Sports: Spartan Hockey

SPARTANS SEEK THIRD CCHA TITLE IN A ROW

            Through all of the success MSU hockey coach Ron Mason has enjoyed in 20 years in East Lansing, he has never won three straight CCHA regular-season titles. As the CCHA’s two-time defending champions, he and the Spartans have an opportunity to shoot for it in 1999-2000. Preseason polls have MSU well within range, tabbing the team for first (media) or second (coaches) in the league.

             Leading the way are two All-Americans who focus on keeping the pucks out of the MSU net. Junior goaltender Joe Blackburn was a first-team All-America a year ago when he set school and conference records for goals-against average and save percentage. Weaver, a second-team All-American and first-team All-CCHA honoree, was also the CCHA’s Best Defensive Defenseman. Those two are the only returning All-Americans in the CCHA or WCHA, and make MSU one of two teams in the nation to have two returning All-Americans (Boston College is the other).

            Bolstering Mason’s confidence in his own end of the rink is the return of three other experienced defensemen in senior Brad Hodgins and sophomores Andrew Hutchinson and Jon Insana. Hodgins has improved steadily in his three years at MSU, while Hutchinson and Insana were both strong freshmen who should get better this year. 'I feel very comfortable in goal with Joe Blackburn and on defense with four returning players including Mike Weaver,' Mason said. 'We can’t expect to have the same defensive success we had last year, but that certainly will be the strength of our team.'

            Up front, the Spartans will count on three proven scorers to lead the way among a young group of forwards. Senior Shawn Horcoff ascends to the No. 1 center role this season after three very productive seasons playing behind other star centers like Mike York (departed from last year’s team and now with the New York Rangers). Horcoff, who had 12 goals and 25 assists last year, has been named team captain. Right wings Rustyn Dolyny (junior) and Adam Hall (sophomore) have proven goal-scoring touches as well. The pair combined for 34 goals last year and will be counted on for increased production in 1999-2000.

            MSU’s 11 newcomers will have opportunities to play early and often as well, as Mason anticipates dressing as many as eight rookies a night. 'We will be a young team, and you never know what to expect from freshmen,' Mason said. 'But we could be in position to take a run at the title if our returning players use their experience to their advantage.'