Michigan State University ? Active Division
2003-2004 record: 33-6-0 overall, 19-1-0 league
MCRHL regular season finish: 1st
MCRHL Championship finish: 5th/6th
National Championship finish: Elite Eight
Number of Returning Players: 11 of 16
The offseason made headlines for the Spartans, with the retiring of Rejean Tremblay, the only coach Michigan State has ever had. Tremblay lead MSU to two national championships (1999 and 2000) and four NARCh Winternational Championships (2001-2004). After a couple of disappointing losses last year, including an overtime loss at the Collegiate Roller Hockey National Championships to Penn State, the Spartans will return a veteran squad who will likely be again favored to win the regional championship.
MSU will be lead by 2003-2004 MCRHL scoring champion Ken Jung (85 points in 25 overall games) and Mike Mackert, who will be returning to the Spartans on the court after a year of helping out behind the bench. Chris Luscombe will be missed though, as one of the best goalies in the MCRHL last season. David Cohen, Luscombe?s backup last season, will be the only goalie with experience, along with rookies Gabe Villaruel and Jacob Bishop.
Expect Michigan State to be near the top of the national rankings all year, and to put up a fight for the Haschel Cup, after a disappointing finish last year in the MCRHL Championships.
Michigan State University B ? Development Divsion, Conference B East
2003-2004 record: 9-13-0 overall, 4-4-0 league
MCRHL regular season finish: 5th
MCRHL Championship finish: 4th
National Championship finish: Did not qualify
Number of Returning Players: 8 of 13
The Spartans? B squad had some mixed results last season. A good enough record to make the playoffs, but still .500, a good overall record based on the competition they faced, but not outstanding. Good wins against teams like Northern Illinois, good showings against two Division I teams, but losses to archrivals Eastern Michigan and Michigan. They will return much of the same team that placed 5th last year, but will want to make a mark in the tough Conference B East of the Development Division. All four teams in that conference made the playoffs last year, which should make for some incredibly competitive games this year.
Nick Simmonds and Danny Horen, who lead the team in scoring last year will return, along with Bill Kennelly between the pipes.
Look for scores and stats to be updated this evening, along with as many previews as possible throughout the week.
