Spartan seniors seeking respect, conferenece title

EAST LANSING - For the past three years, the seniors on the No. 3 Michigan State hockey team have played in the shadows of their more successful rivals in Ann Arbor.

In their three years at Michigan State, they have watched as their rivals have won three CCHA regular season championships, two CCHA playoff championships, and an NCAA championship.

The Spartans hadn't won a title of any kind - until this season's Great Lakes Invitational.

"I think we've been overshadowed a bit," Michigan State senior center Sean Berens said. "Since I've been here, Michigan has been the team to beat. And it's tough when you go around like that - when you're Michigan State and you have to play against Michigan when they've got the national championship and the exceptional records and all that.

"We've had good records here, but its almost like you don't get the same respect as the University of Michigan because we haven't had a national championship. It's tough, but that's what makes the rivalry great."

But this season, things were supposed to be different. After losing nine seniors, including Hobey Baker Award winner Brendan Morrison, Michigan was expected to have an off-year. Meanwhile, the Spartans returned a group of experienced players including Berens, Tyler Harlton - the best defenseman in the CCHA last year - and honorable mention all-CCHA goaltender Chad Alban.

Michigan State was picked to finish first in both the CCHA coaches and media preseason polls.

"Since I've been here they've always had our number," Alban said. "They always won the big games. They've won championships, and they've had a good hockey team. We've had a good hockey team too, but they always seemed to beat us in the big games.

"But now the tide is turning a little bit. We've got a real good team this year and they lost some key players last year."

After leading the CCHA for the first two months of the season, the Spartans faltered, losing games to lesser foes like Notre Dame and Alaska-Fairbanks.

But once again, the Spartans find themselves trailing the Wolverines in CCHA standings. With 10 freshmen on the roster, Michigan has played well above expectations and with just six games remaining in the regular season, Michigan leads second-place Michigan State by three points.

And even though the Spartans have beaten the Wolverines twice this season - one of those for their first GLI title since 1985 - and are ranked higher in the national polls, the Michigan State seniors are still looking for their first CCHA title.

And without two victories over Michigan this weekend, Michigan State's players know their regular season title chances are slim.

"We know we have to win if we're going to have a chance," Alban said. "Michigan knows they're going to have to win one, too. Hopefully things will work out for us."

And so, the rivalry between the Wolverines and the Spartans takes on added significance this weekend for the Michigan State seniors. If they win both games, they will control their own destiny in the CCHA championship race. If they lose, they'll have to hope that Michigan falters or wait for another chance in the playoffs.

"Winning a championship was the goal that my senior class made for ourselves when we walked into this place as freshmen," Berens said. "That's tops on our list. We want to hang a banner from Munn (Ice Arena).

"Michigan is standing in our way and I can't think of a better team to play against. It's an excellent battle whenever we play against them - especially when the stakes are this high."

After three years, this could be the Spartans' final chance at a title.

02-19-98