Michigan State Hockey on Pace for Successful Season

The Michigan State University men's ice hockey team is shaping up to have a solid start for the 2012-13 season.

The Spartans have an overall record of 5-6-2, and a CCHA conference record of 3-4-1.

Three out of the Spartans five wins have been on home ice.

The Spartans' successful home record can likely be attributed to the high-energy student section at games.

"The crowd had a huge impact on the performance of our team,'' said head coach Tom Anastos in an interview following the Spartan's 7-2 victory over Michigan at home on Nov. 10.  "The players really appreciated that. Our guys were more relaxed and had more jump than we did on Friday [referring to the team's 5-1 loss Nov. 9 at Michigan] and I think the atmosphere made a huge difference."

The game drew a record crowd of 7, 225 to Munn Ice Arena.

"It reminded me of the old days,''  said Anastos in the same interview. "The uniforms [which were similar to the ones worn by the team in the 1980's], the atmosphere, the students, the energy, the rivalry. It was fun.''