Few positives for Icers in tough season

This was a season the MSU hockey program would like to forget.

Alex DiFilippo

After one of the worst regular seasons in program history, the Spartans were eliminated from postseason play in the first round of the CCHA playoffs.

Here’s a look back at the biggest moments of the 2008-09 hockey season:

Oct. 10 at UMass, 3-1 win (Ice Breaker Tournament) — Tough, grind-it-out road win in the first game of the season. Definitely a good start.

Nov. 1 at Western Michigan, 2-2 tie — The Spartans are on a roll, earning eight points in two weeks.

Nov. 15 — Senior forward Nick Sucharski injured his shoulder and is out for the season. He was the Spartans’ go-to man on faceoffs.

Nov. 29 at Minnesota, 4-4 tie — Finally the seven-game losing streak comes to an end. I don’t think anyone would have predicted it would have ended against the No. 1 team in the nation.

Dec. 6 vs. Michigan, 5-3 loss — The Spartans looked like they had this one wrapped up. MSU had a 3-2 lead with 2:30 left in the game, but gave up three goals in the waning moments.

Dec. 27 vs. North Dakota, 2-1 win (Great Lakes Invitational) — Finally the 11-game winless streak is over.

Jan. 17 at Miami, 6-1 loss — Senior forward Tim Crowder’s season is ended after suffering a shoulder injury.

Jan. 26 — Sophomore forward Corey Tropp and freshman forward Andrew Conboy are suspended for the rest of the season after attacking U-M’s Steve Kampfer in the third period of the meeting between the two teams Jan. 24.

Feb. 14 vs Ohio State, 2-1 win — With two upset wins over the Buckeyes at home, the Spartans have taken seven points in the last two weekends. Are they heating up down the stretch?

Feb. 21 at Bowling Green, 4-0 loss — Scratch that heating up thought. For the fourth time of the season, MSU was shut out. But this time it was by the worst team in the CCHA.

Feb. 25 — Senior goaltender Jeff Lerg tears his ACL, yet plays through it for the rest of the season.

Feb. 28 vs. Notre Dame, 2-1 loss — The No. 1 Irish are really good. But on Senior Night, the Spartans held their own. Lerg becomes the CCHA all-time saves leader.

March 7 at Northern Michigan, 8-2 loss (CCHA playoffs) — What a horrible way to end a season. This was a complete blowout and the Wildcats were skating circles around the Spartans all game. A tough end to a tough season.