Congratulations to power forward Jim McKenzie who will forego his senior season at Michigan State to sign with the NHL's Ottawa Senators. It's a big loss for MSU. McKenzie wasn't a dominant offensive player, but had a divine physical presence with his 6'2 frame. He was often hampered by injuries at MSU, but when healthy, was a force. His departure was expected, and the thing I love about Spartan hockey is the commitment to excellence doesn't stop when players decide to leave early.

"We wish him the best and now the coaching staff will be on him until he finishes up his degree,'' - Assistant Coach Tom Newton as written by Lansing State Journal hockey writer Neil Koepke.


IN other MSU hockey news, teenage phenom Matt Duchene, who verbally committed to MSU last summer, is out. Duchene was the No. 1 pick in the Ontario Hockey League draft last spring and opted that route over the college one. It's probably a smart one for Duchene's long-term hockey career. Duchene, 16, can now adjust in the OHL and enter the NHL earlier when he's eligible to become drafted. He'll likely sign a pro contract right out of the OHL. It's a loss for MSU, no question, Duchene was supposed to be the real deal. But he would have waited another year or two to enroll and would have probably departed after a single season for the pros had he opted for the college route.