Michigan State Hockey 202?-202?

[John J. MacInnes]

When Jagger Joshua gets a hat trick, I hope your panic room is well stocked because the world is coming to an end.

[wsummers]

After 6 games…
The team is playing a high energy style that is very enjoyable to watch.
Goaltending - looks like St Cyr will get most of the games this year. Charleston got the Saturday game and confirmed St Cyr is the better choice in this system.
Defense - MSU has 9 that could play and typically has used 7. They are much more aggressive in carrying the puck into the offensive zone and taking shots.
Forward - interestingly no goals so far for Davidson or Middendorf and only one for Tucker. The best line has been the Dorwart, Russell, and Joshua line.
Special teams - PK has been decent. PP prior to Saturday was poor. It will be interesting to see if Saturday was a fluke or an indication of things to come.

This is a team that is continuing to improve. I think they have a good chance to take a game at ND this weekend.

[aallenpollreisz]

Granted, we didn't play top-tier talent over the weekend, but it was nice to put eight on the scoreboard for the first time in ages. (2013, I think?)

Probably our toughest challenge of the early season against Notre Dame this weekend. It'd sure be great to at least come home with at least a split.

[Ed Trefzger]

Associate head coach Jared DeMichiel was recognized as one of five inductees into the RIT Sports Hall of Fame this morning. It was great to see him here in Rochester, especially sporting an orange tie.

[Pirateasaur]

So, does anybody know what the situation is with the Spartan Brass?

I wasn't at the rink Thursday, but they were absent for the home opener and tonight's game.

They were there Thursday.

But the home opener was the night of Midnight Madness at Breslin so I bet they were there. Yesterday was the homecoming parade and stuff so they probably were doing something for that as well.

If the brass has anything basketball or football related to attend they’re gonna be there instead of hockey.

[Pirateasaur]

We never draw on Thursdays.

Even the good Comley teams never brought in good crowds on Thursdays. I recall a one-loss MSU team playing against a one-loss Miami team in front of, like, 4,500 people on a Thursday night in 2007. Pretty sure both teams were ranked in the top five at the time, too.

Really, the AD should do everything it can to not schedule games on Thursdays. (This would have been a fantastic weekend for another home-and-home.)

Speaking of Comley, I'm really happy fences are attempting to be mended. The end wasn't great, and it probably was time for him to leave when he entered "retirement," but his stint here should be respected more.

Was he Ron Mason? No. Did he win? For the most part. Did he deserve to be punished by some alumni and some members of this fanbase for not being Ron Mason? Absolutely not.

If I had his resume and got canned for a hire like Anastos, I’d probably be pretty insulted.

I agree it was time to move on but we’d probably have been better keeping Comley considering how it all ended up working out.

Last night ended up being crazy exciting. Our 3rd period was excellent. I really felt like for a lot of the period we might pull the comeback off and I can’t recall the last time I’ve had that feeling for MSU hockey.

[aallenpollreisz]

So, does anybody know what the situation is with the Spartan Brass?

I wasn't at the rink Thursday, but they were absent for the home opener and tonight's game.

[aallenpollreisz]

Also, dismal attendance last night, yeesh. I guess everyone’s got better things going on on Thursday nights.

We never draw on Thursdays.

Even the good Comley teams never brought in good crowds on Thursdays. I recall a one-loss MSU team playing against a one-loss Miami team in front of, like, 4,500 people on a Thursday night in 2007. Pretty sure both teams were ranked in the top five at the time, too.

Really, the AD should do everything it can to not schedule games on Thursdays. (This would have been a fantastic weekend for another home-and-home.)

Speaking of Comley, I'm really happy fences are attempting to be mended. The end wasn't great, and it probably was time for him to leave when he entered "retirement," but his stint here should be respected more.

Was he Ron Mason? No. Did he win? For the most part. Did he deserve to be punished by some alumni and some members of this fanbase for not being Ron Mason? Absolutely not.

[gomsuman]

Another strong performance and a good win against what is probably a solid Lowell squad.

Nightingale has almost immediately made an impact in the team’s play. We seem to play more aggressive and instinctual with the puck and we’re very pesky in the neutral zone on the backcheck. We look quite a bit faster, although speed is very hard to teach so I’m pleasantly surprised.

