Three MSU Spartans Turn Pro

Michigan State will have to do without three key contributors going forward, all of whom recently signed NHL contracts.

Freshman right wing Porter Martone was the first to go, signing on Sunday with the Philadelphia Flyers, who drafted him sixth overall last year. Martone, 19, paced the Spartans this past year with 25 goals and 50 points in his only NCAA campaign, after skating three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. The Peterborough, Ont. native, who played in two IIHF World Junior Championships for Canada, made his NHL debut on March 31 at Washington, and picked up his first pro point with an assist against Detroit tonight. 

Junior goaltender Trey Augustine has signed with the Detroit Red Wings, who selected him 41st overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and has been assigned to Detroit's top minor-league affiliate in Grand Rapids (AHL). Augustine, 21, from South Lyon, Mich. fashioned a 24-9-1 record in 34 games this past season, with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage, while earning Big Ten Goaltender of the Year accolades. In three years with the Spartans, he went 66-25-7 with a 2.40 GAA over 99 career outings while notching nine shutouts and backstopping MSU to three consecutive Big Ten conference regular-season titles and two tournament crowns. He also won two gold medals with the U.S. at the WJCs, after prepping with the U.S. National Junior Team Development Program, and is a finalist this year for both the Mike Richter Award (top NCAA goalie) and the Hobey Baker Memorial Award (top NCAA player). 

Junior defenseman Maxim Strbak has signed with the Buffalo Sabres, who drafted him 45th overall in 2023, and has been assigned to Rochester (AHL). Strbak, 20, from Kosice, Slovakia, notched three goals and 15 assists for 18 points in 37 games this past season with MSU, and in three years in East Lansing collected 8-38—46 points over 102 appearances. A product of Sioux Falls (USHL), he also participated in four consecutive WJCs for Slovakia. 

MSU's 2025-26 campaign ended with a 4-3 overtime loss to Big Ten rival Wisconsin in the NCAA Worcester (Mass.) Regional final on March 29, one game short of the Frozen Four. 

ADDENDUM: Michigan State sophomore defenseman Colin Ralph and senior forward Daniel Russell have also signed pro contracts, with the St. Louis Blues and Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL), respectively. Ralph, 20, from Maple Grove, Minn., collected 2-16—18 points in 69 career games with St. Cloud State and MSU, after being drafted 48th overall by the Blues in 2024. Russell, from Traverse City, Mich., totaled 43-70—113 points in 140 career outings at MSU, after playing three years in the USHL and one in the NAHL. 

2026 Conference Tournaments Continue

Friday's games moved NCAA Division I men's hockey closer to filling out its 2026 NCAA tournament field, with three conference semifinal rounds and one conference final taking place, while the national title tilt for women's hockey is all set.

In Hockey East, UConn defeated Boston College in overtime, 4-3, while Merrimack edged UMass, 2-0. In ECAC Hockey, Princeton outlasted two-time champion Cornell, 3-2, while Dartmouth blanked Clarkson, 4-0. In the CCHA, Minnesota State topped St. Thomas, 2-1, to win its fourth league playoff crown in five years.

Saturday will be championship night, as Merrimack will meet UConn to decide Hockey East, Princeton and Cornell will face off in ECAC Hockey, Sacred Heart will take on Bentley for the Atlantic Hockey America championship, Michigan will host Ohio State for Big Ten accolades, and Denver will skate against Minnesota-Duluth for NCHC honors. As with Minnesota State, the championship game winners will earn their respective conference's automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. Boston College, UMass, Clarkson, and St. Thomas have all been eliminated from NCAA consideration. 

On the NCAA Division I women's side, Wisconsin and Ohio State will meet on Sunday (4 p.m. ET, ESPNU) in State College, Pa. to decide the national champion in a rematch of the past three NCAA title games. Ohio State punched its ticket with a 5-0 shutout of Northeastern on Friday, while defending national champion Wisconsin upended host Penn State, 4-3, in OT.

