Michigan State University Athletics
Icers Prepare for 2008-09 Season
10/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 3, 2008
The 2008-09 Spartan hockey season gets underway with the annual Green & White game on Sunday, and an exhibition tilt against Western Ontario on Monday evening. Sunday's game begins at 2 p.m. ($4 adults, $2 Students and Children, available at the door only). Monday's exhibition game begins at 7 p.m., and tickets are available in the Spartan Ticket Office.
- Season Tickets: Students | General Admission and Pick-Six Packages
- Blackberry/PDA users: Want live statistics on your phone? Link to livestats.ath.msu.edu/hockey to get up-to-the-minute statistics of all MSU home games. You can also download the 2008-09 schedule into your Outlook calendar.
The 2008-09 Spartan Hockey Outlook
Michigan State lost eight high-end players to graduation and pro hockey - meaning 11 freshmen will be working their way in with new and expanded roles for most returning players. The goal for the Spartans remains the same - be at their best at the end of the season, when the stakes are highest.
While head coach Rick Comley expects that up to 10 freshmen could be in the lineup any given night, only three first-year players will likely be among the top nine forwards and only one among the top four blueliners. The look of the team will be youthful, but Comley likes the talent level not only the newcomers brought in, but also the returning players who will be looking to keep Michigan State hockey among the nation's elite.
Only three programs have appeared in an NCAA regional final in each of the last three seasons - Michigan State, Boston College, and North Dakota. Expectations are always high for the Spartans - and this season will be no different. While Comley acknowledges that some changes will certainly be in store, the goals for the program will be simple, and similar to each of his six previous seasons in East Lansing: get better every game over the course of the year, and put the team in the best position for a post-season run come March.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2008-09 Spartans:
goaltenders (three returning, one newcomers)
Returning: Jeff Lerg (Sr., 41 GP, 2.22 GAA, .926 Sv%, 19-6-3, 4 ShO); Bobby Jarosz (Jr., 2 GP, 1.39 GAA, .943 Sv%) Steve Mnich (Sr., 0 GP).
Newcomers: Drew Palmisano.
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The least amount of suspense regarding position battles comes in the Michigan State crease, as senior Jeff Lerg will spend his fourth and final season backstopping the Spartans. His impressive resume speaks for itself - last year alone, he was a Hobey Baker finalist, a second-team All-America pick, was named the first-team All-CCHA netminder, and was an NCAA West Regional All-Tournament team selection. Lerg enters his final season in Green and White as a frontrunner for post-season recognition yet again - but will have to do so behind an inexperienced lineup. For the second straight season, Lerg loses three defenseman in front of him - but all he did in that situation a year ago was lower his goals against average to 2.22 (from 2.46 in 2007) and raise his save percentage to .926 (from .913 the previous season). Lerg already owns two school records outright - consecutive games played (62) and games played in a season (42); he is ranked among the all-time top 10 in 12 other career and single-season categories.
Lerg has earned the right to play enough games to make his run at the all-time records, but Comley will also concentrate on getting freshman Drew Palmisano some time as well. Palmisano comes in with an impressive junior hockey resume - in fact, very similar to Lerg's. They both played for the same junior program (Omaha Lancers), and like Lerg, Palmisano was named USA Hockey's Dave Peterson Award winner as the Goaltender of the Year. Both backstopped Omaha to Clark Cup titles and earned USHL Goaltender of the Year honors. Bobby Jarosz has also proven that he is a capable collegiate goaltender in his limited time, so the depth at the postition has MSU well prepared for the season ahead.
defensemen (five returning, three lost, three newcomers)
Returning: Brandon Gentile (Sr., 39 GP, 0-9-9); Jeff Petry, (So., 42 GP, 3-21-24); Ryan Turek (Jr., 35 GP, 0-5-5); Justin Johnston (Jr., 24 GP, 0-2-2); A.J. Sturges (So., 5 GP, 1-0-1).
Lost: Daniel Vukovic (42 GP, 3-19-22); Jeff Dunne (37 GP, 3-4-7); Mike Ratchuk (So., 40 GP, 6-19-25).
Newcomers: Tim Buttery, Matt Crandell, Brock Shelgren.
Michigan State loses two blueliners (Daniel Vukovic and Jeff Dunne) to graduation, and a third to the pros (Michael Ratchuk) - but also returns significant experience and talent as well. Two of the team's three alternate captains are defensemen, so leadership among the young group is strong.
