MSU Sr. F, Charlie Stramel (15), looks to his teammates, displaying a new DS badge to represent Dan Sturges, in Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, MI on Jan. 23, 2026.
If Michigan State hockey senior center Charlie Stramel could give his freshman self one piece of advice, he’d tell himself that college hockey is tough.
“It's tough,” Stramel said in January. “It's not always easy to make that step. It took me a little bit to get used to it and to get over that hump, but at the end of the day, I'm thankful for what I've learned throughout these four years, and thankful to be here.”
Stramel spent two seasons at Wisconsin before transferring to MSU for his junior year. His time as a Badger did not produce the results he wanted, but he grew in a Spartan uniform.
He entered MSU off an eight-point season, progressed to 27 points as a Spartan, and finished his senior year with a breakthrough 44 points. He left his mark on the team despite ending his collegiate career on a low note, sustaining a broken ankle in MSU’s final game.
Stramel was the hat trick hero in MSU’s 5-4 overtime victory at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. He stood out at the Great Lakes Invitational and tied for the national lead with seven game-winning goals. He led the team in faceoffs and helped the top line generate offense all season alongside senior winger Daniel Russell and freshman winger Porter Martone.
“Charlie Stramel was the best player in college hockey from what his impact is on our team,” coach Adam Nightingale said after MSU’s final game this season. “He's the first over the boards on the power play, first over the boards on the penalty kill. Five on six, six on five, faceoffs. He plays every situation for us.”
From the first practice of the season, Stramel’s game was elevated, Nightingale said after the team’s first exhibition game against Windsor.
That showed throughout the season, as Stramel finished with a career-best 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) and a plus-29 rating in 37 games. His performance earned him All-Big Ten First Team honors and a spot as a semifinalist for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the top player in college hockey.
Stramel became a dangerous net-front presence, highlighted by deflection goals to high-execution when he got passes in the slot — and his confidence grew, too.
“He had a really good year for us last year, and he's taken another step here,” Nightingale said in November. “He's not forcing offense. He's playing with his head up.”
“Confidence is everything when it comes to this sport,” Stramel said, adding that he’s thankful Nightingale took a chance on him in the transfer portal. Nightingale coached Stramel at the United States National Development Team Program (USNDTP) in the 2021-22 season.
“Appreciate him trusting us,” Nightingale said about Stramel on Senior Night. “And he had to get better, right? That was a conversation we had with [Stramel] when he was in the portal, like, ‘Hey, you change your jersey, it's not gonna change this. You gotta be better.’”
Not only did Stramel improve, but he also became a leader for his teammates. He spent his senior season as an alternate captain, helping teammates adjust to college hockey and leading by example.
“Some of our younger guys that are freshmen, I think they really look to him,” Nightingale said. “He's done a good job of playing with poise and kind of rallying our troops and getting guys ready to play.”
Martone, who just made his NHL debut, credited Stramel (and linemate Russell) for helping him adjust to college hockey.
Stramel’s value was evident in the Spartans’ final game of the season, a 4-3 overtime loss to Wisconsin, after he broke his ankle just four shifts into the contest. He blocked a shot, exited, returned to take a draw and then left for the rest of the night. His injury was confirmed by X-ray by the end of the game. While other players stepped up, the void remained.
The injury prevents Stramel from competing at the professional level in the 2025-26 season, as most seniors or standouts do following their collegiate career.
Stramel was drafted to the Minnesota Wild in the 2023 NHL Draft, following his freshman season. The Wild — Stramel’s childhood team as a native of Rosemount, Minnesota — hold his signing rights until Aug. 15, 2026.
Stramel’s senior season was impactful for both himself and the team, and his return was a rare occurrence in college hockey. He finished his junior year third on the team in points, while other members of his class signed professional contracts, including fellow junior forward Joey Larson, who finished just a few points behind him.
“Charlie made a mature decision,” Nightingale said in February. “He had a good year last year, but he felt like there was still room to improve and decided to come back and not sign. You know, that doesn't happen all the time.”
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Stramel’s decision to return led to exactly what he came for — continued growth as a player and for the team on the national stage. The Spartans fell short in the NCAA Tournament, but Stramel played a key role in getting them there; developing skills he can carry into a professional career.
