After splitting games with the top-ranked Golden Gophers this past weekend, Michigan State men’s ice hockey prepares to face another top-five team this upcoming Saturday against Ferris State University.

Head coach Tom Anastos said his team now knows what it takes to compete with some of the best teams in the country and added the shootout win “wasn’t good enough.”

It’s evident MSU’s hockey team isn’t stacked with talent, but Anastos stresses chemistry can help them become successful.

“We’re not going to change our talent level in the next three months all that much,” Anastos said. “But certainly, our chemistry can constantly get better.”

Anastos also commented on the play of sophomore goaltender Jake Hildebrand, who had 79 saves over the weekend and was named one of the Big Ten’s Three Stars of the Week earlier today.

“Jake was outstanding,” Anastos said. “I thought it was his best two games of the season. I thought he looked really confident.”

Not only was Anastos impressed with the play of Hildebrand, but the freshman class as well, who account for 78 percent of this year’s scoring.

Anastos ended the press conference talking about former MSU head coach Ron Mason, who will be honored for his induction to the US Hockey Hall of Fame. Mason will also serve as the honorary coach against the Bulldogs on Saturday.

Additionally, Anastos revealed this year’s Great Lakes Invitational jerseys the team will wear in late December. The jerseys are a remake from the 1966 Spartan team who won the NCAA Championship.

David Defever is the host of Behind the Mask for Impact Sports

Photo by: David Defever