March 11, 2003

EAST LANSING, Mich. -

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THIS WEEK IN SPARTAN HOCKEY
No. 15 Michigan State (21-13-2, 17-10-1 CCHA)
vs. Alaska Fairbanks (15-12-7, 10-11-7 CCHA)

First Round CCHA Playoffs (Best of Three Series)
Friday-Saturday, March 14-15, 7:05 p.m. EST
Sunday, March 16 (if necessary), 7:05 p.m. EST
Munn Ice Arena (6,470) * East Lansing, Mich.

MSU-UAF Series Information
Michigan State leads 24-5
Last 10 games: Michigan State leads 9-1
First Meeting: Jan. 8, 1985 - MSU 13, UAF 3
Last Meeting: Jan. 11, 2003 - MSU 6, UAF 2

Radio: WJIM 1240-AM (Scott Moore, Joe Blackburn)
Television: None

THIS WEEK'S ACTION
Michigan State (21-13-2 overall, 17-10-1 CCHA) meets Alaska Fairbanks (15-12-7 overall, 10-11-7 CCHA) in the first round of the CCHA playoffs at Munn Ice Arena this weekend. The best of three series begins on Friday, March 14. Game two will be played on Saturday (March 15), while a third game (if necessary) will be played on Sunday (March 16). All games will begin at 7:05 p.m. EST.

All Spartan hockey games can be heard on WJIM 1240-AM. Scott Moore serves up the play-by-play action, while Joe Blackburn handles the analysis.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP
Friday, March 7 - Michigan State 4, Western Michigan 0
Michigan State used a three-goal first period outburst and Matt Migliaccio stopped 19 shots as the Spartans posted a 4-0 shutout at Western Michigan. Colton Fretter scored a pair of goals for MSU and Lee Falardeau and Brian Maloney added single tallies in the win. The Spartans held a 36-to-19 edge in shots on goal and finished 1-for-3 (.333) on the power play.
Saturday, March 8 - Michigan State 8, Western Michigan 5
Jim Slater's first career hat trick helped propel Michigan State to an 8-5 victory over Western Michigan at Munn Arena on Saturday. WMU took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after one period, before the Spartans exploded with four unanswered goals (Jim Slater, Brian Maloney, Brad Fast and Joe Markusen) to take a 5-2 lead. The Broncos would pull to within two (5-3) with a tally with just 11 seconds to play in the middle stanza. Slater's third goal of the game gave MSU a 6-3 lead, before back-to-back Bronco goals pulled WMU within one (6-5). However, a pair of Mike Lalonde goals, including an empty netter with 44 seconds left sealed the Spartan victory. Matt Migliaccio stopped 22 shots, while Mike Mantua finished with 35 saves.

FOR STATERS
* This weekend's match-up will feature two of the least penalized teams in the CCHA. UAF leads the CCHA at 10.0 penalty minutes per game, while State is second at 13.4 mpg.
* The Spartans are 13-4-1 since Jan. 4 and moved from 10th place in the CCHA standings to finish fourth, just one point out of third and four points out of second. Ferris State captured the CCHA regular-season crown for the first time in school history.
* MSU scored a season-best eight goals in Saturday's 8-5 win over Western Michigan. It was MSU's best offensive output since Jan. 28, 1995, when the Spartans also scored eight goals in an 8-1 win over WMU.
* In MSU's last six wins (6-3 at BGSU, 5-3 vs. UM; 7-4 vs. NMU; 4-0 at UM; 4-0 at WMU and 8-5 vs. WMU), the Spartans are averaging 5.7 goals per game. On the other hand, in MSU's last three losses (3-1 at UM; 4-2 vs. NMU and 5-4 vs. UM), the Spartans are averaging just 2.3 goals per game.
* Senior defenseman and All-America candidate John-Michael Liles leads MSU and paces all CCHA defensemen in scoring with 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists). He also leads the nation in points per game by a blueliner (1.25).
* The Spartans are 13-0-1 when scoring five or more goals, but are 1-8-1 when allowing five or more goals.
* State leads the CCHA and ranks third in the nation on the power play at 26.6 percent (46-of-173).

