Point By Point Analysis of Michigan State Hockey Coach Tom Anastos & His Thoughts on Spartan Hockey!

Tom Anastos is entering his second season as head coach of the Michigan State hockey team. A former Spartan hockey player, MSU assistant coach to Ron Mason, and

Tom Anastos is entering his second season as head coach of the Michigan State hockey team. A former Spartan hockey player, MSU assistant coach to Ron Mason, and Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) commissioner, Anastos knows and loves hockey. The coach recently sat down with the media for an hour, discussing recruiting, the program’s move to the Big Ten from the CCHA, and the team itself. His major points are summarized below.

• Anastos strongly believes that recruiting is critical to a program. He shares the
  sentiment of the football staff that recruiting work is never done. Anastos
  emphasized this point by allowing his assistant coaches to miss games last
  season to recruit future Spartans.
• Anastos especially wants to gather talent from Michigan and surrounding states. As
  with the Spartan basketball program, most recruiting is done within a five
  hour drive from East Lansing. So Anastos wanted to restore MSU’s local
  recruiting clout right away. “We thought it was important to re-establish
  some presence at a high level in Michigan and in other parts of the
  country.” And although Anastos will draw from other parts of North America
  if the opportunity arises, “Our priorities are here in Michigan and that’s
  where we spent a lot of time. I think we’re having success.” The goal of
  prioritizing Michigan was not only to establish ties, but to spread the
  Spartan brand. “It wasn’t just in making connections, but it was, in a big
  way, becoming as visible as possible.” Now, as Anastos said, “People know
  when Michigan State is out there.”
• The veteran of the college game expressed why he believes in higher education
  rather than taking the quick pre NHL money in Canada. “I can’t think of
  many reasons why you wouldn’t want to go to college... It’s been proven
  time and time again that you can be an elite player in the NHL by playing
  here [in college],” Anastos said. “At the same time, you get a good education;
  get to mature socially, etc. To me there’s no bad to it.”
• As in college football and basketball, many have pushed college hockey
  athletes to forgo years of school to go pro. Anastos doesn’t think that
  it’s right to push a player into the pros too early: “People develop at
  different times; there are complex reasons as to when you’re ready to go.
  It’s not as simple as your hockey game.”
• As Athletic Director Mark Hollis has stated previously, a new ice rink is not
  in the cards. Munn Ice Arena will most likely be renovated instead,
  Anastos said: “I would assume that, barring a major donation any time in
  the immediate [future], that we would be looking at a revamped Munn, which
  again I think, would be like a new arena. I think in either case, we’re
  going to have to do significant fundraising.”
• The move of the hockey program from the CCHA to the Big Ten is closing in
  fast. The first season in the Big Ten will be 2013-14. Anastos has mixed
  feelings about the move: “There’s a bittersweet feeling about it because
  there’s a lot of history there.” But at the same time Anastos is not
  totally opposed to it: “I embrace the change, and maybe it’s time.” Being
  in the Big Ten will bring more visibility and power to Michigan State
  hockey, as Anastos pointed out. He also noted that the switch is good for
  recruiting. “That will play very prominently in our recruiting. At the
  same time, I would anticipate schools we recruit against will be other Big
  Ten schools.”
• The self-described “fidgety” coach never stops thinking about hockey. So it
  comes as no surprise that Anastos is now thinking about changes to the
  rule book. Though he doesn’t see a 4-on-4 overtime or a shootout becoming
  a reality soon, Anastos does think that a three-quarter facemask and a
  rule allowing goals when the net is off the mooring could be introduced
  before long.
• Anastos has also been thinking about the non-conference schedule for 2013-14 and
  beyond. He is trying to create a challenging, but balanced, schedule. “We
  are progressing through that and we’re trying to get a balance of
  nationally prominent programs… and supporting Michigan and maybe some of
  the traditional CCHA rivals.” No teams have committed on paper, but Coach
  Anastos promised that there will be matchups with perennial powerhouses.
  The Spartans will also continue to participate in the Great Lakes
  Invitational.
• The team will sport new uniforms next season. Both the home and away jerseys
  have a new design, though Anastos is not revealing what they will look
  like. He also noted that the squad will be introducing a new third uniform. The jersey, as requested by the fans,
  will have a vintage look to honor the legacy of MSU Hockey. The alternate uniform
  will likely be revealed at the Great Lakes Invitational.
• Next season’s squad will again be full of fresh faces. The team will feature
  eleven new players, who will replace the nine departing seniors, as well
  as Torey Krug (who left early for the NHL). Anastos has high expectations
  for the eleven new Spartans and the rest of the team. Anastos wants his
  players to be leaders, especially the veterans on the roster. “We’re
  looking for influencers, guys who can positively influence their
  teammates.” He is a bit anxious as to who will step up as team captain,
  though he is in no hurry to name one. Anastos wants to pick the right man
  for the role, not through a player vote, but through careful observation
  and discussion.
• Anastos took time to talk about a few players whose contributions will be key in
  the upcoming season. He had some interesting insights:
• Anastos hopes to see the team continue to develop in the offseason through summer
  workouts and into the fall. The tireless coach is constantly thinking of
  ways to make his team better, so Michigan State fans can rest easy knowing
  that Anastos will get all he can out of his young squad.

•      Forward Anthony Hayes: An assistant captain last year for the first time, Hayes
  became an asset to the team. “He’s a blue collar player who needs to play
  hard. He became one of our top penalty killer guys.”
• F  Kevin Walrod: Anastos didn’t have huge expectations for him last year,
  but Walrod established himself on one of the top lines. Anastos is
  wondering: Will Walrod have a year on par with last year, or will he
  improve even more?
• F  Lee Reimer: Anastos expects more out of Reimer, an incoming junior. “As
  big of a step that he took last year, we have the expectation for him to
  take another big step this year.”
• F  Greg Wolf: Anastos was unsure of him before last season, but Wolf proved
  himself. “We played him on a regular shift; we played him on the power
  play. I think that he’s a very capable penalty killer.” Anastos expressed
  that Wolf has to develop better endurance, though the coach loves the
  junior’s hockey skills and IQ.
• D  Jake Chelios: Much is expected from this incoming senior. Anastos would
  like for Chelios to lead the defensive unit and the team. “We think that
  he has a lot of leadership capability. His teammates are influenced by
  him. We’re kind of anxious to see how he can embrace that kind of role,
  or if he can embrace it.” Anastos thinks that Chelios is a high end
  prospect. “We think that he has NHL written all over him. He has the kind
  of poise and moxie you can’t teach.”
•     Goalie Will (The Magnificent) Yanakeff: The junior net
  minder will be expected to be great next year, especially with a young
  defensive corps. “We have very high expectations. We thought that he
  stepped up last year. Physically, he’s a big time player who has big time
  skills. He matured a lot, especially mentally.”
•      F Tanner Sorenson: The only player to come from a high school team last
  year, Sorenson faced some adversity. But he handled it well, impressing
  Anastos and the rest of the coaching staff. “He’s a very skilled player.
  He’s not very big, I think he’s 5’8 about 165 pounds. He skates real well;
  he’s got a rocket of a shot. He made a big step.”