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Adam Ruff Photography/Michigan State Athletics

Alums helps Spartans get first win

By Craig Peterson, 10/17/17, 11:15AM EDT

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Multiple MI-HS alums had a hand in getting MSU its first win of the season, including goalie John Lethemon

The seventh head coach in Michigan State hockey history earned the first win of his tenure, as Danton Cole and the Spartans topped Bowling Green 3-2 on Saturday. Multiple MI-HS alums had a hand in getting MSU its first win of the season, including goalie John Lethemon (Farmington, 2014).

Making his first start of the season, Lethemon was steady turning away 22-of-24 shots in the Spartans’ non-conference matchup with the Falcons. In the net opposite Lethemon stood another MI-HS alum in Ryan Bednard (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2015), who is in his second season with Bowling Green.

The Spartans got out in front first, as teammates Tommy Apap (U-D Jesuit, 2014) and Cody Milan (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2014) connected to score MSU’s first goal of the game. But in the second period, Ryan’s brother, Shane Bednard (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2012) would give the Falcons their first lead of the game, scoring a goal to make it 2-1.

Carson Gatt (Detroit Catholic Central, 2013) chipped in an assist on a game-tying goal for the Spartans less than two minutes after surrendering the lead, and a third goal for MSU with 40 seconds left in regulation would propel them to their first win of the season.

With six MI-HS alums on the roster, Michigan State takes its 1-1-0 opening-weekend record into a home-and-home series this weekend against Western Michigan. The Spartans will look to build off their first win and continue moving forward under Cole in his first season behind the bench.