Coach Adam Nightingale became MSU's head coach four seasons ago, inheriting players he did not recruit. Several players left their mark, but none more than the three seniors who stayed: winger Daniel Russell, center Tiernan Shoudy and defenseman Matt Basgall.

The future of MSU hockey now lies in the hands of players who never knew the program as a Big Ten bottom-dweller.

“These guys have definitely left the program better than they found it, and that's the goal,” Nightingale said. “And now it's up to the guys in the room that are coming back. They got to carry the torch. These guys have laid an unbelievable groundwork and foundation of how to do things. Doesn't guarantee you're going to win a hockey game, but you can do things the right way.”

Before the Worcester Regional, Nightingale said he wanted his seniors to be themselves. He didn’t want a superhero, he wanted the consistent, everyday players he’s frequently praised. 

They showed up in their final game. Shoudy took 40 draws after senior center Charlie Stramel exited the game with a broken ankle after his fourth shift. And the younger centers followed suit. 

Basgall was the captain he’s been all season. He led the defensive charge and scored a power-play goal to extend MSU’s lead. Russell was himself. He was disciplined on both sides of the sheet and made the routine plays that lead to production. 

The Spartans’ game against Wisconsin was flawed, as every game and loss is. MSU controlled much of the play until the final minutes, when the Badgers rallied.

Sixty minutes of solid hockey without a starting center is easier said than done. The effort was there, but the execution was lacking, Basgall said. More often than not, though, MSU's effort has led to success.

That effort earned a home crowd at Munn Ice Arena over the last four seasons, not because they won, but because they played hard. Winning became a byproduct. 

“Our conference has handed out six trophies the last three years, and we won five of them,” Nightingale said. “That's what [Russell, Shoudy and Basgall] stand for — they're consistent, repeatable people — and the impact that they've had on our program to get it back to where we should be.”

The Spartans collected three straight Big Ten regular season championships, along with two consecutive Big Ten tournament titles, falling short of a three-peat this year. The championships were a mark of measure, but the goal was something that could not be quantified, at least not in the same way.

“The program was in a tough spot, and it's very, very big for us to get it back,” Basgall said at the end of February. “Definitely part of the dream. We knew it was a ton of work to get it back up to there. I knew it was possible. I didn't know how long it would take. I didn't expect it to take two seasons, but it did. We're very happy about that.” 

Bringing the program back to the top and becoming regular contenders for national championships was maybe even more special than any Big Ten title, Basgall added.

Winning in college hockey is often tied to talent, which becomes associated with NHL draft status. But Russell, Shoudy and Basgall are all undrafted. They showed up at MSU ready to learn and eager to win. 

Nightingale didn’t watch any video on the recruits or the players they inherited. Everyone was starting in the same place, training camp. But he called around and asked about the players’ character, because when you take over a program, “you want good people.” After calling around, the consensus was the same — Nightingale had a group of high-character players.

“There were no biases that they came in with,” Basgall said. “We all got an opportunity right away. They pushed us to levels we hadn’t seen before, never been part of an environment so special.”

The coaching staff pushed them, and the players rose to the challenge.

Shoudy embraced his role as a fourth-line center, and a crucial part of MSU’s penalty-kill unit. He’s scored game-winning goals and been a part of big moments, just by playing his role. Nightingale said several times that Shoudy could have transferred to a different school to play on a power play, but he was bought into winning as a Spartan. 

Russell entered as a 21-year-old freshman, after clawing his way through the USHL. He never missed a single practice at MSU, even if he was unhealthy. Russell finished his collegiate career with 119 points, sixth among active career NCAA point leaders. He also led all active players with 14 game-winning goals.

Russell was the common denominator for the best Spartan forwards throughout his time at MSU. He was a linemate to Joey Larson, Karsen Dorwart and Hobey Baker-winning Isaac Howard. All are playing in the NHL and AHL. 

Basgall’s been the rock. He became the Spartans’ captain for his even keeled personality, a testament to his consistency on the ice. That consistency has earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and All-Tournament Team at the Worcester Regional. Players like the trio don’t grow on trees, Nightingale said. 

“Looking back and seeing where we're at right now versus where we came in, it's incredible to see,” Basgall said following the NCAA Tournament selection show on March 22. “But that's the standard here at MSU, we're happy to bring that back. That's always going to be a standard moving forward.” 

Russell, Shoudy and Basgall have been through all of Nightingale’s seasons, but Stramel has also left his mark as an alternate captain. 

He became the guy for every situation this season. Every power play, penalty kill and overtime 3-on-3. He finished the season tied for first in the NCAA for game-winning goals. Stramel did not start as a Spartan, but he became one — because he was bought into having a positive impact on the team. 

Stramel transferred to MSU after spending his first two seasons at Wisconsin. He struggled during his time as a Badger and got better during his time as a Spartan. He finished the season with 44 points, 17 more than his previous season, and 20 more than his combined seasons at Wisconsin. Even without the points, Stramel left an impact.

Aside from the senior class, the loss to Wisconsin was potentially junior goaltender Trey Augustine’s last as a Spartan. Augustine was drafted in the second round to the Detroit Red Wings in 2023 and talks of a professional contract circulate every year. His departure is not confirmed, but it would not be a surprise. 

Augustine’s junior season has been his best, and he was bought in from the start. 

“When Trey signed up to play for us, we were coming off of losing 16 games in a row,” Nightingale said. “With his pedigree, he could have went anywhere he wanted in the country. What he's done for our program is unbelievable … He's gonna have an unbelievable pro career and represent MSU in an unbelievable way at the next level.”

Augustine has been the backbone for MSU in its last three seasons. He’s played every NCAA Tournament game. Every title clinching game. He was the reason the Spartans advanced to the Worcester Regional final, stopping 41 of UConn’s shots and five power plays. 

Wisconsin beat MSU with one shot in overtime. Still, Augustine was voted Worcester Regional’s most outstanding player and the goaltender for the All-Tourament team. 

“It hurts. But I'm proud of the guys, thankful for our seniors,” Augustine said. “They've meant so much for me, for everyone here. And this program is in a good spot going forward, regardless of what happens. Can’t be prouder to have played here for three years.”

The next time MSU takes the ice, Russell, Shoudy, Basgall and Stramel won’t be wearing uniforms. Augustine might not be either. But they brought MSU hockey back to a spot it hadn’t been in years. They have titles to prove it and taught the players who are expected to return next year.