Sept. 25, 2006

Photo Gallery

With official practices beginning Saturday, the Michigan State hockey team welcomed the media to Munn Ice Arena on Monday, September 25 for a "Meet the Spartans" session. Nearly 20 members of the local media turned out and spoke with head coach Rick Comley, Spartan Captain Chris Lawrence, and had one-on-one interviews with several members of this year's squad.

In addition, the program members sat for the annual team picture. Also, team members sat for a number of small-group photos - not only did each class sit for a photo, but so did other various groups including the captains, former USHL players, products of the Detroit Honeybaked organization and US National Team Development Program. Group photos were also taken of players from geographic areas (Canada), families (Lerg), hometowns (Buffalo), and junior teams.

Below is a transcript of the "round table" sessions with Rick Comley and team captain Chris Lawrence.

Head Coach Rick Comley

On the feeling of from last season and how it affects the upcoming season...
Obviously in my short time here, it's a different feel coming into this year than we've had. I think from the aspect of getting it to where everybody wants it was very satisfying and yet we didn't finish the year as maybe we wanted to. No one was better then we were down the stretch, and yet we just came up short because we had that slow start against Maine. Not that they dominated us, but they got the puck in the net on us. We battled like crazy to overcome it and couldn't quite get it done. I thought we deserved to be in the Frozen Four, but didn't quite get there. The whole atmosphere around here has been not one of `do we have a chance'; we know we're a good team and just have to work to be a real good team.

On how he instilled (being a good team) in this school's program...
I didn't have to instill it. Obviously the program has had great success. It just shows you how tough it is when you change coaches. Certainly successful programs that change know this. And when you bring in someone from the outside it takes longer. When you bring your own players in, you've got to surround yourself with kids that you've recruited, that you buy into, that you believe can get it done, and then they believe in you--and that's how it works.

On the wait from the last game to the first practice...
It was pretty good. I try and enjoy the summers, but you're always anxious. One of the great things about hockey is it's a long season, but you kind of want to play more. We had the good fortune this year of being able to go on the 15th of September, for two hours a week, prior to our start on the 30th. That's been real healthy, I have enjoyed that. I enjoy this team and the personality, I enjoy being around them. Sometimes when you're not coming off a real good year, you're anxious to get going again. It's like coming off a tough game--the next practice is after a tough game may be your best practice, because your kids are anxious to redeem themselves. Now I think we've found out what it takes and now we're anxious to get going. We I have seen them on the ice so far this year, it hasn't been one of doubt, or question, or even cockiness, but rather they're very business-like. They'll come out and get it done.

On the defense and how it needs to improve...
I don't know that it needs to improve. Corey Potter was such a magnificent player. Every time you needed something, he was out there, and now we don't have that. I don't have question marks up front because we have six forwards back who I think could play in the top six on anybody's team. We have the depth up front, but now Ethan Graham and Tyler Howells have to be our best players and then other people have to slide in. I think our talent is fine at that position, but it has to be proven.

On how he sees the defense doing...
The young freshman Ratchuk is really going to be a good player. He is a very exciting kid. Kind of reminds me of a [John-Michael] Liles or a [Duncan] Keith, that style of player. There is some risk with the reward, believe me. Then a key guy is Brandon Gentile, who's returning because he's been hurt since he's been here. I think he'll be in our top four. Ryan Turek is a talented kid that we have to let settle a little bit. Vukovic has improved with his ice time. Dunne is coming off injury. And Snavely I think can step in there.

On what is tougher, the past four years or the coming year...
Personally I think getting to where we finished. I came out here in all honesty thinking it was going to be easier than it turned out to be. We were a pretty good team my first year. Then we lost Ryan [Miller] on the first day of classes. Unfortunately it was so unfair to the goalkeeper coming in because he just wasn't ready. So it was a struggle from that point on to try and get stable. You go from being not good enough, to stable, to good enough--and now we're good enough. I don't even have a doubt about that. It shows in our recruiting and I believe that we can play any team in the country and beat them.