ADDENDUM: Dartmouth Denver, Merrimack, Bentley, and Michigan all won their respective men's conference championships and earned automatic berths to the 2026 NCAA tournament. The NCAA selection show will be televised on Sunday (3 p.m., ET, ESPNU).

Minnesota Hockey Seeking New Head Coaches

The University of Minnesota is now looking for two new hockey head coaches.

The men's program has parted ways with Bob Motzko after eight seasons. The Austin, Minn, native had guided the Golden Gophers since 2018-19 after 13 seasons at the helm of his alma mater, St. Cloud State. Motzko, 65, complied a record of 172-104-24 while at Minnesota, including three Big Ten regular season titles, one Big Ten tournament crown, and five NCAA tournament berths, including a national runner-up finish in 2023. Minnesota finished 11-22-3 this past season, falling in the Big Ten tournament to Penn State. For his NCAA Division I career, Motzko has put together an overall head coaching mark of 448-296-73, including 13 trips to the NCAAs.

On the women's side, Brad Frost was not retained after 19 seasons at the Minnesota helm, following five years as an assistant and one as an associate/interim head coach. A Bethel College product and former men's team captain, the Burlington, Ont. native fashioned a 554-133-43 mark with the Golden Gophers, including 17 NCAA tournament appearances, eight WCHA regular-season titles, five WCHA tournament crowns, and four national championships since he took over in 2007-08. Frost, 52, led Minnesota to a 26-12-1 overall record this past season, which ended with a loss to Northeastern in the NCAAs.

MSU Wins Third Straight Big Ten Title

Michigan State has won its third consecutive Big Ten Conference regular-season title following last night's 7-1 win at Minnesota. The Spartans are the first Big Ten school to turn the trifecta since the conference began play in 2013.

It is also the first time MSU has won three consecutive regular-season conference titles, although the Spartans did win back-to-back regular-season crowns during their time in the original central Collegiate Hockey Association.

MSU (25-7-1 overall, 16-6-1 Big Ten) will close out its 2025-26 regular season tonight at Minnesota, and will have a first-round bye in the Big Ten championship, which it has claimed the last two years.

Michigan State Men's Hockey Back to No. 1

Michigan State has regained the top spot in both the USCHO.com and USAHockey.com NCAA Division I men's college hockey polls this week after splitting with archrival Michigan, the former No. 1, last weekend. 

MSU garnered 30 of 50 first-place votes in the Feb. 9 USCHO.com poll, and 18 of 34 first-place votes in the corresponding USA Hockey poll. Rounding out the top five in both rankings were Michigan, North Dakota, Western Michigan and Quinnipiac.

MSU fell, 4-3 in overtime, at Michigan last Friday, but rebounded to earn its third consecutive "Duel in the D" trophy with a 6-2 victory the next night in Detroit. The Spartans (22-6-0 overall) return to Big Ten action this weekend against Notre Dame.

MSU Wins Third Straight Duel in the D

For the third year in a row, the "Duel in the D" went to Michigan State. Second-ranked MSU scored the first four goals of the game en route to a 5-2 victory over No. 1 Michigan tonight before 19,515 onlookers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. MSU also avenged a 4-3 overtime loss last night in Ann Arbor to gain the series split, while also leapfrogging the Wolverines by one point for first place in the Big Ten conference.

Tiernan Shoudy and Tommi Männistö tallied a goal and an assist each for MSU (22-6-0 overall, 13-5-0 Big Ten), while Maxim Štrbák notched two assists. Trey Augustine made 25 saves for the Spartans, while Jack Ivankovic stopped 34 shots for Michigan (23-5-0, 14-4-0) in his return to action since suffering an injury in mid-January. MSU outshot Michigan, 37-27, on the night, and also killed off all three Michigan power play attempts while recording two shorthanded shots on goal.

MSU is at Notre Dame on Feb. 20-21, while Michigan will host Penn State next weekend.