MICHIGAN STATE QUICK HITS
* MSU brings a 21-13-2 overall and a 17-10-1 CCHA slate into the first round of the CCHA playoffs. MSU is coming off a sweep of Western Michigan (4-0 in Kalamazoo and 8-5 in East Lansing) last weekend.
* MSU is 7-3 in its last 10 games.
* The Spartans are 11-4 at home this season.
* Senior defenseman John-Michael Liles (16-29--45) continues to pace MSU in scoring. His 45 points leads all CCHA blueliners and ranks tied for fourth in the CCHA overall scoring race. In his last 11 games, Liles has posted 7-12--19 totals - an average of 1.7 points per game.
* Senior defenseman Brad Fast (11-30--41) is the team's second-leading scorer with 41 points. He is seventh in the CCHA and second among blueliners with 41 points. In addition, he ranks third in the country in points per game among blueliners (1.14).
* Sophomore forward Jim Slater (16-24--40) is third with 40 points. Slater scored his first career hat trick in Saturday's 8-5 win.
* Freshman forward David Booth (16-19--35) and sophomore forward Mike Lalonde (13-16--29) round out MSU's top-five scorers.
* In goal, sophomore netminder Matt Migliaccio has recorded a 19-9-2 record, along with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .914 saves percentage.
* MSU ranks third in the CCHA in goals per game at 3.63 and sixth in goals allowed per game at 2.97. In 2001-02, the Spartans averaged 3.15 goals per game, while allowing just 1.78 goals.

ALASKA FAIRBANKS QUICK HITS
* Alaska Fairbanks enters the CCHA playoffs with a 15-12-7 overall slate and closed the conference schedule with a 10-11-7 mark. However, the Nanooks have been one of the hottest teams in the nation, posting a 6-0-3 mark in their past nine games.
* UAF swept a two-game set (6-4 and 5-0) from Alaska Anchorage last weekend.
* UAF is 6-7-3 on the road this season, including a pair of wins at Nebraska-Omaha (Nov. 8-9) and Ohio State (Feb. 21-22).
* UAF is averaging 3.31 goals per game, while allowing 3.41 goals.
* UAF is led offensively by sophomore center Jared Sylvestre (11-17--28) and senior center Blaine Bablitz (14-13--27) with 28 and 27 points, respectively. Bablitz leads the squad with six power play tallies.
* Sophomore goaltender Keith Bartusch has appeared in 14 games, posting a 6-0-3 mark along with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .919 saves percentage. Senior netminder Lance Mayes has seen action in 13 games, recording a 4-4-3 record along with a 3.23 GAA and a .901 saves percentage.

LAST TIME OUT VS. ALASKA FAIRBANKS
Friday, Jan. 10 - Michigan State 5, Alaska Fairbanks 2
David Booth registered his first career hat trick as Michigan State rolled to a 5-2 victory over Alaska Fairbanks at Munn Arena. Ash Goldie broke a 2-2 deadlock with his fourth goal of the campaign at the 10:38 mark of the third period. Back-to-back goals by Booth in the third period helped preserve the Spartan victory. Matt Migliaccio stopped 20 shots for MSU, while Lance Mayes stopped 35 shots for UAF, including 18 in the third period.
Saturday, Jan. 11 - Michigan State 6, Alaska Fairbanks 2
Mike Lalonde tallied a pair of goals, including the game winner as Michigan State rolled to a 6-2 victory over Alaska Fairbanks. State jumped out to an 2-0 lead on goals by John-Michael Liles (shorthanded) and Colton Fretter after one period. UAF cut the lead to one, 2-1, on the power play, before three-straight Spartan goals (Lalonde, Nenad Gajic and Lalonde) gave MSU a 5-1 lead after two. The teams traded power play goals in the third period. Matt Migliaccio was called upon to make 33 stops, while Preston McKay stopped 16 shots before being replaced by Lance Mayes.

CCHA FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF ACTION
The 2002-03 season marks the 12th straight year that Michigan State has hosted a first-round CCHA playoff series. MSU has advanced to the CCHA Championship at Joe Louis Arena in each of the past 12 seasons. Below are some quick notes on MSU in the first round of the CCHA playoffs:
* Ten of the last 12 first-round series have ended in two games, while twice MSU has played a third game (1993-94 and 1995-96).
* This will mark the second time that the Spartans have faced Alaska Fairbanks in the first round of the CCHA playoffs. The first time the teams met in the first round of the playoffs was in 2000-01 as MSU claimed 5-2 and 3-2 (OT) wins.
* The last time that Michigan State failed to win a CCHA first-round playoff series was in 1990-91 when State dropped two games (4-3 and 4-2) at Western Michigan.
* The 1990-91 season also marked the last time that the Spartans have not hosted a first-round playoff series.

THROW THE HAT
Sophomore forward Jim Slater tallied his first career hat trick in MSU's 8-5 victory over Western Michigan (March 8). He scored the game's first goal; his second marker tied the game at two, while his third goal was the game-winner at the 1:27 mark of the third period.

For the season, Slater has registered career-best totals of 16-24--40. His 16 goals are tied for the team lead, while his 24 assists ranks third.

