Men’s Hockey Mid-Season Report Card
January 8, 2015
With the middle of the season now behind us, let’s take a look at each player’s mid-season individual report card.
Forwards
The junior captain has turned a lot of heads and leads the Spartans with eight goals and 14 points. His .548 win percentage in the faceoff circle is also one of the best on the team and in the Big Ten. His only knock is his -5 rating.
Matt Berry – B
Despite being out of the lineup in the last few games, Berry still ranks second on the team in points and tied for first in assists. Michigan State needs more than seven goals from Berry in the stretch run in order for the Spartans to go deep in the Big Ten playoffs.
The sophomore from Troy is on pace to set career highs in all offensive categories. He came out of the gate hot, but has just one goal and one assist in the last eight games. He needs to get back on track for this team to be successful.
Joe Cox – B
Cox, a sophomore from Chelsea, is also on pace to surpass most offensive totals from his freshman season. As of late, he has found the score sheet for six points in the last six games. He plays in every situation for the Spartans and he will play a pivotal role in how far this team can go.
Brent Darnell – B-
Darnell has scored six points in the last four games, including the game-winning goal in the first round of the Great Lakes Invitational against Ferris State. He started off rough, only notching two points in the first 11 games, but has started to find his swagger as of late. He is also one of the only forwards to have a positive rating at +1.
Matt DeBlouw – B-
The junior from Chesterfield has completely recovered from a sophomore campaign that saw him go without a goal. He would have to have a stellar second half to surpass his numbers freshman year, but his offensive punch has been a welcome addition to a Spartan lineup looking for more offense. He is a +3 over the last ten games as well.
Thomas Ebbing – C+
His +1 rating through 18 games is by far better than the -8 he registered in his freshman year. Ebbing has only managed to find the score sheet in three games, however, and the Spartans need more from him. Ebbing was a team-best +3 at the Great Lakes Invitational. Ebbing’s 20 blocks is also a team-best among forwards.
Ryan Keller – C+
His +2 rating is tied for best on the team among forwards, but at one goal, he needs to bring more to the table. Keller’s 14 shots in 15 games are also noteworthy considering he fired 41 shots in 23 games last season.
Connor Wood – C
Even though he has gone without a point in 12 games, Wood brings a tremendous amount of energy with him. The Spartans would love it if the sophomore from Bloomfield Hills can find the score sheet. Wood is one of the best face-off takers on the team, having a .609 winning percentage on 46 faceoffs.
Dylan Pavelek – C
The freshman is still waiting to register his first career point. In his last five games, Pavelek has only notched two shots. Give him some more time and the Spartans hope he will be contributing on a regular basis.
J.T. Stenglein – C-
His numbers are not where Tom Anastos and Co. want them, but Stenglein is only a sophomore. The big question is how much of a role will he have as he gets older?
Villiam Haag – D
The only member of the team from outside North America, Haag is having a down sophomore campaign with the team. He really needs to kick it into high gear if he wants to get back to his freshman production. In his last eight games, Haag has only one assist. He needs to contribute more.
Tanner Sorenson – F
His production has fallen off a cliff since being second on the Spartans with 13 goals and 21 points in his sophomore year. Sorensen’s lack of consistent effort has caused him to play only nine games and he has found the score sheet only once. What will it take for him to get back on track in his final season as a Spartan?
Defensemen
Travis Walsh – A
Walsh is having a tremendous junior season and is one of the cornerstones of the Spartan blue line. After waiting 81 games, he finally managed to score his first goal as a Spartan. Walsh has been reliable in all situations and has found his scoring touch. He is on pace to have his best statistical season as well. His 35 blocks is, by far, the best on the team.
John Draeger – B+
After coming back from another injury, Draeger’s presence on the blue line gives Michigan State another steady, reliable defenseman. He is not there to put up stellar offensive numbers, but he does many things well on the other side of the puck.
Ron Boyd – B
Another player who isn’t very flashy on the offensive side of the game, Boyd has had a decent first half for the Spartans. He ranks third on defense with 25 blocks. His +2 is best among defensemen.
Josh Jacobs – B
Sure, his -7 is worst on the team, but as a second-round NHL draft pick, the upside Jacobs has is well worth it. He seems very calm with the puck considering he is a freshman and he is getting valuable time on the power play. He also is second best on the team with 26 blocks. With more time to adapt to the college style, his future grades will only get better.
Carson Gatt – B-
Gatt is another freshman on the blue line that has not disappointed. With 17 blocked shots and three assists in 18 games, the Spartans seem to have another bright spot on the back end for years to come.
Rhett Holland – C
His one goal and one assist won’t turn heads any time soon, but an even rating on a team that is a combined -27 might.
Goaltenders
Jake Hildebrand – B
He is the only goalie to make this list because he literally has played every minute for the Spartans this season, but his numbers have continued to decline after a stellar freshman season. Part of it has to deal with how much the Spartans have owned the puck this season. If the style of play continues, Hildebrand will face the fewest amount of shots in his three-year tenure as a Spartan. Regardless, he needs to improve if Michigan State hopes to go anywhere in a tough Big Ten conference.
Brian Bobal is the co-host of Behind the Mask for Impact Sports
Photo: Brian Bobal/Impact Sports
