In its first game during the between semester break, MSU fell to then-No. 4 Ferris State (15-3-3, 10-0-2 WCHA) 2-0 at Munn Ice Arena on Dec. 14. The Spartans were held to 16 shots, its lowest shot count on the season, along with its third shutout of the year.

Senior forward Greg Wolfe said Ferris State’s style of play was frustrating, blocking many shots and making it tough for MSU to get anything through to the net.

The matchup between former Central Collegiate Hockey Association foes recognized former head coach and athletic director Ron Mason’s induction to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Mason — who led MSU to the 1986 National Championship and retired as the winningest coach in college hockey — served as the honorary coach, taking his familiar position behind the Spartan bench.

MSU took a 13-day break before returning to the ice in the historic outdoor Great Lakes Invitational at Comerica Park in Detroit. MSU fell in a shootout to familiar foe Michigan Tech in the semifinals on Dec. 27.

Although MSU lost the shootout, the game officially is ruled a 2-2 tie, with the shootout determining who moved forward to the championship game.

MSU fought back to take a 2-1 lead in the third period before Michigan Tech tied it up, sending the game to overtime and eventually a shootout. After leading the Spartans in scoring last year, junior forward Matt Berry netted his first goal of the season against the Huskies.

“It was really nice to get my first goal and get back into things so that should really help get some of my confidence back to just shoot the puck,” Berry said.

Sophomore forward Ryan Keller also found the back of the net for MSU.

The following night had a championship game feel when the Spartans took the ice against arch-rival U-M, shutting out the Wolverines, 3-0.

The green and white struck first only 1:23 into the game with freshman forward Thomas Ebbing’s goal. MSU would be held scoreless until the third period when Berry recorded his second goal of the tournament. Junior forward Brent Darnell finished off the Wolverines with one more third-period goal, capping off MSU’s second win against a ranked opponent on the season.

“It feels like a championship game every time we play them because it feels like you just won something really special to you and your team and the whole MSU community,” junior defenseman RJ Boyd said following the U-M win.

The tournament win against U-M doesn’t count toward Big Ten standings, despite both teams being members of the conference.

Sophomore goaltender Jake Hildebrand made 29 saves and recorded his first shutout on the season. Hildebrand’s play in both games during the weekend holiday tournament earned him Big Ten First Star of the Week, as he saved 70 of 72 shots in the two games.

Although the team did not win the Great Lakes Invitational, head coach Tom Anastos said he thought the team achieved one of its goals: showing signs of improvement.

“Our objective for the weekend was to come in here and accomplish two things. One we didn’t get accomplished was to win the tournament, the other was to take a step forward in getting better and I thought we did that,” Anastos said.

MSU returns to the ice this weekend, traveling to Ohio State (10-6-0, 0-2-0) to continue Big Ten play. Both Friday and Saturday’s games are on the road in Columbus, Ohio.