MSU adds bronze, black to Hockey City Classic uniforms

EAST LANSING – Goalie Jake Hildebrand called them "sick." Coach Tom Anastos preferred the term "sweet."

During Saturday's game with Ohio State, Michigan State unveiled the alternate green, bronze and black uniforms it will wear next month in its outdoor hockey game against Michigan in Chicago. The fans cheered their approval as they flashed on the new Munn Arena video boards, accompanied by the AC/DC tune "Back in Black."

"We used a throwback uniform last year (at the Great Lakes Invitational) honoring the 1966 team," Anastos said. "I thought it would be appropriate to do something more futuristic and contemporary in this one."

MSU's new jerseys, made by Nike, are dark green with black shoulder stripes. On the front are a bronze Spartan helmet, a small "MSU" shield in the middle and Big Ten and Hockey City Classic patches on each side of the chest. "Spartans" will replace the individual players' last names on the back. All of the lettering and numbering is in bronze.

The pants will be black and include a bronze Spartan helmet on them. The Spartans' helmets also will be green with bronze numbering and lettering.

"It was really a play off of what football and then basketball did with that Pro Combat look," said Anastos, who helped design the uniforms. "We had been putting that in the hopper for some time. And then the outdoor game came about."

The Spartans and Wolverines will meet at 8 p.m. on Feb. 7 at Soldier Field in Chicago as the nightcap of the Hockey City Classic. Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan play the first game at 3 p.m. that day.

Michigan unveiled its special Reebok-made jerseys two weeks ago. The university release said they "feature the retro block 'M' logo, worn by Michigan Hockey for the first time in program history. The jerseys will feature striped sleeves, similar to jerseys worn by the Wolverines from 1939-1945."