After a split weekend with the University of Michigan, the Michigan State University hockey team earned one point in an overtime loss on night one. The Spartans bounced back with a 4-1 statement win on Saturday. The team remains prominent in national polls, earning a spot in the Big Ten Stars of the Week.
MSU entered the weekend ranked No. 1 in the USCHO polls but dropped down to second place after the split with in-state rival U of M. Boston College reclaimed the top spot.
Despite the drop to second in the country for MSU, junior forward Isaac Howard sits at the top of the national standings in points thus far this season.
Howard made a jump with his six-point weekend at Penn State. He had four goals and an assist on night one of the series and tagged on another goal in night two.
Since his standout weekend, Howard has been on a roll with linemates Charlie Stramel, a junior center, and junior forward Daniel Russell. With 36 points this season—18 goals and 18 assists—Howard has already matched his sophomore career high, with 10 games left to add to his total.
However, even with a drop in the national polls, Michigan State still earned themselves a Big Ten Star of the Week because of Charlie Stramel.
Stramel earned the second star of the week for his standout performance in night two against Michigan. He scored the Spartans’ second goal, added his first career shorthanded goal to extend the lead to 3-0, and assisted junior defenseman Matt Basgall’s power-play goal in the first period.
The Spartans will return to action at Munn Ice Arena on Friday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m. to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
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