Sports: 1998-99 MSU Icers Defend CCHA Title

            Last year, MSU icers won everything--the Great Lakes Invitational, the CCHA title, and the CCHA playoff title. But one of the Spartans' best teams of all-time was upset in the NCAA quarterfinals. Add to that the graduation of three All-Americans, and disappointment ruled the day. But time has pushed that disappointment aside. Optimism prevails as the the 1998-99 season begins.

            A glimpse at the roster shows that the Spartans have the talent to defend their CCHA and tournament championships. MSU is poised to build on last season's championship experience. 'I don't think our goals should be limited to anything but being at the top,' head coach Ron Mason says. 'I think this team still has real potential to be a champion. Some years you may be stretching it a little bit when you say things like that, but this team still has an opportunity to be there.'

            Michigan State will shoot for those heights without the services of a departed All-American at every position--forward Sean Berens, defensemanTyler Harlton and goaltender Chad Alban.

            Despite the losses, MSU brings back 20 letterwinners, four more than last year, and has significantly more points (295 to 226) and goals (104 to 84) returning than it did a year ago. All-American senior center Mike York leads a group up front which will be backed by six returning defensemen and a talented sophomore goaltender.

            Behind York, who led the team with 61 points a year ago, are four playerswho had at least 26 points in 1997-98. Sophomore right wing Rustyn Dolynywill look to build upon an impressive freshman season in which he netted 20 goals and added 24 assists, good for third on the team in scoring with 44points. Senior left wing Bryan Adams, when healthy, has been a perfect complement to York on MSU's top line, averaging 30 points in 31 games. Two juniors--center Shawn Horcoff and defenseman Mike Weaver--also finished with over 25 points last season. Mason believes Horcoff can emerge as one of the CCHA's elite forwards, while Weaver was CCHA honorable mention last year.

            Helping on the blue line are seniors Chris Bogas and Jeff Kozakowski and junior Brad Hodgins. All have had significant experience and help give MSU perhaps the most experienced defense in the CCHA. Says Mason, 'I think we have four guys who are bona-fide defensemen in this league.'

            The biggest personnel change will be in goal, where MSU loses last year's CCHA Player of the Year and first-team All-America goaltender Alban. The heir apparent is sophomore Joe Blackburn, with junior Mike Gresl in the hunt. 'At this point I'm looking at Joe as being our guy,' Mason says. 'You evaluate people in practice, and Joe showed last year in practice the potential to be a big-time college goalie.'

            Five freshmen will look to join the new goaltender as additions to the regular MSU lineup. Four of the five come to MSU from the U.S. Under-18 Team and two of those--forward Adam Hall and defenseman Andrew Hutchinson--may have the best chances to make an immediate impact. 'Last year we played a system which I felt complemented our personnel to a T, starting with our goaltender,' Mason says. 'This year I think we'llprobably put a little more pressure on the puck and be a little less passive. We will have more puck pursuit and consequently we'll see a little more end-to-end action. We will probably play in our own end a little more than we did last year, yet we should probably play in the other team's end more as well.'

            But MSU's goal--remaining atop the CCHA--stays the same.

            THE MICHIGAN STATE HOCKEY ENCYCLOPEDIA, a new publication that features all MSU hockey players and coaches, their stats and honors, has been compiled by Jim Constandt, longtime hockey team statistician. Members of the MSU Alumni Association can buy the tome at a 30 percent discount--only $10 each, with postage and handling included. Send your check to Jim Constandt, 13603 Grace Dr., Eagle, MI 48822.