In a fight to the finish, the Michigan State Spartans men's hockey team made a historic season run that they had been hunting for the past two seasons under head coach Adam Nightingale.
With the loss to the Wolverines, Michigan State's run in the tournament comes to an end in the Maryland Heights regional final. The Spartans will now look forward to next season, in hopes to regroup and build off of this season.
For the sixth time this season, the Michigan State Spartans will face off in men's hockey against their in-state rivals, the University of Michigan Wolverines. This time around, the game to come is the deciding factor of who goes on to St. Paul, Minnesota to be one of the final four teams in the NCAA Championships, also known as the Frozen Four.
Michigan State men's hockey, playing in the first round of the men's hockey NCAA Championships, commonly known as the Frozen Four, against Western Michigan University, came back from down 4-2 in the third period to tie the game and eventually emerge victorious in overtime with a 5-4 win. This win, which seemed almost impossible after the first half of the game with how much Western Michigan was dominating the Spartans, marked Michigan State's second 5-4 overtime victory in a row and allowed the team to advance to the regional finals of the Frozen Four on Sunday against the University of Michigan.
The Spartans will play on Sunday at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri, against the winner of the University of North Dakota and University of Michigan game. Puck drop will be at 6:30 p.m. ESPN2 will air the game.
The men's hockey NCAA Championships, more commonly known as the Frozen Four, is approaching for the Michigan State hockey team. The Spartans are in an effort to defeat the highly qualified and veteran team of the Western Michigan Broncos, a former CCHA rival from the pre-Big Ten men's hockey conference era.
For the first time since 2012, the Michigan State men's hockey team is headed back to the NCAA Championships, more commonly known as the Frozen Four, after a season-clinching Big Ten regular season title and a thrilling overtime Big Ten Tournament title.
As the clock ran down and the crowd inside Munn Ice Arena was on its feet, the winning goal slipped past the University of Michigan goaltender, hit the side of the post and went into the net. Freshman defenseman Patrick Geary, the player who scored the final goal, went skating toward freshman goaltender Trey Augustine, his teammates following, as the Spartans conquered their mission of becoming not only Big Ten regular season champions but also the Big Ten Tournament champions, all in one season.
The time had come for Michigan State men's hockey. A chance to prove itself as the team it had shown the whole season. With the opportunity to host the Big Ten championship game, the Spartans welcomed the University of Michigan Wolverines. After a game that lasted three full periods and an overtime, the Michigan State men's hockey team took home the win and was crowned tournament champions, after a 5-4 win.
Hot off a win against the Ohio State Buckeyes to advance to the Big Ten championship game, the Michigan State Spartans step into unknown territory as they look for their first Big Ten Men's Hockey Tournament title in program history. Not only that, but the Spartans have the chance to do so against their in-state rival, the University of Michigan Wolverines.
After being crowned Big Ten regular season champions for the first time in program history and given a shot at becoming the Big Ten Tournament champions, the 2024 Big Ten award winners were announced on Tuesday, March 19, solidifying huge accomplishments for the Michigan State men's hockey program.
As the fans poured in, and the "Go Green, Go White" chants rang out throughout Munn Ice Arena before puck drop was even underway, the Spartans were ready to take the ice. After a hard-fought 60 minutes, the Spartans skated away with an intense 2-1 win, playing tough defense, breaking up Ohio State passes and connecting passes to control a majority of the game.
With an opportunity to host their very first Big Ten semifinal game, the Michigan State Spartans came into the game with one goal: win. With a crowd that has buzzed consistently the entire season and a playoff atmosphere ringing through Munn, the Spartans held on to a 2-1 lead and a win to head to the Big Ten championship game.
After clinching the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament and being crowned the regular season champions, the Spartans were awarded with a bye-week. The Spartans now prepare to take on the No. 7 seed Ohio State University, a team that's been hot as they took down the No. 2 seed Wisconsin Badgers in a three-game series.
After a clinching victory to earn the title of Big Ten Champions for the first time in program history, the Michigan State men's hockey team traveled back to East Lansing in preparation for their semifinal game and an opportunity to host an opponent for the Saturday, March 16 game in the Big Ten Tournament. While Michigan State silently waits for its turn in the tournament, the success of the Spartans' season has been anything but unnoticed, from record-breaking achievements for the team, for the coaches and the youngest goaltender in college hockey.
With the continuing success of the Michigan State hockey program, including a record season and a Big Ten regular season championship, a new five-year contract for head coach Adam Nightingale has been announced. Under the helm of Nightingale, Michigan State's hockey team has had one of the best turnarounds in the history of college hockey and has not gone unnoticed, resulting in the announcement of the contract from MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics, Alan Haller.
Coming off of a split weekend against the Wisconsin Badgers and clinching the Big Ten regular season champions title, the Spartans made moves in the polls for the final week of the regular season before hopping into the Big Ten Tournament. While Michigan State stayed in its No. 6 rank in the USCHO polls – just behind the Badgers – as well as keeping its No. 5 spot in the PairWise rankings, the Spartans jumped ahead of their previous opponents into the No. 5 rank in the USA Hockey polls, just behind the powerhouse Denver University by one lone point.
With continuous hard work and a season unlike any other, the Michigan State Spartans hockey team is the regular season Big Ten champions for the first time in conference history. Here is a summary of MSU's last weekend of regular season play and what is in store for the team as it heads into the Big Ten Tournament.
Night one of the Michigan State and Ohio State series brought a tough loss, as the hungry Buckeyes fought for the win more than the Spartans. But, the roles quickly flipped on night two as MSU came in hot for an incredible 5-2 win and a position to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten with a big upcoming weekend.
After a tough 6-2 loss to the Buckeyes on night one of the series, Michigan State's hockey was on the prowl for a comeback win on Senior Night to take down its visitors once and for all. Three goals in the second period helped the Spartans beat Ohio State 5-2 on the second and last night of the team's final home series this season.