FRETTER NAMED CCHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Freshman forward Colton Fretter was selected as the CCHA Rookie of the Week after his three-point weekend in MSU's two-game sweep of Western Michigan. It marked the second time this season that Fretter has earned the honor, after being selected for his four-point weekend in a split with Ferris State (Dec. 6-7)

Fretter equaled his career best with a pair of goals in Friday's 4-0 win at WMU. It marked his first goal since the Jan. 11 contest vs. Alaska Fairbanks, a span of 14 contests. It also marked the second time this season he has scored two goals in a game; the first time was in a 5-3 win at Ferris State (Dec. 6). He also drew an assist on MSU's fourth goal in Saturday's 8-5 victory.

For the season, Fretter has posted 6-14--20 totals in 31 games.

THE MARKSMEN
Senior forward Brian Maloney posted his sixth multiple-point game of the season with a goal and an assist at Western Michigan (March 7). He also added a power play tally in MSU's 8-5 win on Saturday.

Over the last 15 games, Maloney has averaged 1.2 points per game with 13-5--18 totals. Seven of his 13 goals have been on the power play and one goal was scored shorthanded during this stretch. This is in stark contrast to his first 21 games, when Maloney totaled just nine points (two goals, seven assists).

For the season, the Bassano, Alta., native has registered 15-12--27 totals in 36 games. He needs just three more points to reach the 30-point plateau for a fourth straight season.

MANNING THE NET
Sophomore Matt Migliaccio posted his league-leading fifth shutout with a 4-0 blanking at Western Michigan (March 7). The Wyandotte, Mich., native stopped 19 shots, including just three in the final stanza. It was his second straight Friday shutout as he posted a 4-0 victory at Michigan on Friday, Feb. 28.

The five shutouts places him fourth on MSU's single-season shutout list. Ryan Miller (2000-01) holds MSU's single-season shutout record with 10. Miller also is second with eight (1999-2000 and 2001-02), while Chad Alban is third with six (1997-98).

CHECKING OUT SOME NUMBERS
Since the Jan. 4 game at Lake Superior State, Matt Migliaccio has put up some pretty impressive numbers. The Wyandotte, Mich., native has compiled a 13-4-1 mark, along with 2.38 goals-against average and a .918 saves percentage in 18 games.

SWEEPING IT UP
Michigan State posted its fifth sweep of the season against Western Michigan. It also marked the team's first sweep since Jan. 17-18 when the Spartans took two games from Nebraska-Omaha (5-2 and 7-0).

THE OFFENSIVE ROLLS ON
Michigan State has scored 20 goals in its last four games, including a season-best eight against Western Michigan on Saturday. It was the team's best offensive output since Jan. 28, 1995, when the Spartans also scored eight goals in an 8-1 win over Western Michigan.

Over the last 10 contests, MSU has registered 44 goals - an average of 4.4 goals per game. The Spartans enter the playoffs as the second-highest scoring team in the league as MSU averaged 4.04 goals in 28 league games. Ferris State was the league's top-scoring team at 4.32 goals in conference play.

THE FOURS HAVE IT
Sophomore forward Mike Lalonde had a career-best four-point night in MSU's 8-5 victory over Western Michigan. Lalonde equaled his career best with a pair of goals, including an empty netter with 44 seconds left to seal the win and added a pair of assists, including one on the game-winning goal. It marked Lalonde's first multiple-point game since the Feb. 8 contest at Bowling Green when he had 1-1--2 totals.

For the season, Lalonde has posted 13-16--29 totals in 36 games to rank as the team's fifth-leading scorer.

WHO'S HOT?
* Senior defenseman Brad Fast brings a career-best 11-game point streak (2-16--18) into Friday's game against UAF, an average of 1.6 points per game.
* Senior defenseman John-Michael Liles carries a seven-game point streak (5-8--13) into Friday's game, averaging 1.9 points per game in this stretch.
* Sophomore forward Brock Radunske has a three-game point streak (0-4--4) heading into Friday's game.
* Senior forward Brian Maloney with 13-4--17 totals in his last 15 contests, an average of 1.1 points per game.
* Sophomore forward Lee Falardeau with 5-1--6 totals in his last six games.

WITH THE MAN ADVANTAGE
Michigan State finished 3-for-8 (.375) on the power play against Western Michigan. For the season, Michigan State leads the CCHA and ranks third in the nation with the man advantage at 26.6 percent (46-of-173). In conference games only, State paced the league with the man advantage at 29.7 percent (38-of-128).