MSU Tops Penn State Outdoors

Charlie Stramel capped his first career collegiate hat trick with the game-winning goal in overtime as No. 2 Michigan State defeated fifth-ranked host Penn State, 5-4, before 74,575 spectators at Beaver Stadium this afternoon. MSU is now 3-2-1 in outdoor contests since the original Cold War was contested back in 2001.

Stramel scored just over three minutes into the extra session at the home of Penn State football, after the Spartans had battled back from 3-2 and 4-3 deficits in regulation. He also recorded an assist to go with his three goals, while linemates Porter Martone and Daniel Russell also finished with four points apiece. Trey Augustine made 31 saves for MSU (21-5-0 overall, 12-4-0 Big Ten), which swept its weekend Big Ten series with PSU following a 6-3 win at Pegula Ice Arena on Friday night. The Spartans have also won six straight games overall, and 10 of their last 11 outings.

Aidan Fink scored twice for Penn State (18-8-0, 10-6-0), while Dane Dowiak set up three goals for the Nittany Lions, who got 35 stops in net from Kevin Reider. MSU outshot PSU, 40-35, on the day, and also went 1-for-2 on the power play, with Stramel supplying that goal. The Spartans will now face No 1 Michigan twice next weekend, including the annual "Duel in the D" matchup in Detroit, while PSU is off until playing at Michigan on Feb. 13-14. 

Michigan State Tops Wisconsin, 4-3

Charlie Stramel scored the game-winning goal in the second period, and also had an assist as fourth-ranked Michigan State edged No. 2 Wisconsin, 4-3, tonight at the Kohl Center. It was MSU's first victory against Wisconsin this season, after the Badgers swept a two-game series in East Lansing, Mich., back in November. All three games have been decided by one goal.

Ryker Lee, Gavin O'Connell and Daniel Russell also scored for the victorious Spartans (16-5-0 overall, 7-4-0 Big Ten), who got 24 saves in net from Trey Augustine. Oliver Tulk, Kyle Kukkonen and Tyson Dyck scored the host Badgers (15-4-2 8-3-0), who got 19 stops from Daniel Hauser. The Spartans outshot the Badgers, 27-23, on the evening, while the two teams combined to go 0-for-5 on the power play.

MSU and Wisconsin will close out their 2025-26 season series on Friday night in Madison.

ADDENDUM: MSU finished off the two-step sweep with a 4-1 victory in Game Two. 

Michigan Blanks MSU in Opener, 3-0

Michigan held on to its No. 1 ranking with a 3-0 win in Big Ten play last night at third-ranked Michigan State. It was the Wolverines' first shutout of MSU at Munn Ice Arena since February 2000.

Malcolm Spence scored just over five minutes into the contest to give Michigan a 1-0 lead, before Aidan Park and Jayden Perron closed out the scoring in the third period. Jack Ivankovic made 23 saves for the Wolverines (16-3-0 overall, 7-2-0 Big Ten), who have won five straight games, while Trey Augustine finished with 24 stops for the host Spartans (11-4-0, 4-3-0).

The two archrivals will close out their home-and-home series tonight at Michigan's Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor (7 p.m. ET, BIG+).

ADDENDUM: Anthony Romani scored in both the second and third periods, including the game-winning goal, and Trey Augustine made 30 saves as MSU rebounded for a 3-1 win in the rematch at Michigan. The Spartans scored the final three goals of the game, and outshot the Wolverines, 33-31, on the night. The two schools will meet again on Feb. 6 in Ann Arbor, and then again on Feb. 7 in Detroit.

Minnesota Outlasts Ohio State, 6-3

Brodie Ziemer scored two goals, including the game's lone power-play tally, and Brody Lamb notched a goal and an assist as Minnesota defeated host Ohio State, 6-3, last night in the lone NCAA Division I men's hockey game on the schedule.

Following a scoreless opening period at Value City Arena, Minnesota held a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. After Max Montes tied the game for OSU early in the final frame, Lamb scored less than two minutes later to put the visiting Golden Gophers ahead for good. Minnesota then added two empty-net goals in the final two minutes for the final margin.

