Lansing Sun

The 1981-82 Michigan State Hockey team, under the guidance of Head Coach Ron Mason, achieved a commendable overall record of 26-14-2 and a Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) record of 21-10-1, securing second place in the league. This performance earned them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Throughout the season, Michigan State faced various opponents, achieving significant victories against teams such as Lake Superior State and Bowling Green. Notably, they won both games against Lake Superior State on October 23 and 24 with scores of 4-3 and 3-2 respectively. They also had an impressive win against Bowling Green on October 31 with a score of 4-0.

The team demonstrated resilience during matches against notable rivals. Against Notre Dame on November 13 and 14, Michigan State emerged victorious with scores of 4-2 and 8-4. Another highlight was their game against Western Michigan on February 12 where they won decisively with a score of 6-2.

However, the season also included challenging moments. The Spartans faced defeats against teams like New Hampshire during the NCAA Regional held in Durham, N.H., losing both games on March 19 and March 20 with scores of 2-3 and 2-6 respectively.

Key contributors to this season's efforts included players from different rows such as Bob Troscinski, Gary Harpell, Bill Shutt in the front row; Todd Gardiner, Newell Brown in the middle row; and Kelly Miller, Dan Beaty in the back row.

Despite not clinching the championship title, Michigan State's performance throughout the season reflected determination and skill under Coach Mason's leadership.