A student section member waves a Spartan flag at the beginning of the third period. The Spartans fell to the Buckeyes, 4-1, at Munn Ice Arena on Jan. 21, 2022.
Michigan State hockey has announced its 2022 non-conference schedule.
The Spartans will open the season on Oct. 1 with an exhibition game against the USA Hockey National Team Development Program at Munn Arena, a familiar foe for new head coach Adam Nightingale who recently served as the head coach of their under-17 team.
The Oct. 1 exhibition game will also serve as the public's first viewing of renovations done to Munn during the off season, including the creation of the Hall of Hockey which gives visitors the history of the Spartan hockey program.
Other non-conference opponents include a series with Bowling Green from Oct. 7-8. Each team will host one game with MSU hosting the first which will also serve as the regular season home opener at Munn.
Other series include a matchup against Umass Lowell at home on Oct. 13-14, another home series against Long Island on Oct. 21-22, and a road series against Miami from Nov. 25-26. MSU will also take part in the annual Great Lakes Invitational in Grand Rapids in a semi-finals matchup against Ferris State on Dec. 27. The Championship and third-place games will take place the following day on Dec. 28.
“We have a nice slate of home games, and teams on our schedule who will test us and prepare us for the challenges of the Big Ten season,”Nightingale said in a press release. “We look forward to the excitement of playing in front of our great home crowds and the incredible student support we have at Michigan State and Munn Ice Arena. We look forward to seeing many familiar faces as well as helping to cultivate new fans and exciting game nights at our upgraded facility.”
Nightingale, in his first season with the Spartans, will look to turn the program around after suffering a 58-101-12 record in the last five seasons under former head coach Danton Cole.
Aiding the cause is the return of defensemen Cole and Christian Krygier, who both announced they will be returning for a fifth year with the team. The brothers both saw some major playing time last season and contributed to the offense. Cole finished last season with four goals and 11 assists, while Christian finished with two goals and eight assists.
MSU has also made good use of the transfer portal to build their roster, including the additions of goaltender Nate McDonald and defenseman Michael Underwood.
After the commencement of non-conference play, Big Ten play will be in full swing in January 2023 with the Spartans expected to play all six Big Ten programs at home and on the road.
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