Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Neil’s Notebook: With Games Postponed, Spartans Shuffle Plans
12/8/2020 9:19:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
EAST LANSING – Instead of dealing with how to play four hockey games in seven days and six in 12 days, Michigan State suddenly faces a layoff – no games for almost two weeks.
The Spartans' home series against Wisconsin scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday was postponed Monday due to a Badgers' player testing positive for the coronavirus, a week after four Wisconsin players were deemed unable to play because of Covid-19 issues.
What's ahead for MSU are practices and some days off for the next two weeks before playing at Notre Dame, Dec. 19-20, the Spartans' last two games in 2020.
The rest of the Big Ten hockey schedule – from January through early March – has not been released.
MSU coach Danton Cole and his coaching staff have been preparing the Spartans to be ready to deal with quick changes to their routines. Postponements due to Covid outbreaks and schedule adjustments were expected.
They've already occurred in college hockey's other five conferences. And now, after four weeks of play, they're happening in the Big Ten.
"We've been telling the student-athletes all along that we just have to be prepared for any eventuality, so sometimes that means there's going to be a schedule with a lot of games and sometimes it might lead to this,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said.
"Unfortunately, these are the first hockey games the Big Ten hasn't been able to play. Our record has been good with that. Our doctors have done an unbelievable job prepping us here, as well as the doctors at the other universities.''
After playing its series against Minnesota last Thursday and Friday – 3-1 and 4-2 losses – Michigan State went right back to work on Saturday, preparing to face Wisconsin, which split its series at Ohio State – a 4-2 loss and 3-2 win. The Badgers actually spent Saturday and Sunday in East Lansing.
"We were trying to ramp things up and get ready for Tuesday and Wednesday games and did some certain things on Sunday,'' Cole said. "We had a real good day and we were looking forward to (playing) - until early evening on Sunday.''
That's after the Spartans learned about Wisconsin's Covid issues, and with doctors from both schools in consultation, the decision was made that the games should not be played.
"That's the situation we're all in right now with everyone wanting to be cautious,'' Cole said. "And do the right thing with Wisconsin having a positive test and having short numbers. The team doctors got together and made the decision that this was the best course of action.
"We'll deal with it, we'll move on, we'll have a good week of practice, and we have finals coming up. And then we'll head to Notre Dame.''
What's ahead for the Spartans is some challenging practices, some time off, some days to take final exams, and then to focus on trying to beat Notre Dame and going into the holiday break on an upbeat note.
"We've been going pretty much every day for a while. We have to take two days off this week,'' Cole said. "Most weeks it's just one. But if you have three or four games in a seven-day span, you can delay that and take two days off the next week.
"We'll take Monday off and let the guys have a day of rest, then go hard for two days, take Thursday off and go hard for two more days and then take Sunday off.
"Finals week presents its own challenges. But we're able to move practice times with exams online, and that makes it easier.''
With no games until Dec. 19, Cole said his team can do some things in practice it normally couldn't do with a busy schedule.
"It'll be a good time to touch on some things, trying to do some game situations,'' he said. "We can do a couple of practice days that are hard to do when you have games coming up. Or if you're playing six games in 12 days.
"This gives us some flexibility. We've laid out a game plan. I like where we're at in a lot of ways. Whatever is thrown at you, you have to try to figure out how to take advantage of it and make it a way to get better.''
For sure, MSU players are disappointed in not playing, especially after losing two games to the Gophers, and playing much better in the second game in which the Spartans had a good chance to tie the game in the third period.
"Hockey players want to play games. Coaches like practicing, players like playing,'' Cole said. "So, I guess we win this week – we get more practices.
"I'm sure they're disappointed. Physiologically and psychologically, they have been prepared to (play this week). You do load yourself up. I think it's one area where people don't understand the stress or anxiety that goes into preparation. And then to have to stop.''
LOOKING BACK: Coach Danton Cole said his review of his team's play against Minnesota last Thursday and Friday was mostly positive. He did not like his team's first two periods in the series-opening 3-1 loss but was encouraged by the Spartans' response and improved play on Friday in a close 4-2 defeat.
"Tough series but lots of good stuff from the Minnesota games,'' Cole said. "I thought the first night we were pretty average and give Minnesota credit. We got better as the game went on. Friday was a pretty good game. It was 3-2 right down to the end.
"Our guys competed and did a lot of things well. We re-emphasized things – things we wanted to do that we didn't do a good job with on Thursday. We'll continue to build from there. There was a lot we can learn and take out of that series.
"I like the growth of some of our players through the first six games and that bodes well for us.''
EARLY STAT TRACKS: Six games into the season, grad transfer forward Charlie Combs leads the Spartans in scoring with five points – two goals and three assists. In three seasons at Bemidji State, the 5-foot-6, 181-pound Combs scored 36 goals and had 24 assists for 60 points in 108 games for the Beavers. Last season, he scored 12 goals and picked up six assists for 18 points.
