Spartan Hockey Falls Even Lower. What is Going On with the Once Proud Spartan Nation Hockey Team?

It wasn’t long ago the Michigan State hockey program was the envy of college hockey.  It was a program that seemed to turn the corner. After a few less

It wasn’t long ago the Michigan State hockey program was the envy of college hockey.

 

It was a program that seemed to turn the corner. After a few less than fulfilling years, the Spartans were poised to regain the top spot in the CCHA and return to national prominence.

 

Three consecutive years of making the National tournament, a GLI Championship and the 2007 National Championship banner hanging at Munn Arena.

 

But those days seem far behind the present. Their fall from grace makes even the most avid hockey fan shake their head, and wonder; how did it happen, and how can it be fixed?

 

The 2008-2009 season has turned the program from the approbation of college hockey to an episode of E-Networks’ “True Hollywood Story.”

 

How Did It Happen?

 

Heading into the season, it was clear that a new generation of Spartan hockey was on the horizon, and the core of their recent successes had moved on. Head Coach Rick Comley’s off-season was met with eight departures from either graduating Seniors or early entry to the professional ranks.

 

The cause of their successes; Justin Abdelkader, Tim Kennedy, Brian Lerg and Chris Mueller, were now gone and the implication for their impending demise was set.

 

This amount of departures and subtractions from championship teams is often times expected. This is generally the cost for college programs pay for excellence.

 

For the past few years the Spartans were filled with veteran leadership, playing with poise, experience, and determination or skilled underclassmen playing years ahead of expectations and with the ability to translate their games to the next levels.

 

Losing early in the non-conference schedule has translated into a miserable CCHA regular season thus far. They have fallen to the cellar of the conference and have become the team other teams “need to beat.”

 

On both ends of the ice the Spartans have struggled.

 

Offensively they are having trouble getting pucks to the net. Being out shot on average by 11 a game, even a struggling team can create scoring opportunities by getting shots on the goal and creating havoc in front of the net.

 

Defensively their spacing has been terrible. They are chasing the puck and other teams, more disciplined teams are capitalizing on their mistakes. This is a common problem amongst young teams as their players translate their games to the next level.

 

How Can It Be Fixed?

 

This isn’t Coach Rick Comley’s first time dealing with this challenge.

 

Back in 2002, when Comley was named to replace Ron Mason, the program was facing some of the same problems that plague the team this year. Ryan Miller had a host of others had turned pro and the teams youthful existence was tested. Critics questioned Comley’s ability to continue leading the program to heights achieved during Mason’s tenure.

 

In that season, the team struggled for offensive scoring, the team’s goals against average nearly doubled and special teams production was marginal at best.

 

But quite possibly the most glaring similarity is the youth movement. That year, Michigan State had 18 underclassmen compared to just 8 juniors and seniors.

 

A look at this years struggles and roster will yield roughly those same statistics. Michigan State is behind their opponents in most statistical categories and carried 16 underclassmen to start the season.

 

From this point on, it’s clear this team hasn’t lived up to the expectations set forth by themselves, the league, the nation and their fans. Losing games happens. But losing the ability to be competitive day in and day out shouldn’t.

 

Their inability to find ways to produce with the talent they have is inexcusable, no matter how inexperienced the team may be. Comley and his staff will need to not only weather this storm but also pull through even stronger. The loss of senior goalie Jeff Lerg won’t help after this year’s season but the cycle of excellence must continue.

 

Just like in 2002, the team needs to get back to basics, and develop the youth on this team into a national contender once again. His team is struggling and will continue to struggle. As they continue to practice and develop, this learning experience not matter how tough it may be will ultimately pay dividends. Unfortunately it comes at the expensive price of the 2008-2009 season.

 

When programs like Michigan State falters, it makes headlines. But at schools like Michigan State, the reason it does is because they are what I consider a “program” and not simply a team that had a good year.

 

The coaches and player before this years team have laid a foundation entrenched in tradition and victory. It’s not this team’s duty to reinvent this historic program but simply to carry on its traditions.  SpartanNation.com has supported Rick Comley since he came to MSU. Prior to winning a national title, we took great grief for that stance. We still maintain that support, but 2009-2010 cannot be a continuation of this season. Next season Comley and his team, need to return to an upper tiered and feared team. A national title buys a coach time, with MSU hockey it doesn’t but a lifetime pass. Nor should it.