Sports: Hockey Claims 9th CCHA Title
MSU won its record ninth CCHA Tournament championship by beating Nebraska-Omaha 6-0 at Joe Louis Arena, the biggest margin of victory in championship game history. Led by MVP goalie Ryan Miller, MSU also became the first team to shutout its opponents in CCHA semifinals and finals. “As a coach to not give up any goals in two games is beyong your wildest dreams,” says Ron Mason. “This team all year has worked hard, and although we went through some spells where we weren’t getting the bounces, now we are getting some paybacks at the right time of year.”
Alas, the 1999-2000 icers got terrible bounces in the first round of the NCAAs, losing to Boston College 6-5 in overtime. Still, it was yet another year of high-achievement as MSU came just three points shy of capturing its third consecutive CCHA regular-season championship. Only a difficult stretch in the middle of the season—when every bounce seemed to go against the Spartans—kept MSU from claiming the title. The Spartans had goals disallowed and goal posts loom large on the offensive end, while other teams found just enough offense as MSU battled through a 3-4-2 stretch. “If we had gotten a few more breaks, especially in the middle of the season, we could have finished in first again,” says head coach Ron Mason. “One thing I can say about this team, though—they worked hard and were outplaying teams throughout that time. Maybe we can start to get the bounces going our way in the playoffs and good things will happen.”
MSU, which led the CCHA in shots on goal and fewest shots on goal allowed, has reasons for optimism in the postseason. First, senior center Shawn Horcoff has emerged as possibly the MVP in all college hockey. Horcoff had a hand in nearly half of MSU’s goals in the regular season after ascending to the number-one center role following Mike York’s graduation. “Shawn Horcoff has been a great player and a great leader for us,” Mason says of his captain. “He makes such an impact because of how hard he works. His work ethic and conditioning are at an elite level, comparable to Kelly Miller or Rod Brind’Amour.”
Horcoff won the CCHA scoring title with three assists on Senior Night at Munn Ice Arena. He was also one of the best defensive forwards and penalty killers in the conference. The Spartans’ top line of Horcoff, sophomore right wing Adam Hall and freshman left wing Brian Maloney contributed a large chunk of the team’s scoring. Hall led the team—and the CCHA—with 23 goals in the regular season, while Maloney chipped in with 12 goals and 14 assists.
As always, the Spartans also rely on a stifling defense backboned by two of the best goaltenders in the nation. Junior Joe Blackburn and freshman Ryan Miller became only the second Spartan goaltending tandem to both win 10 games in a season. Norm Foster and Bob Essensa both had at least 10 wins in each of their four seasons at MSU (1983-87). Seniors Mike Weaver and Brad Hodgins have been the leaders of a strong defense in front of Blackburn and Miller. Newcomers on the blue line John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast added an offensive dimension to the Spartan defense. Liles entered the postseason second among CCHA defensemen in scoring with 24 points.
The Spartans won “big games” in 1999-2000, capturing their third consecutive Great Lakes Invitational championship with a 3-1 win over Michigan at Joe Louis Arena. MSU entered the postseason with a three-game unbeaten streak and a 5-1-2 record in its last eight games, its best stretch since starting the CCHA season with a 10-game winning streak. That made players and coaches hopefully for a record ninth CCHA Tournament title and a run at Michigan State’s third NCAA championship. “We have shown that we can play with any team in the nation,” Mason said. “All we can do now is work hard, play the way we are capable and see where it takes us.”
MUNN SUITES
Munn Ice Arena, one of college hockey’s finest venues, just got better with luxury suites that boost its capacity to 6,470. The north concourse has 14 new boxes, with restrooms and food service in that level. On the other side, club seating contains 150 chair-back seats in an ample area boasting buffet food service and TV monitors. “The sightlines are the best I have ever seen,” says Ron Mason. “The fans will be right on top of the action.”