Strahl’s return was questionable after first-round goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen committed to MSU two months ago. Strahl played behind former goaltender Trey Augustine this season and was expected to start following Augustine’s departure.

Strahl played three games (2-0-1) for a 2.27 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. 

MSU head coach Adam Nightingale called Strahl a good goaltender who happens to play behind a great one (Augustine) after the team’s final regular-season game, which Strahl played entirely. 

Ravensbergen is a great goaltender, and first-round goaltenders are rare, so it is likely Strahl would spend his sophomore season on the bench if he stayed and Ravensbergen signed. 

This is the second year a Spartan goaltender has transferred there, as former goaltender Luca Di Pasquo also left for more playing time and found success.

Strahl was drafted in the fifth round to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Nathan Mackie

Mackie’s exit is not much of a surprise, as the forward sat most of his sophomore season, which was not much different from his freshman season. He played nine games for one point last season and competed in 11 games for no points this season. 

Mackie was part of the position battle on the fourth line, along with freshman forward Austin Baker and junior forward Griffin Jurecki. Jurecki won the spot throughout the course of the season. 

While undrafted, Mackie scored in the British Columbia Hockey League, a Canadian junior league, prior to MSU. He captained the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in both seasons before college and led the team in scoring in 2022-23. He also became the franchise’s all-time playoff leading scorer with 33 points in 44 games.

Dolan Gilbert

Gilbert's collegiate career was thought to be over but he reportedly entered the portal as a graduate student. Gilbert was the Spartans' third-string goaltender who walked on as a junior in the 2024-25 season.

It is unclear if Gilbert is looking to be a starting goaltender, or if he is just looking to stay on a team. He played just four minutes and 17 seconds in two games at MSU, ending games that Augustine started. He faced no shots and recorded no saves.