Sports: Spartan Hockey Returns To Championship Form
In 1997-98, MSU hockey lept back into national prominence, dominating tournaments, CCHA play and the national rankings.
Entering the 1997-98 season, the Michigan State hockey team had not won an in-season tournament since the 1990-91 season. Although every win set yet another record for head coach Ron Mason, college hockey's winningest coach, MSU had not won many tournaments and titles in recent years. All that changed this season as MSU vaulted back into national prominence with its familiar winning ways, occupying the nation's No. 1 position during a huge chunk of the season, winning the CCHA, beating archrival Michigan in all four meetings, and regaining the Great Lakes Invitational title.
Along the way, Mason notched his 800th career win--a 5-1 home demolition of the Wolverines. Hundreds of fans flooded the ice with 800 'W' placards in honor of the milestone. 'I've never had that happen,' Mason said of the impromptu celebration. 'It was really touching and I didn't expect it. Nothing could be better than having the students there showing their affection and having (President Peter McPherson) come down there.'
The Spartans began to recapture the glory of past years in the first weekend of the year, beating two top opponents to win the Team Cheerios Ice Breaker Invitational. It had been one more year, since 1989-90, that Michigan State had gone without being ranked No. 1 in the nation. The Spartans earned that honor in November and again ascended to the top spot again heading into February. And it seemed even longer than the 12 years it had been since Michigan State had won the Great Lakes Invitational championship. But with an inspired 5-3 victory over Michigan in the title game at Joe Louis Arena, the Spartans captured the GLI for the first time since 1985.
Ahead lie the ultimate goals of raising a banner--for either a CCHA regular season championship, a CCHA tournament championship or the NCAA crown. 'We've got a strong group of guys who aren't quitters,' senior goaltender Chad Alban said. 'We want to hang a banner. The group of guys here, we want to be champions. We play every game as though it's our last.'
Alban has emerged as the leader of the group on the ice and a Hobey Baker Award candidate, college hockey's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. His puck-stopping ability combined with his skill at moving the puck make him the focal point of Michigan State's defensive minded style. In a 6-3 win over Ferris State at season's end, Alban became the first goalie in MSU history to score a goal--a Ripleyan feat.
While all of Michigan State's players have bought into the defense-first philosophy, none have done so as well as senior defenseman Tyler Harlton. Hartlton leads the CCHA in plus/minus rating, a comparison of how many times a player's team scores when he is on the ice to how many goals it give up. Harlton has also made his mark off the ice, where he volunteers in the community speaking to children and is the chairman of MSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He has a 3.75 GPA majoring in political theory in James Madison College and was named one of five finalists for the Humanitarian Award, given annually to college hockey's finest citizen. 'It's a great honor,' Harlton said. 'It's certainly unexpected. I don't think that I do anything special compared to the other guys, because there is a real legacy of community service with Spartan Hockey.'
Opponents didn't think Harlton was such a fine citizen on the ice where the three-year captain led Ron Mason's trademark defense. Michigan State allowed less than two goals per game, the only team in the nation with a defense that stingy. Mason is not new to the lofty heights this year's Spartan team has reached, thanks to his experience as the leader of the Spartans' mid-1980s juggernaut. He has raised even his own high bar, however, winning his 500th game at MSU in December and his 800th overall in February.
Among the messages Mason has preached to this team is the belief that offense comes from defense. And while Michigan State has the nation's best defensive team, it also has boasted some of the nation's top scorers. Senior Sean Berens and junior Mike York have formed a potent 1-2 combination at center and both were among the NCAA's top 10 goal scorers entering February. York and Berens--along with a strong group of support players like freshman Rustyn Dolyny, sophomore Shawn Horcoff, junior Bryan Adams and senior Kevin O'Keefe--gave Michigan State the necessary offense. In fact, the Spartan offense improved as the season went along, perhaps helped by the absences of players like York and Adams at mid-season, when other players had to increase their production. Both York and Adams missed the Great Lakes Invitational, and Michigan State still scored five goals against Michigan in the championship game.
The Spartans entered the post-season hoping for two more championships --and results that would once again remind Spartan fans of the golden days of the 1980s.