Michigan State's success on the power play has been well documented over the past few seasons. MSU led the CCHA and finished ninth in the nation on the power play in 2001-02 at 22.5 percent (45-of-200). The Spartans also led the CCHA and ranked seventh in the nation at 22.7 percent (52-of-229) in 2000-01, while in 1999-2000, State once again led the CCHA and ranked sixth in the nation at 22.9 percent (56-of-245).

SPARTAN NOTEBOOK
* MSU'S 4-0 shutout in Kalamazoo on Friday was State's first shutout in the series since Oct. 18, 1997. * Sophomore goaltender Matt Migliaccio picked up his second assist of the season with a helper on MSU's second goal on Friday.
* Sophomore forward Brock Radunske tied his career best with a pair of assists on Friday.
* Junior defenseman Joe Markusen registered a goal and an assist in Saturday's 8-5 win. He has 2-8--10 totals in 36 games this season.
* MSU is 9-0-1 when a player scores two or more goals in a game.
* The Spartans are 8-8-1 on Fridays, but 11-5-1 on Saturday.

THE NUMBER TO KNOW
Michigan State is 18-0-2 when leading after two periods. On the other hand, MSU is 3-13 when either trailing or tied after two.

FAST MOVING
Senior defenseman and All-America candidate Brad Fast carries a career-best 11-game point streak (2-16--18) into Friday's game with UAF. During this stretch, he is averaging 1.6 points per game.

For the season, the Fort St. John, B.C., native is second on the team in scoring with 11-30--41 totals. He is seventh in the CCHA overall scoring race and second among CCHA blueliners in points. He also ranks third in the nation in points per game among defenseman (1.14).

ON FIRE
Senior defenseman and All-America candidate John-Michael Liles (16-29--45) continues to roll for MSU, pacing the Spartans with 45 points. Liles has registered 7-12--19 totals over the past 11 contests, an average of 1.7 points per game.

AND MORE ON LILES
The Zionsville, Ind., native has posted 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) this season. His 45 points ties him for fourth in the CCHA overall scoring race and paces all CCHA blueliners. He also leads the nation in points per game by a blueliner (1.25). He became the first Spartan to reach the 40-point plateau in the Michigan series since Shawn Horcoff (14-51--65) registered 65 points in 1999-2000.

In 2001-02, Liles led the Spartans in scoring with 35 points (13-22). It marked the first time since the 1990-91 season (Jason Woolley, 15-44--59) that a defenseman led the team in scoring. A blueliner has never led the Spartans in scoring in back-to-back seasons in MSU hockey history.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL WITH 40?
Senior defenseman John-Michael Liles (45 points), senior defenseman Brad Fast (41 points) and sophomore forward Jim Slater (40 points) have all hit the 40-point plateau this season, becoming the fist Spartan players to score 40 or more points in a season since 1997-98 when Mike York (27-34-61), Sean Berens (36-19-55) and Rustyn Dolyny (20-24-44) each surpassed that mark.

THIS WEEK'S NOTEBOOK ITEMS
* Senior defenseman Brad Fast leads MSU with 13 multiple-point games this season, while Jim Slater is second with 12 multiple-point games.
* Thirteen (five goals, eight assists) of Ash Goldie's 20 points have been registered on the power play.
* Freshman forward David Booth is tied for seventh in the nation in points per game among rookies at 0.97. In addition, Booth is second among CCHA freshmen in scoring with 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists).
* Senior defenseman Brad Fast is second in the CCHA with 30 assists, while John-Michael Liles is third (29 assists) and Jim Slater is tied for 10th (24 assists).
* In conference games only, Brad Fast finished third in the scoring race with 37 points (10-27), while John-Michael Liles was fourth with 36 points (14-22). Ferris State's Chris Kunitz won the CCHA scoring crown with 51 points (24-27).
* Michigan State is 6-3 in one-goal games this season, recording victories over Colgate (2-1), Lake Superior State (3-2), Niagara (5-4 in OT), Wisconsin (2-1 in OT), Notre Dame (2-1) and Miami (3-2). By comparison, the Spartans were 5-6 in one-goal games in 2001-02.

MSU HEAD COACH RICK COMLEY
A new face is on the Spartan bench this season as veteran Rick Comley takes over the reigns. Comley, who was selected as the fifth head coach in MSU hockey history on April 25, 2002, replaces the legendary Ron Mason, who stepped down to become MSU's athletics director.

Comley arrived at MSU after spending the past 26 years as the head coach at Northern Michigan. The first head coach in NMU hockey history, he compiled a 538-429-68 (.533) mark behind the Wildcat bench to become one of just 10 coaches to post 500 victories at the same institution.

