Sports: Coach of the Year

'COACH OF THE YEAR' MASON LEADS ICERS TO FINAL FOUR

MSU's injured but determined icers astonished everyone by making the NCAA's elite 'Final Four' for the 4th time in seven years. Many superlatives can be invoked to sum up MSU's 1991-92 hockey season. But no statistic or episode better reflects the season than MSU's dramatic upset of top-ranked Maine at the NCAA playoffs in Providence, RI.

Few moments in Spartan athletic history can surpass it for sheer drama, excitement, persistent suspense, courage, tenacity, and coaching brilliance. Hanging by their fingernails on a 3-2 lead, MSU's defense, led by goalie Mike Gilmore and all-CCHA defenseman Joby Messier, fended off Maine's furious third period onslaught. Gilmore made 20 third-period saves while CCHA 'Player of the Year' Dwayne Norris led the offense with two goals and one assist. MSU's extraordinary effort sent a small but loud group of loyal fans into near delirium. Why was that win so momentous? Consider the following:

• It reminded hockey fans, whose memories are short, that Ron Mason, the winningest active college hockey coach and 1991-92 National Coach of the Year, has built the nation's premier program at Michigan State.
• It placed MSU in the NCAA Final Four for the 4th time in seven years, in a year it was 'supposed' to finish fifth in the league.
• It struck a blow for the CCHA, which placed its top three teams in the NCAA Final Four.
• It proved to the players that hard work and team emphasis can dramatically alter the win-loss record.
• It gave Spartan fans across the country a positive for which to cheer and support.

MSU challenged for the CCHA title up until the penultimate weekend of the season and returned to the CCHA Championships at Joe Louis Arena for their 10th appearance in 11 seasons. MSU defeated pesky Ferris State at Munn Arena in the first-round of the playoffs. Ranked No. 5 in the nation at season's end, MSU made the NCAAs via the regionals in Providence. MSU defeated Boston University 4-2 by scoring three goals in the final period, thus setting up the rematch against top-seeded Maine, which is coached by former MSU assistant and Mason's son-in-law Shawn Walsh. That set up a match against Lake Superior State, winner of the CCHA Playoffs. After an even 2-2 struggle for two periods, the Lakers scored two more goals to seal their win enroute to the NCAA title. The season had many highlights, among them:

• A win and tie against arch-rival and preseason favorite Michigan in the season's opening weekend.
• A 1-0 win over Lake Superior State at Munn in which Gilmore sparkled in the nets with 27 saves.
• A win and tie against LSS in Sault Ste. Marie for three points--the only such achievement in the Lakers home rink.
• A new regular season attendance record for one game (16,643) and for one series (30,285) in the MSU-Michigan 'Home- and-Home' matchup at Joe Louis Arena.

Other Spartans receiving kudos were Bryan Smolinski, Honorable Mention All-CCHA, and CCHA All-Rookies Rem Murray and Steve Suk. Performing as assistant coaches were Tom Newton and Tom Anastos. Trainer Dave Carrier, fresh from his prestigious stint at the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, was kept busy by a string of injuries during the season. (Steve Easton, hockey SID, helped compile this report--Editor.)