Neil's Notebook: Hockey Media Day

9/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey

Sept. 27, 2011

by Neil Koepke, MSUSpartans.com staff writer

East Lansing, Mich. - Six months into his new job as Michigan State hockey coach, Tom Anastos still hasn't had much of a chance to see what his players can do on the ice.

Over the last two weeks, Anastos has put his team through four one-hour practice sessions, as allowed by NCAA rules. Two practices remain this week before the Spartans start official practices on Saturday.

Despite the minimal opportunities to evaluate the players, the MSU coach says there's already a lot to like about his first Spartan team.

"Our strength and conditioning efforts in the offseason were excellent. The players worked hard, took it seriously and reported to school in excellent shape,'' Anastos said on Tuesday during MSU's hockey media day at Munn Arena.

"Our test results, concerning strength and conditioning, were outstanding. On the ice so far, everyone is working hard and I like our compete level.''

The Spartans play one exhibition game - against Western Ontario and 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at Munn Arena - before opening the season in the Ice Breaker Classic vs. No. 5-ranked Boston College at 5 p.m. on Oct. 7 in Grand Forks, N.D. MSU plays either No. 3 North Dakota or Air Force at 5 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 8.

Anastos said he learned a lot about his team's leadership from last week's Judgement Day program, a two-day leadership and team building experience put on by a former U.S Marine commander and Navy Seal.

"I thought it was incredible, but then I wasn't the one throwing logs around or at the pool (at 4 a.m.),'' Anastos said with a laugh. "I was impressed with our players' approach to what they were doing. They could have just worked to get through the exercises

"But they wanted to win the exercise. I was impressed with compete level, which is a focal point in establishing our team for this season and beyond.''

The new Spartan coach, who played at MSU from 1981-84 and who served as CCHA commissioner for the last 13 seasons, came away from Judgement Day feeling that leadership will be a strength.

"I knew we had good kids and some leaders but I wasn't sure because we hadn't seen them in leadership roles. I was impressed with both the caliber of leaders and our depth of leadership,'' Anastos said. "From the program, I think our guys learned a new definition on what it means to be a good teammate.''

Torey Krug

Anastos also learned much more about junior defenseman Torey Krug, the Spartans' second-year captain, from the team-building exercises and early practices.

"I didn't know Torey that well coming in. I thought he was a good player and respected the fact that (last season's) coaching staff made him captain as a sophomore. What's apparent is that he loves this place and loves being a Spartan hockey player,'' Anastos said.

"He cares about being a leader. He caught my attention when I had player meetings (last spring). He didn't take anything for granted - that he was going to continue as captain. He spoke with confidence and humility.

"And last week at Judgement Day, he impressed me in two areas - he was a phenomenal leader and the guys really responded to him. The first time we were on the ice, Torey was our most competitive player and our most physical player. He's 5-foot-9 but he competes like he's 6-2. He competes relentlessly in every drill from start to finish.''

The Spartans are eager to return to the top of the CCHA standings after last season's frustrating 10th place finish. MSU compiled records of 11-15-2 in league play and 15-19-4 overall.

"We want to be a tough team to compete against,'' Anastos said. "Our talent level is what it is, however people view it -- really talented, marginally talented or not talented at all.

"We'll work within the strength of those talents, but we can control two things - attitude and work habits. If we go on the ice and work hard and relentlessly, people will appreciate that. We can build off that.''

Krug, who had 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 2010-11, expects the Spartans to have a better mindset this season, bring a strong work ethic and expects most players to raise the level of their play.

"I expect to win. That's the only thing on my mind. I think we have the right guys and pieces to do that,'' said Krug, selected to the 2011-12 CCHA Preseason All-Conference First Team.

"A lot of things have to happen but what we can control is how hard we work. We can't always control the outcome but we can control what we do on and off the ice to out-complete our opponent.''

MSU has plenty of experience with 10 seniors and seven juniors on the 27-man roster. But no Spartan has won a CCHA playoff game and MSU hasn't advanced to the CCHA Championship in Detroit since 2008.

The Spartans' strength appears to be in goal, led by senior Drew Palmisano and sophomore Will Yanakeff. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Palmisano last season had a 9-14-3 record, a 2.87 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. Yankakeff, 6-3, 200 pounds, was 6-5-1 with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.

But there are big question marks about scoring enough goals and playing solid defense.

"We don't have a lot of top returning goal scorers. Hopefully, some players will emerge given the opportunity, and we hope to play in a way that might create more scoring chances,'' Anastos said.

"It'll be important that we're strong defensively because our offense will start from defense and we hope we can play an attacking style.''

The Spartans, sixth in CCHA scoring last season, return eight of their top 10 scorers, but only two players are back who had 20 points or more - senior forward Brett Perlini, who had a team-high 18 goals and 12 assists for 30 points, and Krug.

Other players being counted on to raise their level of production include seniors Daultan Leveille (8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points), Mike Merrifield (4-4-8) and Trevor Nill (1-2-3), juniors Dean Chelios (8-6-14), Zach Golembiewski (2-10-12), Kevin Walrod (3-5-8), Anthony Hayes (1-6-7) and Chris Forfar (2-4-6), and sophomores Greg Wolfe (3-8-11) and Lee Reimer (2-5-7).

Four freshmen forwards will compete for playing time - Tanner Sorenson, Justin Hoomaian, Brent Darnell and Matt Berry.

"There are a lot of guys capable of scoring. It's a matter of playing with confidence and working hard to produce,'' Perlini said. "Guys can have breakout years but we have to be committed and show it.''

The defensive unit includes nine players -- Krug, seniors Brock Shelgren, Matt Crandell, Tim Buttery and A.J. Sturges, junior Matt Grassi, sophomores Jake Chelios and Chris Sandmeyer and freshman Branden Carney.

"All of our freshmen were enrolled for the second summer session and that allowed them to make an easier transition to school and living on their own,'' Anastos said. "They felt it was very beneficial. They got to take a class or two, meet the guys that were around here and interact in the weight room.''

For now, the players, Anastos and assistant coaches Tom Newton and Kelly Miller are eager for Saturday and the start of regular practices.

"We're spending a lot of time getting to know our players' strengths and weaknesses and understanding their hockey personalities,'' Anastos said. "We're starting to put line combinations together and see how different players are going to fit with each other. The challenge is that we don't have a lot of time. I'm looking forward to the exhibition game because it'll help us get ready to play Boston College.''

After the Icebreaker Classic, the Spartans open CCHA play at Lake Superior State, Oct. 14-15. MSU opens the home season against Ohio State, Oct. 20-21.