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Sophomore Jeff Petry and senior Brandon Gentile anchor the group, though likely will not play together as top-four defensemen. The two differ in styles: Gentile has proven his worth as a steady, solid, calming influence in the defensive zone, while Petry is more likely to join the offense. Both styles are critical to MSU's success. Petry, a CCHA All-Rookie selection a year ago, played a conservative defensive game over much of the first half of his first season, but by February and March was much more comfortable joining the rush. As a freshman, he had three goals and led the team's defensemen in assists (21) - expect to see him become more active in the Spartan offense, most notably as he anchors MSU's top power-play unit. Gentile's outstanding skills as a defensive defenseman have him poised to earn conference accolades in that role as well - he and Petry both lead by example and will continue to be positive models for the younger blueliners.
Ryan Turek and Justin Johnston embark on their junior seasons. Turek played time both on the blueline and as a forward as a freshman, but was used primarily on defense as a sophmore. He is strong on the puck and has good speed. Johnston went from playing in just three games as a freshman to appearing in 24 a year ago. He skates well and keeps the game simple - his growth and adjustment to the college game will have him vying for a more expanded role in his junior season, possibly in the top four. Sophomore A.J. Sturges is a big body (6-4). and a stay-at-home type who appeared in five games in his first collegiate season.
New additions are USHL All-Stars Tim Buttery and Matt Crandell, and NAHL product Brock Shelgren. Buttery is coming off of a two-year stint with the Chicago Steel, where he was his team's top-scoring defenseman a year ago. Buttery is a smart player who keeps the game simple, and moves the puck well. Crandell, who played for Sioux City the last two seasons, was also his team's top scorer from the blueline. He will be more of a stay-at-home type than Buttery, but moves and shoots the puck well.
Shelgren will also be in the mix for a regular spot in the lineup. Shelgren spent the last two seasons in Fairbanks playing for the Ice Dogs, where he was a teammate of sophomore Joey Shean in 2006-07. He brings great skill and is also a good skater.
"I think we have great potential and talent among our defensive corps," notes Comley. "We're confident in our returning players, and we think we're adding three very capable, talented defensemen to the group."
forwards (10 returning, five lost, seven newcomers)
Returning: Tim Crowder (Sr., 42 GP, 15-23-38); Nick Sucharski (Sr., 41 GP, 9-17-26); Matt Schepke (Sr., 37 GP, 11-14-25); Corey Tropp (So., 42 GP; 6-11-17); Dustin Gazely (So., 40 GP, 3-9-12); Andrew Rowe (So., 21 GP, 3-4-7); Jay Sprague (Jr., 16 GP, 0-2-2); Dan Sturges (Sr., 8 GP); Kurt Kivisto (Sr., 28 GP); Joey Shean (So., 6 GP).
Lost: Tim Kennedy (Jr., 42 GP, 20-23-43); Bryan Lerg (42 GP, 20-19-39); Justin Abdelkader (Jr., 42 GP, 19-21-40); Chris Mueller (42 GP, 13-14-27); Zak McClellan (41 GP).
Newcomers: Andrew Conboy; Adam Henderson, Daultan Leveille, Mike Merrifield, Trevor Nill, Brett Perlini, Ben Warda.
The most drastic changes to the Spartan lineup will come up front, as MSU lost three forwards (Lerg, Mueller, and McClellan) to graduation and Abdelkader and Kennedy have signed contracts to begin their professional careers with Detroit and Buffalo, respectively. Among the five forwards departing the roster, there was one missed game in 2007-08.
The good news? The top six returning forwards all saw time on one of the top two lines a year ago, so there was some valuable experienced gained. However, with a crop of diverse, talented newcomers all fighting for a lineup spot, the lineup in the early going should be wide open - and subject to change frequently in the early going until the four lines shake out.
Alternate captain Tim Crowder headlines the returning players. The only remaining member of the '09 line, Crowder has been a mainstay on the top two lines throughout his three previous varsity seasons. He ranked fourth on the team with 38 points a year ago, with 15 goals and a team-best 23 assists, tied with Bryan Lerg. Crowder is a big-bodied, strong winger who can play in all situations.
Matt Schepke is another key returnee for the Spartans - he can score, and does not shy away from physical contact. He had a bit of a breakout last season with 11 goals and 14 assists after producing a 3-4-7 line as a sophomore; Comley believes that consistent play will result in another bump in his scoring output.
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Centerman Nick Sucharski is the team's second-leading returning scorer, with nine goals and 16 assists in his junior campaign. Sucharski enters camp as the top returning centerman; he won 186 of 355 faceoffs a year ago (53 percent). He has grown bigger and stronger in the off-season, which will certainly have a positive impact on his game.
