MSU players celebrate their 7th goal against Notre Dame at Munn Ice Arena on Nov. 15, 2024. Michigan State took the win 8-3.
MSU hockey will take a November trip to Plymouth, Michigan to play for a cause against a group of amateurs representing their country on the ice.
After a weekend sweep of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, No. 2 MSU is set for its second exhibition matchup of the year, this time against the U.S. National Team Development Program on Thursday, Nov. 21.
Several MSU players spent time with the program, such as freshman forward Shane Vansaghi, sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine, junior forwards Charlie Stramel and Isaac Howard and senior forward Red Savage.
MSU head coach Adam Nightingale will also return to Plymouth after serving as head coach from 2020-2022.
"I'm really excited. I had a great time there for my two years," Augustine said during a press conference Wednesday. "It's all great people around that organization and the fans are going to be great, there’s going to be a great crowd. I’m super excited to get back there."
Thursday night will also commemorate the month of Spartans Full Strength.
Spartans Full Strength is an initiative spotlighting cancer awareness through the month of November. The program spreads awareness and honors those who have lost battles to cancer or are continuing to fight.
For the MSU hockey program, the month of November is honoring former player Stephen Swastik (2000-2004), who passed away from recurrent esophageal cancer in 2015.
Spartans Full Strength has extended their support to Kelly Deschamps — wife of of University of Michigan assistant hockey coach Matt Deschamps — who was diagnosed with Stage III Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
Deschamps has been at UM since July 2023, helping the team to the Big Ten Championship and Frozen Four appearance in his first season. Deschamps played with Nightingale in the East Coast Hockey League and got to know each other well.
"I'd love to see a great turnout there at USA Arena," Nightingale said after Saturday’s win over Notre Dame. "We've partnered with USA Hockey to support Matt Deschamps and his wife’s battle with cancer."
Five dollars off every purchased ticket to Thursday night's exhibition will be donated to the Deschamps family.
"This is an opportunity to bring your family and support a great cause," Nightingale said Wednesday. "You get in that rink, and you watch the National Team play, these kids are really talented, you’re talking about the next crop of kids who have a chance to impact college hockey."
The exhibition will take place at USA Arena in Plymouth, Michigan on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.
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