Decision Time For Spartans’ Miller

There’s no question that Michigan State’s Ryan Miller wants to conclude the 2002-03 hockey season by playing in Buffalo’s HSBC Arena. All he has to decide is which team’s uniform he wants to wear. With top players and multi-million dollar contracts moving around the NHL’s free agent market in the weeks ahead, the Buffalo Sabres, … Read more

Johnson, Leopold, Miller Join Team USA

Former Wisconsin assistant Mark Johnson was named an assistant coach for Team USA for this year’s world championships, taking place April 26-May 11 in Sweden. Among the 19 players selected to play on the team were recent Hobey Baker Award winner Jordan Leopold, defenseman for Minnesota, and last year’s Hobey winner, Michigan State goalie Ryan … Read more

End Of An Era

Michigan State’s loss at the West Regional sent Ron Mason out a loser in his last game. But Paula C. Weston says the new MSU AD is able to focus elsewhere — and there’s plenty to see.

Coming Around Again

Rick Comley’s life, he says, has intermingled with Ron Mason’s for 35 years — no surprise, then, when Mason tapped Comley to succeed him at MSU. Frequent contributor Steve Klein gives his thoughts.

Comley Named New MSU Coach

Rick Comley jumps from Northern Michigan, where he spent 26 years, to Michigan State, where he takes over for long-time colleague and friend, Ron Mason.

The Day After … Reaction to the NCAA Pairings

For the first time since the inception of the 12-team bracket in 1988, the Division I NCAA tournament has a strict regionalized arrangement. Years ago, college hockey put in a series of bracketing rules in order to get away from regionalization, mandating, for example, that the bottom two seeds in each region should flip-flop with … Read more

MSU Board Confirms Mason As New AD

Michigan State’s board of trustees officially confirmed hockey coach Ron Mason as the school’s next athletic director Wednesday. The board’s vote was unanimous in support of the move, proposed by MSU president Peter McPherson. It is effective July 1, one day after current athletic director Clarence Underwood retires. “Ron Mason is a superb leader, a … Read more

What Next?

The upcoming opening at Michigan State does not hurt for candidates. Sorting out who will be the Spartans’ third head coach of the last 50 years will be the current one, Ron Mason. Steve Klein, who knows him well, gives his perspective.

2001-02 Michigan State Season Preview

I Among ten stationary players,The only moving thingWas the eye of the Ryan Miller. You’ve heard the noise. Ryan Miller didn’t deserve the Hobey because of the defense in front of him. Michigan State doesn’t score enough goals. The Spartans play boring hockey. Blah, blah, blah. Sure, they’re ranked No. 1, but Michigan State — … Read more

The Outdoor Game

Saturday’s record-shattering contest between Michigan and Michigan State has been long in the making. “The Outdoor Game,” nee “The Cold War,” opens the CCHA season in a unique way. Paula C. Weston previews the battle.

Miller Adds USA Hockey Award to Growing List

Michigan State goalie Ryan Miller, who recently won the Hobey Baker Award in just his sophomore season, was named winner of the USA Hockey College Player of the Year. He will be among 11 athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers honored at a banquet June 9 for their “excellence, dedication and contributions to the sport … Read more

MSU’s Miller Named Hobey Baker Winner

Michigan State goaltender Ryan Miller, who backstopped the Spartans into the Frozen Four as the number-one team in the nation, was named the winner of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Friday. Ryan Miller won the Hobey Baker Friday, only the second goaltender to do so. Miller shattered the NCAA record for career shutouts in just … Read more

One Last Save

All season long, Ryan Miller made the big stops for Michigan State. Friday, the sophomore made one more — accepting the Hobey Baker Award. Chris Lerch reports.

Another Frustrating End

For Michigan State, it was a familiar, unhappy end. The Spartans were eliminated from the NCAA tournament Thursday by North Dakota, marking the eighth straight NCAA bid in which MSU has failed to reach the title game. Chris Lerch reports.

The Hobey War

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award won’t be handed out until Friday, April 6, but the identity of the winner may be decided this weekend. Dave Hendrickson reviews three of the top candidates in the context of the NCAA regionals.

The Opposite of Boring

Despite 32 wins and a lofty national ranking, a certain reputation surrounds Michigan State, one which can be summed up in a single word: bor-ing! In a special feature, Steve Klein breaks down the Spartans and finds that the number-one team in the land is anything but.