The Michigan State Hockey program has been making big moves on the recruiting trail this off-season, but the last-minute addition of incoming freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov to the 2023-2024 roster might just be the largest pickup yet for Nightingale.
Incoming Michigan State goalie Trey Augustine and defenseman Maxim Štrbák were selected at No. 41 and No. 45 in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft Thursday morning. Augustine was picked by the Detroit Red Wings, and Štrbák was chosen by the Buffalo Sabres.
Van Andel Arena, Michigan State Hockey and Michigan Tech Hockey announced a four-year deal to keep the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament in Grand Rapids through 2026.
Michigan State hockey had its best season in over a decade during 2022-23, due in part to its first-year coaching and support staff, some of whom are alumni of the program.
The Spartans now have two goaltenders left on their 2023-24 roster, including senior Jon Mor and incoming freshman Trey Augustine.
Michigan State hockey brought Brad and Lindsay Fast together 20 years ago. The couple has since returned to MSU to work for the team at Munn Ice Arena, just down the hall from each other.
Gavin O'Connell planned to play at Minnesota-Duluth, but a change of heart and a connection to Adam Nightingale has landed him at Michigan State.
Isaac Howard played under MSU Head Coach Adam Nightingale at the U.S. National Team Development Program before his freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth.
Junior forward A.J. Hodges is the sixth Spartan to enter the transfer portal. In 66 career games, Hodges recorded zero goals and five assists.
Savage was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL draft, before spending the last two seasons with Miami (OH), where he notched 13 goals and 17 assists across 67 games.
Michigan State landed UMass forward Reed Lebster from the transfer portal Tuesday. The Grand Rapids native played four seasons with the Minutemen and won a national championship in 2021.
Jesse Tucker, Zach Dubinsky, Kyle Haskins and Powell Connor entered the transfer portal Monday.
After finishing last in the Big Ten a year ago, Michigan State hockey finished just two spots out from an at-large berth in the 16-team NCAA tournament field.
Müller led the team in points (34) and assists (25) as one of the multiple Spartans to post career-high numbers in head coach Adam Nightingale's first season.
Jagger Joshua and Dylan St. Cyr were both named All-Big Ten honorable mentions Tuesday afternoon.
Contrary to most of the last decade, the likely end of the season doesn’t bring a sigh of relief after a long losing streak or a painful year, but rather a glimpse of hope for what’s to come in the Nightingale era.
Hovering at a .500 record, Michigan State still has a chance of making the 16-team NCAA tournament. But the Spartans won’t know their fate until Selection Sunday next week after the league's conference tournament winners are decided.
Puck drop is set for Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT in Minneapolis at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The semifinal game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Defeating the Gophers for the first time this season won't come easy, but the Spartans are confident they have what it takes to pull off the playoff victory.
Perhaps the most important takeaway from this series and season is that after many recent gloomy, dark days in the program, the Spartans have made hockey in East Lansing exciting again.