The Stratford, Ontario, native guided NMU to the 1991 National Championship, a thrilling 8-7 triple overtime victory over Boston University. He also led Northern Michigan to CCHA regular-season championships in 1980 and 1981. Comley piloted the Wildcats to the 1991 WCHA regular-season crown and three WCHA playoff championships. He is one of three individuals (Bill Selman and George Gwozdecky) to have coached regular-season champions in the WCHA and CCHA.

He owns a career mark of 618-488-73 (.555). His 618 career wins ranks seventh on the NCAA career wins list. In addition, his 618 career victories ranks third among active NCAA coaches, behind Boston University's Jack Parker (678 wins) and Boston College's Jerry York (667 wins).

SPARTAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore forward Jim Slater was selected as the Spartan Player of the Week following MSU's two-game sweep of Western Michigan last weekend. Slater, who returned to the line-up after missing the previous weekend due to injury, registered his first career hat trick in MSU's 8-5 win over Western Michigan. He finished the game with a plus-minus ranking of +4.

The Spartan coaching staff will select a Spartan Player of the Week following the conclusion of play each week.

SPARTANS REENTER NATIONAL POLLS
The Michigan State hockey team is ranked 15th in both the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine and USCHO.com polls this week (March 10). It marks the Spartans first appearance in the national polls since Nov. 4, 2002, when MSU was ranked 13th in both polls.

Michigan State, which is coming off a two-game sweep of Western Michigan (4-0 and 8-5) last weekend, has posted a 13-4-1 record since Jan. 4. The Spartans climbed from 10th place in the CCHA standings to finish fourth, just one point out of third and four points out of second.

BOOTH SELECTED TO CCHA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Freshman forward David Booth (Washington, Mich.) has been selected to the 2003 CCHA All-Rookie Team as voted by the league coaches. Booth's selection marks the second straight year that the Spartans have had an all-rookie honoree, as Jim Slater earned the honor in 2002. It also is the fourth time in the past five years that a Spartan has earned the recognition (Rustyn Dolyny, 1998; Adam Hall, 1999; Ryan Miller, 2000).

"David came in here as an unheralded freshman and has exceeded everyone's expectations," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "He has had a great freshman season and is positioning himself for the NHL draft in 2004. He has definitely set himself up to have an outstanding sophomore season."

Booth is joined on the team by Vince Bellissimo (F, Western Michigan); Dirk Southern (F, Northern Michigan; Jeff Tambellini (F; Michigan); Andy Greene (D; Miami); Danny Richmond (D, Michigan) and Al Montoya (G, Michigan).

Booth has appeared in all 36 games for the Spartans, posting 16-19-35 totals to rank as the team's fourth-leading scorer. Booth's 35 points ranks second in the CCHA among rookies, and he is tied for seventh in the nation among rookies in points per game at 0.97. His 16 goals are tied for the team lead.

He scored his first collegiate goal in a 3-1 win at Northern Michigan (Oct. 19). He was selected as the CCHA Rookie of the Week after posting 3-1-4 totals in a tie at Minnesota (Nov. 29) and a win at Wisconsin (Nov. 30). He also earned CCHA Rookie of the Week honors after posting 3-1-4 totals in a two-game sweep of Alaska Fairbanks (Jan. 10-11), including his first career hat trick on Jan. 10.

Booth ranks fourth on the team with nine multiple-point games, including a pair of assists in last Friday's 4-0 victory at Western Michigan. He has totaled a season-best three points in a game three times, including 1-2-3 totals in a 7-4 win vs. Northern Michigan (Feb. 21).

THE DYNAMIC DUO OF DEFENSEMEN
Senior defensemen John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast have been the driving force on the blueline for the Spartans this season as the duo are averaging nearly 30 minutes of ice time per game. Liles has posted 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in his last 15 contests, including eight multiple-point games. Fast, who brings a career-best nine-game point streak (1-13--14) into Friday's game at Western Michigan, leads the team with 12 multiple-point games this season.

The duo rank near the top of the CCHA and national leaders in points per game among defensemen. Liles, who leads the team in scoring with 16-25--41 totals, leads all CCHA defensemen in points with 41 and is second in the country among defensemen in points per game (1.21). Fast, who is tied for second on the team in scoring with 10-27--37 totals, is second in the CCHA in points by a blueliner (37) and ranks third in the country among defensemen in points per game (1.09).

THE RICK COMLEY RADIO SHOW
The Rick Comley Radio Show will run throughout the season, on Wednesday's, at 6 p.m., on WVFN-AM 730. The hour-long show originates from Reno's East Sports Bar in East Lansing. Jerry Marshall serves as the host of the program.

UP NEXT
The winner of this first-round playoff series between Michigan State and Alaska Fairbanks will advance to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA Super Six Championships March 20-22.