With a final score of 1-0, Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson ripped the puck from the bottom circle and slipped it over the Swiss goaltender. Helmets, gloves and sticks hit the ice as players jumped into each other’s arms in celebration.

On the roster, MSU junior forward Isaac Howard helped make the dream come true, alongside MSU head coach Adam Nightingale, who served as an assistant coach during the tournament. Both are continuing to build on already impressive careers.

In just his second season, Nightingale led the Spartans to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 and their first tournament win since 2008. With a 69-35-9 record through his first three seasons, he and his squad remain on the hunt for the program’s first Frozen Four appearance since the 2007 national championship.

Nightingale’s history with Team USA runs deep. Prior to his already storied coaching career at MSU, he spent two seasons with the National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Michigan. His final season with the program resulted in a silver medal at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship.

Back in East Lansing, Nightingale is building a roster featuring standout returners and highly touted recruits. With the gold medal now under his belt, he could be eyeing both a world championship and a national championship within the same year.

Howard appeared in four games during the tournament, recording one assist en route to the gold medal game. The Wisconsin native’s history with Team USA dates back to 2020, when he earned a silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games. He also captured gold at the IIHF U20 World Championship in 2024 and silver alongside Nightingale in 2022.

Coming off a Hobey Baker Award-winning season, Howard posted stellar numbers in his junior year at MSU with 26 goals and 26 assists. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year, a First Team All-Big Ten selection, Big Ten Scoring Champion, Big Ten Tournament MVP and an AHCA First Team All-American.

With Howard set to return to MSU and a collection of talent from the Canadian Hockey League and transfer portal joining him, Howard, Nightingale and the Spartans are poised to make another title push in the 2025–26 season.