On trust in the locker room...
I will watch it close, but I have a lot of trust in Chris Lawrence. We will miss Drew Miller - he was chosen to play in the National Hockey League for a reason. I guess Drew could be the leader and the best player. My demands on Chris are more to lead this hockey team, than be our leading scorer -- from that standpoint. I like the makeup of the locker room, I don't have any concerns about it.

On Lawrence's jump from fourth line to captain...
He was the unanimous pick of everyone in that locker room. I always let the team vote, and if I agree with it, then that's what I do and if I don't agree with it, then sometimes I don't do that. It was very clear. I want to be careful, because it puts pressure on him fan-wise, media-wise. The question is how can a guy who isn't your leading scorer be your captain - that perception that your captain is your best player. He may be our best player, but not our leading scorer, in a lot of ways. As you talk to Chris and get to know him more over the year, you'll see that he is a very sports-smart kid. He is a coach. He reminds me a lot of myself as a senior. I wasn't the best player, but I might have been the best player mentally, and I think Chris fits in that category too.

On team speed...
I told the kids, our first question mark is to make sure we're as good as anyone in the country, but I want to do it at high speed. I have told you before, I think you can play offense at high speed and defense at full speed.

On Jeff Lerg...
I don't think there is more pressure on Jeff this year than last. I think he thrives on game preparation and getting himself ready for a game. He played in so many big games down the stretch, I think he will be even better.

On setting the lines...
You know, it is funny, I set lines this summer up at the cottage and I was on my kayak. They still are what I have down on paper, not on defense, but up front. We have two lines that I wasn't going to mess with. It looked to me that [Nick] Sucharski would center at third line with [Jay] Sprague and [Matt] Schepke, and right now that is still the case. I thought we had the best fourth line in the country last year. So we really only had to set one line, up front.

On third-line wings...
Schepke is an older kid, he started at Michigan Tech, and is a transfer student. He had, I think, 39 goals in Omaha last year in the USHL. He can really shoot a puck. He is a very smart player and just has a great use of speed. Sprague I recruited because he is a very well-rounded. He is a big kid, a pro-type player. And then Sucharski - we might see the biggest jump of anybody on our team. That might have the chance to be a very solid line that could score a lot of goals.

His view of CCHA title contenders...
I would say every year, some one has come out of the pack. Every year that has been a team that has kind of `arrived'. I would group them. I would put ourselves, Michigan and Miami, as up there, preseason - one, two, three. Then I would put Ferris State, Alaska-Fairbanks, Northern Michigan, Nebraska-Omaha and Ohio State in a grouping. Then I think chasing will be Bowling Green, Lake Superior and Western Michigan. I think they could finish any number of ways. Michigan is definitely the preseason favorite. They are returning nine 30-point players and three all-league defenseman. They are all big-time players and the only question mark is their young goalie - but he will be much better because he is a year older.

Senior Captain Chris Lawrence

On this year's pre-season expectations compared to last year's...
The first two years I was here we had high expectations, and then we lost a good class after my sophomore year, so I guess the expectations were a little lower. I don't know if we took that personally, but I know we were determined to show that we were capable of playing well and we kept that hunger going all year. Once we started to get a taste of it around Christmas, that's when we started to play well and win more. The experience the guys got is going to help us this year.

Expectations are always high here - it's a big-time university and a big-time program. I think the players got a taste of what it was like both ways - when we were expected to do well and didn't, and when we weren't expected to do well and we did. I think the guys have learned from that and are still hungry. We got a taste of winning last year, and hopefully we'll continue the long tradition here.

On carrying momentum from last season...
That's what most people have been talking about all summer, and even the start of the year here. We've been trying to tell the freshmen what it was like, and what got us to where we were. That was earlier, and now we're trying to build on this year and trying to leave last year where it was. If we think it's just going to happen again, it's not going to. I think the guys realize now that we have to create our own atmosphere because it's a different team and a different year. We have take the experience of last year and add that into whatever lies ahead this year.