Sophomore center Josh Nodler is MSU's second-leading scorer with no goals and four assists for four points.
Five players are tied for third in scoring with three points apiece. Junior center Mitchell Mattson has two goals and an assist, while junior Adam Goodsir, freshman Kyle Haskins, senior Mitchell Lewandowski and sophomore Nicolas Mueller all have one goal and two assists.
Goaltender Drew DeRidder, a junior, is off to a good start with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .931 saves percentage. DeRidder, who's given up 12 goals in six games, ranks 14th in the nation in GAA and is tied for 15th in saves percentage.
DeRidder already has played two more games than he did as a sophomore, when he played only four behind senior starter John Lethemon, who was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
MSU has struggled to take advantage of power plays. The Spartans have scored only two goals in 21 chances for a 9.5% rate of success. Penalty Killing is at 79.2 percent – allowing five goals in 24 shorthanded situations.
IN THE BIG TEN: In a series matching the No. 4 and No. 5 teams in the nation, Minnesota (No. 4/4) plays at Michigan (No. 5/5) at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Both games will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
Each team will be will be without several key players who are now at the U.S. National Junior Team's training camp in Plymouth, Michigan, preparing for the World Junior Tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Dec. 26-Jan. 5.
The undefeated Gophers (6-0-0 overall, 6-0-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) will be missing three defensemen – standout sophomores Jackson Lacombe and Ryan Johnson and freshman Brock Faber.
The Wolverines (5-3-0, 3-3-0-1-0-0) will play without sophomore defenseman Cam York and four forwards – sophomore Johnny Beecher and freshmen Thomas Bordeleau, Matty Beniers and David Brisson. Bordeleau is U-M's top scorer with three goals and 10 points.
In another Big Ten series, No. 14 Ohio State (2-4-0, 2-4-0-0-1-0) is at No. 15/15 Notre Dame (3-3-0, 2-2-0-0-0-0) on Saturday and Sunday. In non-conference play, Penn State (1-5-0, 1-5-0-0-0-0) is home against No. 20 Arizona State (3-4-1) on Friday and Saturday.
With the postponement of its series at Michigan State, No. 12/13 Wisconsin (5-5-0, 5-3-0-0-1-0) has finished the first part of its schedule – eight games in the Big Ten and two non-league games vs. Arizona State.
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
EAST LANSING – Instead of dealing with how to play four hockey games in seven days and six in 12 days, Michigan State suddenly faces a layoff – no games for almost two weeks.
The Spartans' home series against Wisconsin scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday was postponed Monday due to a Badgers' player testing positive for the coronavirus, a week after four Wisconsin players were deemed unable to play because of Covid-19 issues.
What's ahead for MSU are practices and some days off for the next two weeks before playing at Notre Dame, Dec. 19-20, the Spartans' last two games in 2020.
The rest of the Big Ten hockey schedule – from January through early March – has not been released.
MSU coach Danton Cole and his coaching staff have been preparing the Spartans to be ready to deal with quick changes to their routines. Postponements due to Covid outbreaks and schedule adjustments were expected.
They've already occurred in college hockey's other five conferences. And now, after four weeks of play, they're happening in the Big Ten.
"We've been telling the student-athletes all along that we just have to be prepared for any eventuality, so sometimes that means there's going to be a schedule with a lot of games and sometimes it might lead to this,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said.
"Unfortunately, these are the first hockey games the Big Ten hasn't been able to play. Our record has been good with that. Our doctors have done an unbelievable job prepping us here, as well as the doctors at the other universities.''
After playing its series against Minnesota last Thursday and Friday – 3-1 and 4-2 losses – Michigan State went right back to work on Saturday, preparing to face Wisconsin, which split its series at Ohio State – a 4-2 loss and 3-2 win. The Badgers actually spent Saturday and Sunday in East Lansing.
"We were trying to ramp things up and get ready for Tuesday and Wednesday games and did some certain things on Sunday,'' Cole said. "We had a real good day and we were looking forward to (playing) - until early evening on Sunday.''
That's after the Spartans learned about Wisconsin's Covid issues, and with doctors from both schools in consultation, the decision was made that the games should not be played.
"That's the situation we're all in right now with everyone wanting to be cautious,'' Cole said. "And do the right thing with Wisconsin having a positive test and having short numbers. The team doctors got together and made the decision that this was the best course of action.
"We'll deal with it, we'll move on, we'll have a good week of practice, and we have finals coming up. And then we'll head to Notre Dame.''
What's ahead for the Spartans is some challenging practices, some time off, some days to take final exams, and then to focus on trying to beat Notre Dame and going into the holiday break on an upbeat note.