I think tonight will be a tough game. We really started running them around in that first period but Lowell stabilized the last 40 minutes and things were much more even.

The refs need to calm down. Way too many penalties which really messes up the flow of the game. Let the boys play, I proclaim.

Also, dismal attendance last night, yeesh. I guess everyone’s got better things going on on Thursday nights.

I decided to watch the BIG+ stream last night from the comfort of my office chair. I chalk up lack of attendance to an oppenent who not many outside the hockey world recognize and the thursday evening. I'm hopeful tonight is better attended, especially with the honoring of the 2007 team, although you also are competing with high school football.

The team does look faster and that 3 goals in 3 1/2 minutes stretch was something I haven't seen in quite some time from an MSU team. Let's see if the team can keep up the pressure tonight.. will be a telling game I think. If they can sweep this series my hopes are high that MSU can compete in the middle of the BIG this year.

[Pirateasaur]

Another strong performance and a good win against what is probably a solid Lowell squad.

Nightingale has almost immediately made an impact in the team’s play. We seem to play more aggressive and instinctual with the puck and we’re very pesky in the neutral zone on the backcheck. We look quite a bit faster, although speed is very hard to teach so I’m pleasantly surprised.

I think tonight will be a tough game. We really started running them around in that first period but Lowell stabilized the last 40 minutes and things were much more even.

The refs need to calm down. Way too many penalties which really messes up the flow of the game. Let the boys play, I proclaim.

Also, dismal attendance last night, yeesh. I guess everyone’s got better things going on on Thursday nights.

[Pirateasaur]

Yes, this MSU team plays faster and takes a lot of shots (think Penn State). I’m hoping we can find some offense against a good defensive team. Having our top 6 dmen playing for the first time this year helps….now if we can get more than a goal or two we should be able to take a game. I have to work Thursday night, but plan to be there on Friday.

I’ve personally watched all 3 games we’ve played and have been quite pleased with the team’s performance each night, especially down in BG. What is missing is translating more shots and puck control into actual goals.

I assume UMASS Lowell will be a step up from BG or the U18 team so I hope the team’s improvements continue to reveal themselves.

Also, as I mentioned, I made the trip down to Bowling Green and had such a good time. I loved that old barn of theirs and the classic feel of the atmosphere.

[wsummers]

Predictions for the Thursday-Friday series with Umass-Lowell? I'm hopeful for at least a split. This years team seems to be faster and more willing to shoot than any team Danton Cole had. I might make the drive to watch Thursday's game in person.

Yes, this MSU team plays faster and takes a lot of shots (think Penn State). I’m hoping we can find some offense against a good defensive team. Having our top 6 dmen playing for the first time this year helps….now if we can get more than a goal or two we should be able to take a game. I have to work Thursday night, but plan to be there on Friday.

[gomsuman]

Predictions for the Thursday-Friday series with Umass-Lowell? I'm hopeful for at least a split. This years team seems to be faster and more willing to shoot than any team Danton Cole had. I might make the drive to watch Thursday's game in person.

[John J. MacInnes]

It doesn't matter even if there is room at Munn, women's hockey is not happening at MSU. The athletic department is already too big and they recently cut the swim/dive program. There's not going to be support for a sport that isn't sponsored by the Big Ten, that's what killed the very successful men's lacrosse program in the 90's. The department direction was decided then when they added women's crew as the way to make up Title IX numbers. The only chance women's hockey had was if they decided to shutter the women's gymnastics program after the scandal, but they are back with a resurgence.

[Paul Goddard]

Suburban was also what I was thinking but I am not sure what sort of ice time they’re working with over there. I was playing Beer League up until Covid and was doing 11:40pm’s on weekdays. I’d also prefer not to immediately shove the women’s team in the corner with an off campus spot but I’m realizing the logistics of this is more complicated than I thought.

"No one puts baby in a corner"! lol

In all seriousness I agree with you! Ideally if MSU were to decide to launch a Women's program they would play/dress/train inside Munn. Not sure if any additional locker spaces are available post-reno on what used to be the MSU (North side) operations side of the house?...Wouldn't be a good look to do what men used to in Dem Hall days. Dress in one building (Jenison, or in this case Dem Hall itself) and walk across street/lot to play in another.