lerg's 41 saves against Colorado College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament was not only his season high, but also his best in an NCAA Tournament game. His previous NCAA high (36) came against New Hampshire in the first round in 2006, a 1-0 victory over New Hampshire. Jeff Lerg's game-by-game NCAA Tournament stats:
NCAA Game GA/Svs3/25/06 New Hampshire 0 /363/26/06 Maine 4/ 293/23/07 Boston University 1 /273/24/07 Notre Dame 1 /194/5/07 Maine 2 /294/7/07 Boston College 1 /293/28/08 Colorado College 1 /413/29/08 Notre Dame 3 /23_____________________________________ 13 GA 233 svsTOTALS 1.62 GAA .947 Sv%
moving up the charts
In his NCAA Tournament career (eight games), Jeff Lerg owns a 1.62 GAA, sixth-best in the NCAA record book; his career save percentage of .947 in tournament games ranks fifth, and his six career tournament wins is the fourth highest total all-time and tied for the most among MSU goalies. Lerg is one of only three Michigan State netminders to win NCAA Tournament games three consecutive seasons - Norm Foster won NCAA contests in 1984, 1985, and an NCAA title in 1986, and shares the MSU record of six NCAA Tournament victories with Lerg and Jason Muzzatti, who won six games from 1988-90.
in the annals
Jeff Lerg has moved into top-10 positions in several netminding categories at MSU:
Career records:
• Wins: 68, fifth (record: 88)
• Games Played: 116, fourth (record: 131)
• Consecutive Games Played: 61, first
• GAA: 2.21, third (record: 1.54)
• Saves: 3,019, second (record: 3,108)
• Save Percentage: .923, second (record: .941)
• Shutouts: 10, fourth (record: 26)
Single-Season records:
• Wins: 26, (2006-07), fifth; 24, (2007-08), eighth
• Games: 42, (2006-07), first; 41, (2007-08), third
• GAA: 1.96, (2005-06), seventh; 2.22, (2007-08), ninth
• Saves: 1,136 (2007-08), third; 1,042 (2006-07), fifth
• Save Pct. .928 (2006-06), fourth; .926 (2007-08), sixth
*complete goaltending records can be found on pgs. 110-111 of the Michigan State media guide
more milestones looming
Tim Crowder is currently sitting on 93 career points on 46 goals and 47 assists. Fellow alternate captain Brandon Gentile has appeared in 99 career games entering the weekend action, and will likely play in his 100th career game on Thursday against UMass-Lowell.
these go to eleven
All 10 MSU freshmen skaters got a game last weekend in Boston, and six recorded points - Daultan Leveille had two assists in his first collegiate game, while Andrew Conboy recorded his first collegiate tally. The only freshman who did not see time was goaltender Drew Palmisano.
the young ones
Inside College Hockey has ranked MSU's freshman class fifth nationally, behind Boston College, Minnesota, Boston University, and North Dakota. Daultan Leveille was ranked sixth among incoming freshmen forwards, and Drew Palmisano was the top-ranked freshman goalie recruit.
feeling a draft
Three of Michigan State's freshmen were selected in the last two NHL entry drafts. Forward Daultan Leveille was the only Spartan taken in 2008, but did not wait long to hear his name called as he was selected by Atlanta in the first round, the 29th pick overall. Both Trevor Nill and Andrew Conboy were selected in the 2007 NHL draft - Conboy went to Montreal in the fifth round (pick 142), while Nill was the seventh-round selection (190th overall) of the St. Louis Blues. Overall, the Spartans have seven players who have been drafted by NHL teams. The upperclassmen are Tim Crowder (Pittsburgh, 2005, 5/126), Nick Sucharski (Columbus, 2006, 5/136), Ryan Turek (St. Louis, 2006, 4/94) and Corey Tropp (Buffalo, 2007, 3/89)
nine start in the show ...
Nine former Spartans were on opening-day NHL rosters, the second-most in the CCHA behind Michigan. The nine are: Jim Slater (Atlanta), Ryan Miller (Buffalo), Rod Brind'Amour (Carolina), Duncan Keith (Chicago); John-Michael Liles (Colorado); Shawn Horcoff (Edmonton); David Booth (Florida); Mike Weaver (St. Louis); Adam Hall (Tampa). 9 pt ... and a dozen more in the A
Twelve Spartans started the seasons on American Hockey League rosters. Jim McKenzie (Binghamton Senators), Justin Abdelkader (Grand Rapids Griffins), Corey Potter and Ethan Graham (Hartford Wolfpack), Drew Miller (Iowa Chops), Chris Mueller (Lake Erie Monsters), Andrew Hutchinson (Norfolk Admirals), Michael Ratchuk (Philadelphia Phantoms), Colton Fretter and Tim Kennedy (Portland Pirates), Bryan Lerg (Springfield Falcons), and Mike York (Syracuse Crunch).
next up
The Spartans open CCHA play with a home series against Northern Michigan. The series is a Friday/Saturday affair, with each game starting at 7:05 p.m.