On the responsibilities of being captain...
I've had time to think about it, so I know a little bit more is going to be placed on my shoulders and the assistant captains as well. I've come to the conclusion that it's not going to be a one-man thing. Obviously I know I'm going to be in the spotlight a little bit more, but the guys in there are great and I don't really see any problems aside from hockey that I'm going to have to deal with. We have a great group of guys, and even players who aren't wearing letters on their jerseys are capable of wearing it. I'm not worried about the expectations - I just have to show up everyday and take care of myself on the ice and deal with things as they come up.

On being named captain...
In the back of your mind, once Drew (Miller) left, there were a handful of guys who were capable of it. Coach wasn't sure how he was going to divvy up letters, but it's an honor I'm more than willing to accept. I'm extremely excited about it, I've been thinking about it for the past couple months now, and I just can't wait to get the season started.

On what he learned from former captains Drew Miller and Jim Slater...
I'm pretty observant. I had quite a bit of time on the bench to watch and learn from them. I lived with Jim for a year, and I've been friends with Drew since we got here, so I've been able to observe their work ethic. I've talked to them both about the little things they did. It's not necessarily the big speeches and going out and laying people out, but the little things they did to make guys feel comfortable and make guys feel like they're equal parts of the team.

On how being captain affects his relationship with the rest of the team...
I think the guys understand and know me, and I've made it a point not to change who I am. The guys have already told me they notice that and they appreciate it. But certainly situations are going to arise where I have to get in someone's face. That's part of the job and it's what I have to do, but the guys in there understand that. It might be a problem for a day dealing with it, but guys understand that it's just part of the role.

On this year's freshmen class...
We've been skating for a while, and it looks like they're fitting in really well. Obviously it's an adjustment for them, but you never know - we have to see once we get into game action. From what we see, they're very skilled, skating well, and they communicate well. I think the most important thing right now is they're fitting in with the guys and getting used to college life. It's nice to start the season a month later than school starts so they get used to it and are ready to go once games and official practices start.

On the freshmen's impact on returning players...
I think the big thing is that last year we had such a good year, and with these guys coming in, that's what they see. As a freshman, you know Michigan State and the long tradition, but when I came in, I looked at the year before. To these guys coming in right now, they see the level is back to where it should be and I think it's important for them to realize that they're part of it and they have to keep the tradition going and maintain the program at a high level.

On this year's team...
Our top six forwards can go with anyone in the country. Even with our defensive speed, we have a couple of freshmen coming in who aren't afraid to go. I don't think team speed is going to be an issue at all. Coach harps on it every day and he's already set the tone in practice to make sure we maintain that, and it's something we have to keep up with all year.

On the team's strengths...
On an individual basis, our skill level is incredible. We have some guys who can handle the puck, and our top two lines are familiar with each other, which is a key coming in at the start of the year. You had the freshmen line from last year and Mueller's line right now, and they've played with each other and know where each other is going to be. And everything is based on defense, and that's what Coach has been harping on. Guys have to get acclimated with each other in the defensive zone, know their responsibilities and the systems the coach has, and I think that's where everything starts and that's what we're focusing on right now.

On replacing Drew Miller, Corey Potter, etc...
They all played a lot of time, so we're not going to have one person that comes in and replaces all that ice time. It has to be a joint effort, and guys who were on the third or fourth line last year have to step up and be contributors - not just going out and having a good shift, but going out and producing. It's something the coaches have said, and the guys are taking it to heart and really working hard. They know it's an opportunity for them personally to step up and help the team.

On being a favorite this season, as opposed to an underdog...
I don't think we'll ever be able to sneak up on anyone. Having the name on the front of the jersey, that carries a lot of weight itself. We're going to be a big game for everyone on their schedule, so I don't think we were ever going to sneak up on anyone. I think that the national attention we got last year is going to make people think harder when they play us, and we're going to have to raise our level of play, knowing we have a target on our backs.

On being the team to beat in the CCHA...
Obviously everyone is going to think they're the team to beat. We want to be on that pedestal, and we want everyone to think `they're Michigan State, they're supposed to win.' I don't mind saying that I think we're the team to beat. I think we have enough talent and confidence in ourselves, and we just have to go out and realize that last year happened for a reason. We have to remember what got us there and just keep that going.