The Spartans open their 1994-5 CCHA season with the team that almost ended
MSU's 1993-4 campaign early, the Flames of the University of Illinois at
Chicago.  For those who may have forgotten, UIC was MSU's first-round CCHA
playoff opponent last year, winning the first of the best-of-three series 4-3
and taking MSU to OT in the second game before losing that one and subsequently
the series after an 8-3 blowout in Game 3.
 
The Spartans and Flames should get very familiar with each other in the next
two weeks, as they will complete their regular-season series on Oct. 29 with
a game in Chicago.
 
The Spartans lead the overall series 41-8, with 3 regular season wins against
UIC last year in addition to the 2-1 playoff win.  The Flames bring in a team
with some senior leadership, in the form of forwards Derek Knorr, Chris Mac-
Donald, and Mark Zdan, as well as defensemen Shannon Finn, Rob Mattau, Rob Gohdeand Jeff Blum.  The Spartans will most likely see sophomore goaltender Paul
Spencer in between the pipes for the Canadienesque-clad Flames.
 
Michigan State will counter with one of the more explosive offenses in college
hockey, led by seniors Rem Murray (who had a memorable performance against UIC
in the Flames only trip to Munn Arena last year), Steve Guolla (the top re-
turning scorer in the CCHA from last year), Dean Sylvester, and Steve Suk, alongwith junior forwards Brian Clifford and Anson Carter.  A young defense will be
anchored by the three Chrises (Sullivan, Slater, and Smith) along with junior
asst. captain Bart Vanstaalduinen, who appears to be in a position to take over
the "enforcer" role from Nick Perrault (though don't count Sullvan out of the
"tough guy" contest yet).  In between the pipes (at least one night) will be
senior Mike Buzak, looking for Win No. 50 of his collegiate career.  There is
a distinct possibility that freshman Chad Alban may start one of the two games
this weekend.
 
After this weekend series, the Spartans will hit the road for the first time
this season next weekend, with trips to Kalamazoo and Chicago.
 
Other CCHA contests this weekend:
Maine at Alaska-Fairbanks (F, Sat)
Colorado College at Michigan (F, Sat)
Michigan Tech at Ferris State (F)
Northern Michigan at Lake Superior (F)
Miami at Bowling Green (F)
Alabama-Huntsville at Ohio State (F)
Northern Michigan at Ferris State (Sat)
Michigan Tech at Lake Superior (Sat)
Bowling Green at Miami (Sat)
Western Michigan at Ohio State (Sat)
 
G. M. Finniss
Michigan State University 0-0-0, 1-0-0
WVU '87, UTenn '92, MSU who the hell knows when?