Sports: Young Spartan Icers Seek Winning Tradition

Following a fourth straight 20-plus-win season, a berth in the CCHA Championships, and a second straight trip to the NCAAs, the MSU hockey team wants to take that final step to a title. Although the Spartans cooled off following a hot 7-0-1 start last year en route to a 25-12-3 finish, MSU made the top ten in national polls the entire campaign. The Spartans must now try to match or surpass that record without seven seniors from 1994-95, including four of their top five scorers in Rem Murray (20-36=56), Steve Guolla (16-35=51), Steve Suk (10-27=37), and Dean Sylvester (15-15=30), and starting goaltender Mike Buzak (17-10-3, 3.14, .901).

'Not only did we lose a number of players,' notes head coach Ron Mason, 'but we also lost players in key areas: goaltending, which was a real strength and was consistent for us, and the power play, where we had three specialists for the past four years.'

Now in his 17th year of guiding the Spartans, Ron Mason, the winningest coach in college hockey history, is enjoying his 30th overall college coaching season. Of Mason's incredible 724 career wins, 435 took place while at State. With 16 returning letterwinners, though, the Spartans should remain near the CCHA's top, especially with high-scoring center Anson Carter returning for his final season.

MSU's top goal scorer last year with 34 tallies, Carter was named First Team All-CCHA for the second year in a row, garnered Second Team All- America honors, and was also a finalist for the coveted Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He was also the subject of a special profile by ESPN. 'When you've got maybe the best college hockey player in the country on your team, and you lose him early, which we've done in the past, it's devastating,' remarked Mason. 'This year we've got Anson coming back, and building around him and having his leadership will certainly be invaluable.'

Carter's supporting cast will include three players who earned CCHA All- Rookie Team Honorable Mention a year ago: Sean Berens (16-6=22), Richard Keyes (16-11=27), and Mike Watt (12-9=21). Also returning up front will be seniors Taylor Clarke (8-7=15) and Brian Clifford (2-5=7), and juniors Tony Tuzzolino (9-19=28), Brian Crane (5-6=11), and Steve Ferranti (0-3=3).

Newcomers include Bryan Adams from the Prince George (B.C.) Spruce Kings, Kevin Allen from Compuware, Mike Ford of the Vernon (B.C.) Lakers, Mike York from the Thornhill (Ont.) Islanders, Brent Bessey of the Detroit Freeze, Mark Loeding of the Des Moines (Iowa) Buccaneers, and Curtis Gemmel of the Fort McMurray (Alta.) Oil Barons.

The Spartan defense rests with three seniors in Chris Smith (10-20=30), Ryan Fleming (1-16=17), and Bart Vanstaalduinen (1-8=9). Smith led all Spartan blueliners in scoring, while Fleming copped MSU's Most Improved Player award and Vanstaalduinen set new personal career-scoring highs.

Also returning on the blueline will be junior Chris Slater (5-23=28), who was named to the CCHA All- Tournament Team, and sophomore Tyler Harlton (1-4=5). Unfortunately, talented defenseman Jon Gaskins (1-5=6) may be sidelined by a medical condition. 'Defense is an area I hope we improve on, because it was an area last year that I thought got us in trouble at times,' explains Mason. 'The fact is that we had a couple of young freshmen who really came into their own last year, but with a year under their belts they'll add to the experience we already have.'

Joining the defensive crew are Chris Bogas from the Omaha (Neb.) Lancers and Jeff Kozakowski from the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints.

The Spartans' real test will come in net, where sophomore Chad Alban (8-2- 0, 2.73, .893) returns as MSU's only experienced netminder with a total of 13 games to his credit. 'I've gone into seasons with all freshman goalies, like Bob Essensa and Norm Foster, and had good years,' stated Mason. 'The fact that Chad's been in every rink, and that he's played in enough games to know that he can play at this level, gives him an extra year of strength and maturation.'

Alban's primary back-up will come from newcomer Mike Brusseau of the Cleveland Junior Barons. Assisting in practice while awaiting his first varsity action will be senior Taylor Gemmel. Concerning his freshman class, Mason is optimistic. 'I'm not sure how much competition (for positions) there will be, but it's going to give us more flexibility in terms of putting lines and defensive combinations together, and it's going to make our practices a little more upscale. They're large enough in numbers to be noticeable, and along with those numbers there's also some real good talent.'