Michigan State sophomore Michael Ratchuk has signed a professional contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, and will report to the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate Philadelphia Phantoms immediately, as announced by the Flyers on Friday afternoon. Ratchuk, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., and a second-round pick of the Flyers in 2006 (42nd overall), just completed his … Read more
Michigan State alternate captain Justin Abdelkader has signed an amateur tryout with the Detroit Red Wings, it was announced by Detroit General Manager Ken Holland Thursday morning. Abdelkader, a second-round pick of the Red Wings in 2005 (42nd overall), just completed his junior season for the Spartans, and will forgo his final season of eligibility. … Read more
Jeff Lerg got everyone’s attention last season as Michigan State won a national title. Friday night in Colorado, he was at it again. Theresa Spisak reports.
A waved-off goal didn’t stop Notre Dame from getting the job done Saturday in Colorado Springs. Candace Horgan reports.
Michigan State junior goaltender Jeff Lerg, of Livonia, Mich., has been named one of five finalists for the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award. Lerg has been invited to the Sullivan Award Ceremony in New York, N.Y., on April 1 at the New York Athletic Club. The AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in … Read more
Michigan State goaltender Jeff Lerg has been named one of 11 finalists for the prestigious James E. Sullivan Memorial Award. Presented annually since 1930 by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Lerg, a 21-year-old junior, was named the Spartans’ Most Valuable Player as he … Read more
It took a bit for Rick Comley to really settle in at Michigan State, but now the Spartans’ bench boss is focused on a repeat NCAA championship, Dave Starman finds.
Site: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit Friday-Saturday, Dec. 28-29, 2007 Participants: Providence, Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech Game 1: Providence vs. Michigan, 4:35 p.m. ET Providence Friars (6-6-2, 4-3-2 Hockey East) Head coach: Tim Army Leading scorers: Sr. Jon Rheault (8-8 — 16), Jr. Matt Taormina (5-11 — 16) Leading netminder: Sr. Tyler Sims (5-5-1, 2.16 … Read more
While every team in the league taught us something during the 2006-07 season, Michigan State showed us two universal truths: 1. Rick Comley is psychic. “I think in our locker room, we believe in what’s there. We believe that we have the opportunity to be a good team, we believe that if we go through … Read more
The Ottawa Senators snagged two underclassmen from the college ranks this week in Michigan State junior Jim McKenzie and 2005 first-round pick Brian Lee out of North Dakota. Lee, a sophomore defenseman, went ninth overall in 2005 and the native of Fargo, N.D., also set career highs in assists (24), points (26) and penalty minutes … Read more
Alabama-Huntsville on Monday named Danton Cole as the third head coach in the history of the Chargers hockey program. Cole replaces Doug Ross, who retired after 25 years following the 2006-07 season. “We look forward to Danton’s experience, his integrity, his desire and his enthusiasm and excitement to take the Chargers to the next level … Read more
Back in East Lansing, the Michigan State Spartans finished off their championship season to well-deserved applause. Sean Caruthers recaps the Spartans’ road to victory and its aftermath.
Goaltending and special teams — the two factors that decide playoff games. It’s a cliché that gets trotted out this time of year and gets overused almost to the point of invisibility. But it didn’t become a cliché by accident. As evidenced by the national championship game between Boston College and Michigan State, goaltending and … Read more
With the Spartans’ national championship, head coach Rick Comley’s tenure at Michigan State has been vindicated, with Comley joining some select company in the process. Ed Trefzger reports.
Justin Abdelkader started the season as one kind of player. He ended it by winning the NCAA championship for Michigan State with his late goal. Todd Milewski looks at the Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four.
Michigan State kept it loose all throughout the NCAA tournament, and it paid off for the Spartans. Paula C. Weston examines MSU’s X-factor.
Jeff Lerg has been told that he couldn’t do it. Yet he has, and he’s now a national champion. Lerg sent a message to the college hockey world with his play in this tournament, Chris Lerch says.
So, you’re playing for a national championship for the first time in 20 years, and the eyes of the college hockey world are on you, and you’re the first team from your league to make it this far since 1998. What are you going to do? If you’re the Michigan State Spartans, you’re going to … Read more
Diminutive Jeff Lerg helped send his Michigan State Spartans into the national title game, showing Dave Hendrickson and the college hockey world that size doesn’t necessarily matter.
There wasn’t one critical instant in Michigan State’s comeback win over Maine, but there was a key stretch. Todd D. Milewski looks at the Spartans’ change of pace Thursday.