Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Hosts UMass in Season-Opening Series
10/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
| Games 1 & 2: Massachusetts (0-1, 0-1 Hockey East) vs. Michigan State (0-0, 0-0 B1G) | |
| Dates | Times | Fri., Oct. 17 - 7 p.m. | Sat., Oct. 18 - 7 p.m. |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. | Munn Ice Arena (6,470) |
| Tickets | MSUSpartans.com |
| TV | None |
| Gametracker | | |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | Fri. - WJIM 1240-AM | Sat. - WVFN 730-AM |
| Radio (Mobile) | Broadcast available on Spartan Sports Network Mobile App: iPhone/iPad | Android |
| Promotions | Friday - 4 Seats, 4 Treats | Saturday - Family Four Pack, MSUFCU Night |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Michigan State |
| Social Media | @MSU_Hockey  | Facebook  |
Season-Opening Notes
The Spartans are beginning a season at home for the first time under head coach Tom Anastos ... The Spartans last began their regular season at home on Oct. 14, 2010 when they tied Maine, 2-2 ... MSU is 40-29-4 in season-opening games.
The Spartans welcome four incoming freshmen for the 2014-15 season; D Carson Gatt (Farmington Hills, Mich./Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL), D Josh Jacobs (Shelby Twp., Mich./Indiana Ice, USHL), G Ed Minney (Wind Gap, Pa./U.S. National Team Development Program U-18) and F Dylan Pavelek (Marysville, Mich./U.S. National Team Development Program U-18). Jacobs was selected in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils.
The Spartans Return...
• 60% of their total point production and 70% of their goal scoring
• Junior goaltender Jake Hildebrand, who started 32 of 36 games and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention
• Junior Mike Ferrantino, who led all underclassmen with 20 points (9g, 11a)
• Senior Matt Berry, who ranked second on the team with 10 goals last season
• Sophomores Villiam Haag and Mackenzie MacEachern, who led MSU rookies with eight goals each
• Went 10-2 when scoring at least three goals
• Led the nation in blocked shots per game with an average of 17.67 and led all Big Ten teams in total blocked shots with 636, ranking fifth nationally
• Ranked 20th in the county in goals allowed per game (2.58)
• Went 7-1-4 when leading after two periods and were 7-4-4 when scoring first
• Had five freshmen (Haag, MacEachern, Joe Cox, Thomas Ebbing, Brock Krygier) play in at least 35 games
• Ranked 10th nationally in attendance
About UMass...
The Minutemen opened the 2014-15 season on Friday, falling at home to Boston University, 8-1 ... UMass returns 16 letterwinners from last year's squad that went 8-22-4 overall and 4-13-3 in Hockey East (10th) ... Sophomore forward Steve Iacobellis is the team's leading returner in both goals (11) and points (21) ... Sophomore Ray Pigozzi produced 13 assists and 18 points a year ago ... In goal, senior Steve Mastalerz played in 31 games in 2013-14, posing a 2.77 GAA and .907 save percentage ... Head coach John Micheletto (Dartmouth '90) is 20-42-7 in his third season behind the bench.
Michigan State will play 20 of its 34 games against opponents ranked in the USCHO Top-20 Preseason Poll, which is the most of any Big Ten school. The Spartans will play 16 games against foes ranked in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Top-15 Preseason Coaches' Poll, which is the second most of any conference school behind Ohio State (17).
Notes From The Exhibition
The Spartans outshot Windsor, 45-24, in a 2-2 tie with the Lancers on Oct. 7 ... Brent Darnell and Ron Boyd (power play) scored for the Spartans, while Jake Hildebrand made 22 saves in 65 minutes of work ... MSU held a 33-8 advantage in shots on goal through two periods ... Michael Ferrantino led all Spartans with 10 shots on goal.
Hildebrand Named to the Richter Award Watch List
For the second straight year, junior Jake Hildebrand is one of 20 NCAA goaltenders that has been named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List, which honors the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA Division I hockey.
Goalies on the Mike Richter Award watch list are chosen by members of Let's Play Hockey magazine, utilizing both past performance and future potential. Candidates for the second-annual Mike Richter Award will be determined by nominations from all 59 NCAA Division I men's hockey head coaches. The finalists and winner are selected by a committee of coaches, scouts and members of the media. The winner will be announced at the 2015 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Boston.
B1G-Hockey East ChallengeThis weekend's MSU-UMass games are part of the second Big Ten-Hockey East Challenge. Nine of the 12 Hockey East institutions and five of the six Big Ten programs are competing in 20 designated games (10 in Big Ten arenas, 10 in Hockey East arenas) between Oct. 10 and Nov. 29.
A Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge Cup will be presented to the conference that records the most points from the 20 contests. Teams will earn two points for a win, one point for a tie and a bonus point will be awarded for a road win. Should a Big Ten school utilize a shootout in any of its home games, it will not factor into the result.
The Spartans' games at Boston University (Oct. 24), at UMass-Lowell (Oct. 25) and at New Hampshire (Nov. 7-8) will also be a part of the Big Ten-Hockey East Challenge.The Big Ten went 2-1-1 in the four games last weekend and currently leads the competition in points, 5-4.
In The B1GThe Spartans were picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll, while Minnesota was picked to win the league title. Matt Berry and Jake Hildebrand were both voted to the Preseason Players to Watch List, also selected by the coaches.
Spartans on TV
MSU will have at least 22 games televised this season. In total, more than 60 games featuring Big Ten teams will be televised this season.
Defenseman R.J. Boyd is now going by Ron Boyd, after being known as R.J. the last three seasons. Ron is his given first name.
Meanwhile, sophomore forward TJ Stenglein has changed numbers. Stenglein has gone from No. 18 to No. 22 (Lee Reimer's old number). Freshman defenseman Carson Gatt has taken No. 18.
Pro ExperienceFive Spartans had the opportunity to take part in various NHL prospect development camps this summer. Mackenzie MacEachern (St. Louis Blues), Rhett Holland (Arizona Coyotes) and Josh Jacobs (New Jersey Devils) trained with their respective NHL rights holders, while Thomas Ebbing was asked to the New York Islanders camp and Jake Hildebrand received an invitation to the Pittsburgh Penguins camp. The camps, which do not affect NCAA eligibility, are intended to provide a training camp-like experience.
Wearing The `C'
Junior forward Michael Ferrantino was named the Spartans' 70th captain in program history in April. The Plymouth native produced 20 points (9g, 11a) as a sophomore - the most among all underclassmen.
A total of 13 Spartans were on NHL opening night rosters: Torey Krug (Boston Bruins), Corey Potter (Calgary Flames), John-Michael Liles (Carolina Hurricanes), Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks), Corey Tropp (Columbus Blue Jackets), Shawn Horcoff (Dallas Stars), Justin Abdelkader and Drew Miller (Detroit Red Wings), Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers), Mike Weaver (Montreal Canadiens), Ryan Miller (Vancouver Canucks), David Booth (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Jim Slater (Winnipeg Jets).
