MSU Spartan Hockey

A childhood dream comes true. The Michigan State hockey team is headed to the championship game on Saturday. This is a dream of mine that only my parents could truly understand fully. They were there from the beginning, that fateful day when I came home from kindergarten and said, “Mom and dad I want to play hockey.” The whole family was on the same page, meaning none of us knew anything more about hockey than it was some game where people skate around on ice and shoot this little black thing around. Then it consumed my life, hence consuming my parents.

I remember the first time I watched Spartan hockey. I was probably 8 or 9 years old and went with my grandfather who’s career was the head business librarian at MSU. I have small images from the game but what stands out was meeting Mrs. Guyer, the president’s wife. Since then I was a Spartan hockey fan. Every year my father and I would watch the Great Lakes Invitational at the end of December. The years would pass and I would eventually get a letter from former President Guyer saying I would make a great Spartan one-day. Wow! A former president of the university saying I would make a great Spartan! That’s the truth. Sitting here in my MSU hoodie several years later.

When I got to MSU my freshman year I knew there was one thing I wanted to see more than anything, a national championship. Sure a football or basketball championship would be huge and great for the school. But my love has always been hockey. Hockey has been my life for as long as I know. The last year the Spartans made it to the Frozen Four was 2001, while I was a senior in high school. During five years at MSU I would never see them make it that far. Now it’s 2007, my first year out of college, and MSU is playing for the national championship game on Saturday.

Today is the greatest day in my life as a Spartan. Yes, greater than graduating. Because I started watching Spartan hockey long before I ever thought I would attend college there.

Now here I am in Mississippi, quite possibly the state in the US with the least knowledge of ice hockey. Little did I know that St. Louis, the site of the championship game, was only six hours to the north. On Saturday I will be there in my green and white. I was a season ticket holder for four years. I saw many people disrespect Rick Comley. I always told them, “Give it time. In a few years we’ll be competing for the national championship.” They did it! For as long as I’ve known MSU hockey I’ve wanted them to play this game. Now I get to see it. I’d be a fool not to go. Yes Gordon, I will make a great Spartan.

National champions in 1966, 1986, and now could it be 2007? Saturday is a dream of mine that I could have never imagined.

P.S. Has anyone else watched the two semi-final games today? Hockey truly is the greatest sport. Sorry football, basketball, baseball, NASCAR, golf, you’ve got nothing on hockey. Next year, the NHL invasion tour.

P.P.S. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on this trip is to seize the moment. Go for it! You only live once.

P.P.P.S. Here is a picture of me at Munn Ice Arena at MSU. I’d much rather show you the photo of me skating when I was about 5 or 6.