Fans will remember the embraces and fist pumps. They will remember sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg leaping into junior defenseman Jeff Dunne's arms. They will remember senior captain Chris Lawrence screaming praises to the Spartans fans in the stands.
But the players had even more memories about the celebration once they left the ice.
MSU Athletics Director and former hockey head coach Ron Mason joined the Spartans in the locker room with President Lou Anna K. Simon.
And although none of the current Spartans had played for Mason, they more than appreciated his presence.
His appearance wasn't enough.
He led the team in an emotional singing of the school fight song.
"The players grabbed him and put him right up in front of everybody," MSU head coach Rick Comley said Monday at his weekly press conference.
"It was as loud as it's been sung.
"I think the happiest guy in the locker room, leading the fight song, was Ron."
On the bus ride home, the aura was "surreal," Lawrence said. There was no wild behavior — just a calming sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
"All day (Sunday) and (Monday) I've just been thinking about it," Lawrence said. "I'll probably be smiling for a couple more days."
Even Comley, who is usually conservative in his expression of emotion, let loose an exuberant fist pump after the Spartans won. Comley, who is the first hockey coach since Mason became athletics director, has been the subject of criticism since he took the job.
But after Saturday's win, all Comley received was a handful of congratulations — from friends, family, hockey executives and former players. Former Spartans Mike York, now with the Philadelphia Flyers, and John-Michael Liles, now with the Colorado Avalanche, contacted Comley immediately after the game to congratulate him.
"That's probably where the individual thing comes back in," Comley said.
"The friends you've made over the years who are excited and they've watched the critiquing that's gone on."
The overwhelming joy can get the best of players, sometimes causing even the strongest men to cry.
But sometimes, those who care about the players most do the crying.
"After I came out of the rink, I saw my dad cry for the first time in my life," Lawrence said. "That might seem weird, but seeing him cry — he's not a very emotional guy, he's real dry. But seeing him with tears in his eyes when I gave him a hug is something I'll never forget."
The Frozen is set
Boston College, North Dakota and Maine will accompany MSU in the Frozen Four beginning April 5 in St. Louis.
The Spartans will play Maine at 4 p.m., and North Dakota will play Boston College at 8 p.m. in the national semifinals April 5.
The Blackbears ended MSU's season a year ago when they defeated the Spartans in the NCAA regional finals to advance to the Frozen Four.
"We're going into a field with two brackets," Comley said.
"The one bracket, Maine and ourselves, are more defensive teams. The other side, with North Dakota and Boston College, are high-octane. So one's going to come out of each bracket, and it'll be a matchup of styles."
No No.1-seeded teams made it to the Frozen Four.
MSU is the CCHA's first Frozen Four representative since Michigan in 2003.
