MSU Hockey fans express disbelief following a 4-3 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in hopes of advancing to the Frozen Four.
No. 1-seeded Michigan State hockey will face Wisconsin, the No. 3 regional seed. Puck drop is set for 4:36 p.m. on Saturday, March 28. The game will be streamed on ESPN. The Spartans (26-8-2) advanced to the regional final after defeating UConn 2-1, and the Badgers (22-12-2) upset Dartmouth 5-1.
Michigan State hockey was backed by an excellent goaltending performance from Trey Augustine, paired resiliency to take a 2-1 win over UConn. MSU took five penalties throughout the game, but responded with successful kills and executed goals. The Spartans advance to the final round of regionals in the NCAA Tournament and will face Wisconsin for a chance at advancing to the Frozen Four.
MSU will play for a spot in the Frozen Four after defeating UConn 2-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
While numbers will never fully encompass a team or player, they can still provide insight into Michigan State hockey’s upcoming contest against UConn. MSU holds a better scoring offense and defense compared to the Huskies, with its top line generating more goals and points. However, UConn blocks far more shots than the Spartans with a tight defensive zone. The goaltenders are neck and neck, with Trey Augustine holding a narrow edge statistically. The No. 1-seeded Spartans are set to face the No. 4 Huskies in the Worcester Regional, the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Puck drop is set for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at DCU Arena.
Michigan State finds itself in a rare position this week with both its hockey and men's basketball programs alive in their respective NCAA Tournaments — facing the same opponent. The Spartans take on UConn on Thursday in the NCAA Regional before turning around and facing the Huskies again in the Sweet 16 on Friday, with a National Championship still within reach in both.
Michigan State hockey doesn’t need a superhero in the NCAA Tournament; it needs a team that stays true to its identity. It needs veteran leadership, seniors who have felt the sting of single-elimination games. It needs the 11 freshmen who spread enthusiasm at the rink, and have harnessed that under pressure. And it needs a team that’s hungry to win. Coach Adam Nightingale is only asking his team to be itself.
Michigan State hockey, the No. 1 seed in the Worcester Regional, will open NCAA Tournament play against the No. 4 UConn Huskies on Thursday, with the winner facing either Dartmouth Big Green or Wisconsin Badgers. Spartans forward Nightingale highlighted the challenge ahead, saying, “It's not easy to make this tournament… whoever you're going to play, you're going to play a good team.”
Michigan State hockey coach Adam Nightingale will be named head coach of the 2027 U.S. National Junior team.
Michigan State hockey earned a No. 3 overall seed and a No. 1 regional seed in the NCAA Tournament, marking its third consecutive appearance. The Spartans will face No. 4 seed Uconn on March 26, at 1:30 p.m.
MSU hockey's junior goaltender Trey Augustine was named a finalist for the 2026 Mike Richter Award, given to the best goaltender in NCAA Division I men’s college hockey. Augustine has been a finalist for the Mike Richter Award all three of his collegiate seasons, and is now a finalist for the second consecutive season.
Michigan State hockey’s Charlie Stramel and Trey Augustine have been named semifinalists for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award, making MSU the only program with multiple semifinalists this season.
Michigan State hockey had six players earn Big Ten postseason honors, led by four First Team selections and major awards for Trey Augustine (Goaltender of the Year) and Matt Basgall (Defensive Player of the Year). Head coach Adam Nightingale was also named Coach of the Year, highlighting another standout season for the Spartans.
Michigan State pushed Ohio State to overtime for the third straight meeting, but the Buckeyes secured a 3-2 win in sudden-death overtime. Porter Martone scored to tie the game late in the second period, but Felix Caron netted the game-winner after a Buckeyes rush early in overtime.
The Big Ten changed its hockey tournament format to three rounds of single elimination for this season. The Spartans will test it out when they host Ohio State on Saturday, March 14. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
With 13 new faces on the roster, Michigan State hockey still won the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans established an identity over their 34 games of the regular season and finished 25-7-2 overall, 16-6-2 in the Big Ten. They showed resilience, created an offensive identity, grew defensively and finished in high-stakes games — simulating situations to come in tournament play.
The Spartans entered their final regular-season game with one goal: play to their standard and get better. They were met by a hungry opponent that forced them into a close contest.
For the third straight year, the Spartans are Big Ten regular-season champions.
The No. 2 Michigan State hockey team is two points away from earning a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, and three points away from clinching it outright. MSU has two games left in the regular season providing six possible points to earn. The Spartans will face Minnesota at 3M Arena at Mariucci on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6 for the two-game series. Both games are set for 8 p.m. EST on Big Ten Plus.