"We've been going pretty much every day for a while. We have to take two days off this week,'' Cole said. "Most weeks it's just one. But if you have three or four games in a seven-day span, you can delay that and take two days off the next week.
"We'll take Monday off and let the guys have a day of rest, then go hard for two days, take Thursday off and go hard for two more days and then take Sunday off.
"Finals week presents its own challenges. But we're able to move practice times with exams online, and that makes it easier.''
With no games until Dec. 19, Cole said his team can do some things in practice it normally couldn't do with a busy schedule.
"It'll be a good time to touch on some things, trying to do some game situations,'' he said. "We can do a couple of practice days that are hard to do when you have games coming up. Or if you're playing six games in 12 days.
"This gives us some flexibility. We've laid out a game plan. I like where we're at in a lot of ways. Whatever is thrown at you, you have to try to figure out how to take advantage of it and make it a way to get better.''
For sure, MSU players are disappointed in not playing, especially after losing two games to the Gophers, and playing much better in the second game in which the Spartans had a good chance to tie the game in the third period.
"Hockey players want to play games. Coaches like practicing, players like playing,'' Cole said. "So, I guess we win this week – we get more practices.
"I'm sure they're disappointed. Physiologically and psychologically, they have been prepared to (play this week). You do load yourself up. I think it's one area where people don't understand the stress or anxiety that goes into preparation. And then to have to stop.''
LOOKING BACK: Coach Danton Cole said his review of his team's play against Minnesota last Thursday and Friday was mostly positive. He did not like his team's first two periods in the series-opening 3-1 loss but was encouraged by the Spartans' response and improved play on Friday in a close 4-2 defeat.
"Tough series but lots of good stuff from the Minnesota games,'' Cole said. "I thought the first night we were pretty average and give Minnesota credit. We got better as the game went on. Friday was a pretty good game. It was 3-2 right down to the end.
"Our guys competed and did a lot of things well. We re-emphasized things – things we wanted to do that we didn't do a good job with on Thursday. We'll continue to build from there. There was a lot we can learn and take out of that series.
"I like the growth of some of our players through the first six games and that bodes well for us.''
EARLY STAT TRACKS: Six games into the season, grad transfer forward Charlie Combs leads the Spartans in scoring with five points – two goals and three assists. In three seasons at Bemidji State, the 5-foot-6, 181-pound Combs scored 36 goals and had 24 assists for 60 points in 108 games for the Beavers. Last season, he scored 12 goals and picked up six assists for 18 points.
Sophomore center Josh Nodler is MSU's second-leading scorer with no goals and four assists for four points.
Five players are tied for third in scoring with three points apiece. Junior center Mitchell Mattson has two goals and an assist, while junior Adam Goodsir, freshman Kyle Haskins, senior Mitchell Lewandowski and sophomore Nicolas Mueller all have one goal and two assists.
Goaltender Drew DeRidder, a junior, is off to a good start with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .931 saves percentage. DeRidder, who's given up 12 goals in six games, ranks 14th in the nation in GAA and is tied for 15th in saves percentage.
DeRidder already has played two more games than he did as a sophomore, when he played only four behind senior starter John Lethemon, who was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
MSU has struggled to take advantage of power plays. The Spartans have scored only two goals in 21 chances for a 9.5% rate of success. Penalty Killing is at 79.2 percent – allowing five goals in 24 shorthanded situations.
IN THE BIG TEN: In a series matching the No. 4 and No. 5 teams in the nation, Minnesota (No. 4/4) plays at Michigan (No. 5/5) at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Both games will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
Each team will be will be without several key players who are now at the U.S. National Junior Team's training camp in Plymouth, Michigan, preparing for the World Junior Tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Dec. 26-Jan. 5.
The undefeated Gophers (6-0-0 overall, 6-0-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) will be missing three defensemen – standout sophomores Jackson Lacombe and Ryan Johnson and freshman Brock Faber.
The Wolverines (5-3-0, 3-3-0-1-0-0) will play without sophomore defenseman Cam York and four forwards – sophomore Johnny Beecher and freshmen Thomas Bordeleau, Matty Beniers and David Brisson. Bordeleau is U-M's top scorer with three goals and 10 points.
In another Big Ten series, No. 14 Ohio State (2-4-0, 2-4-0-0-1-0) is at No. 15/15 Notre Dame (3-3-0, 2-2-0-0-0-0) on Saturday and Sunday. In non-conference play, Penn State (1-5-0, 1-5-0-0-0-0) is home against No. 20 Arizona State (3-4-1) on Friday and Saturday.
With the postponement of its series at Michigan State, No. 12/13 Wisconsin (5-5-0, 5-3-0-0-1-0) has finished the first part of its schedule – eight games in the Big Ten and two non-league games vs. Arizona State.
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