Three sophomores will open camp with a lead on second-line duties, and all had experience with top-six duty a year ago. Leading the pack is Corey Tropp, who was the top-scoring freshman forward a season ago (6-11-17). Tropp and Andrew Rowe (3-4-7 in 21 games a year ago) are both over 6-feet, and can play physically in addition to displaying good puck skills and some speed. Tropp appeared in all 42 games a season ago, while Dustin Gazely made the lineup in 40 contests. What Gazely lacks in height - he's 5-8 - he makes up for in speed and aggressiveness. Gazley managed a 3-9-12 scoring line a season ago. The three would complement one another with speed, quickness, and a nose for the net; all three will be options for Comley on special teams as well.
Seniors Dan Sturges and Kurt Kivisto will also look for established roles in the offense. Both are hard workers who have shown considerable growth in their games over the last three seasons, but also consistently prove to be good role models with a solid work ethic and good attitudes every day at the rink.
Sophomore Joey Shean and junior Jay Sprague will be looking for increased playing time in 2008-09. Comley is high on Shean's skill, ability and growth since arriving in East Lansing, and Sprague is an intellegent player who has a big body and ability to play a physical game.
The newcomers are a group with a diverse skill set and style of play. The big bodies in front will be headlined by former Omaha Lancer Andrew Conboy, a 6-3, physically imposing forward who is very skilled and plays incredibly hard. Trevor Nill and Adam Henderson are two other big, strong players who will help add a physical element to the Spartan offense. Nill, who played last season for the Penticton Vees in the British Columbia league, played both center and wing in juniors; Henderson played last year for the Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta league. Henderson gets up and down the ice well, and is a smart, complete player.
A pair of Ontario forwards garnered attention for the NHL draft last summer. Winger Daultan Leveille is the first-ever Junior B player taken in the draft's first round - he was the 29th pick overall of the Thrashers in 2008. Leveille is a great young talent who is a good skater. He and Brett Perlini (undrafted in 2008), a product of the Soo Thunderbirds organization, may take a little time to adjust to the speed and strength of the college game, but both have a scoring touch and offensive skills that will allow them to compete right away.
Mike Merrifield and Ben Warda come to East Lansing after winning a National Championship with the St. Louis Bandits (NAHL) a year ago. Merrifield posesses a great hockey sense and can play in all situations; Warda is a speedy, attacking forward with a high skill level. All seven will have a chance to make an impact in the lineup.
the schedule
The Spartans will take on a challenging slate in 2008-09, as 13 contests against NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago are the highlights of the schedule. The Spartans' CCHA cluster in the conference schedule will include Miami and Ohio State in addition to rivalry partner Michigan; Comley expects that the CCHA race will be ultra-competitive again this season, with a cluster of quality teams at the top which will be factors in the national picture.
Non-conference games begin Oct. 10 in Boston at the Ice Breaker against Massachusetts and host Boston University, their Hockey East mate UMass-Lowell opens MSU's home schedule a week later. Conference play will occupy the Spartans until the weekend after Thanksgiving, when MSU travels to Madison and Minneapolis for the College Hockey Showcase against Big Ten rivals Wisconsin and Minnesota. North Dakota will be MSU's opponent in the opening round of the Great Lakes Invitational before a possible second day matchup with either Michigan Tech or Michigan.
"This is a challenging schedule for a very young team," admits Comley. "Every other year, it's a bit tough because we only play Michigan at home once in the same season that we play the Showcase on the road. Our cluster this season will be tough with Miami and an improved Ohio State.
"This is a very ambitious slate for a team this young - but it will well-prepare us for big games in the conference tournament," added Comley. "Those tough games are designed to make us better every game, and for us to accomplish our ultimate goal - to be playing well to make a run in the NCAA Tournament."
capsule outlook
This is the most youth-laden Michigan State team in Rick Comley's tenure, and in anyone's recent memory. Significant talent has moved on to the pro hockey ranks, as this was a hard lineup to crack a year ago; the opposite will be true as camp opens in 2008, as most lineup spots are wide-open for competition. Comley's philosophy of trying multiple line combinations and defensive pairs early in the season has provided his returners experience they will need to jump from role-fillers to go-to players this season; that philosophy will also test his freshmen sooner rather than later.
Jeff Lerg is the most accomplished active player in college hockey, and his experience, work ethic, and leadership as a captain is a positive influence for such a young squad, and will serve as a calming, unifying influence. While some growing pains may be inevitable early, MSU's goal is to improve each time it steps on the ice and to be playing its best hockey when stakes are highest.
