Michigan State University Athletics
Catch a Hockey Doubleheader Friday at Munn
2/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 25, 2010
East Lansing, Mich. - Hockey fans who don't want to miss the Michigan State hockey game or Team USA's semifinal matchup with Finland on Friday are in luck - the MSU Athletic department has made it possible for you to catch both!
Michigan State plays Bowling Green on Friday evening in a rare 6 p.m. start, but will open the doors to Munn Arena for that evening's ticketholders to watch the U.S. game on the video boards at 3 p.m. Doors will open at 2:50 p.m. so that fans can cheer on Team USA, led in goal by Spartan great Ryan Miller, as it battles with Finland; the winner will play in Sunday's gold medal game.
Michigan State's four seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony which is scheduled to begin at approximately 5:40 p.m. The puck will drop for the game between Michigan State and Bowling Green at 6:05 p.m. It's the final regular-season game for the Spartans, who need just one point to secure a first-round playoff bye.
A limited number of tickets to Friday night's game against the Falcons are still available at the Spartan ticket office. The Family Four Pack ticket promotion is available up until 3 p.m. that day by purchasing online at www.msuspartans.com. For $50, you will receive four game tickets, four sodas, and four nachos, pretzels, or hot dogs; this special ticket package is not available at the door. Only ticketholders for Friday night's Michigan State game will be admitted to Munn Ice Arena to watch the Olympic contest; all ticketholders will be eligible to win some exciting giveaways during the intermissions of the US game. Concession stands will be opening early to accommodate the fans in the building for the Olympic game.
Ryan Miller, the 2001 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner from Michigan State, is an East Lansing native and played three seasons of collegiate hockey for the Spartans. He has gone on to become the starting goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres and is making his Olympic debut in 2010. Miller has played all four games in net for the Americans, and boasts a 1.25 goals against average and .944 save percentage. At the time of the Olympic break, Miller has a .930 save percentage and 2.16 GAA for the Sabres, and ranks second in the NHL in both categories.
The American squad has been a pleasant surprise at these Games, going undefeated in preliminary round play - including a huge 5-3 victory over heavily-favored Canada in which Miller made 42 saves. On Wednesday, Miller made 19 saves against Switzerland in the quarterfinal, posting the U.S.'s first shutout in Olympic play since the 2002 Games.
Another former Spartan is playing in the Olympics: Duncan Keith, who was teammates for one season with Ryan Miller, is playing for team Canada. Keith is a standout offensive defenseman who plays for the Chicago Blackhawks. Keith and his Team Canada mates will play Slovakia at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday.