Michigan State transfer Luca Di Pasquo made 32 saves in net for Minnesota (8-9-1 overall, 4-3-0 Big Ten), while Kristoffer Eberly stopped 22 shots for the Buckeyes (5-10-0, 1-6-0), who have lost six straight contests. The two teams close out their two-game Big Ten series tonight in Columbus (6:30 p.m. ET, BTN).

ADDENDUM: Jake Karabela's goal just over a minute into overtime broke OSU's losing streak and lifted the Buckeyes to a 6-5 victory over the Golden Gophers on Friday. Karabela also assisted on Adam Eisele's tying goal midway through the third period that forced the extra session. Eberly stopped 14 shots on the evening for OSU, while Nathan Airey finished with 32 saves for Minnesota. The Buckeyes also finished 2-for-3 on the power play, and won 41 of 59 total faceoffs.

 

Michigan State, Penn State Bounce Back

Two top Big Ten teams bounced back from Thursday losses with NCAA non-conference victories on Friday.

No. 2 Michigan State, which fell to New Hampshire by a 4-3 count on a late goal Friday, rebounded for a 2-0 win the next night at Munn Arena. Matt Basgall and Patrick Geary scored for the Spartans, with both goals set up by Charlie Stramel, while Trey Augustine made 13 saves for MSU (1-1-0 overall).

No. 4 Penn State fell to visiting Clarkson, 6-4, on Friday despite getting four goals from JJ Wiebusch. The Nittany Lions (3-1-0) came back the following evening for a 5-2 triumph, as Ben Schoen scored twice and Joshua Fleming made 21 stops at Pegula Ice Arena.

MSU is off to No. 3 Boston University for two games next weekend, while PSU will host LIU for a pair of games.

Penn State to Host Outdoor Games in January

Outdoor hockey is coming to Hockey Valley early next year.

NCAA hockey will move outside for a doubleheader on Jan. 31, 2026 at historic Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. The Penn State University men's team will entertain Big Ten rival Michigan State, while the Nittany Lions women's team will face Atlantic Hockey America opponent Robert Morris. Game times will be announced at a future date.

The PSU men's team went 22-14-4 overall last season, won the Allentown regional, and advanced to its first-ever NCAA Frozen Four. The PSU women went 31-6-1 last year, claimed their third straight AHA title, and also made the NCAAs for the third consecutive campaign.

Big Ten Changes Playoff Format

The Big Ten conference announced last week that it has altered its postseason format for men's ice hockey, starting with the upcoming 2025-26 season. 

According to USCHO.com, the Big Ten will now ice a two-week, single elimination playoff championship, as opposed to the three-week affair that began with a best-of-three first round of the past few years. The top seed in this year's tournament will receive a bye for the first round, while the No. 2, 3, and 4 seeds will host the No. 4, 6 and 7 seeds, respectively, on March 11. 

Semifinals for the four remaining schools will take place on March 14 at the home arena of the higher seeds. The title game is slated for the following weekend (March 20-22) at the site of the highest remaining seed.

Michigan State has won the last two Big Ten championships, and along with them earned the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

Michigan State's Howard Jumps to NHL

Reigning Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Isaac Howard won't be returning to Michigan State University for his final collegiate season. 

Howard, 21, who led the Spartans to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles the last two years, has signed with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers after his rights were traded to the two-time Western Conference champions by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had drafted him 31st overall in 2022.

A native of Hudson, Wisc., Howard led MSU in scoring as a junior last season with 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 37 games, and then claimed the Hobey Baker Award. A 5-foot-11, 190-pound left wing, he had earlier been named as the 2024-25 Big Ten Player of the Year, and went on to help Team USA to its first gold medal at the IIHF Men's World Championship since 1933. 

A product of the U.S. National Development Team Program, Howard collected 34-54—88 points in 73 career games over two years with MSU, helping the Green and White to two NCAA tournaments, after transferring from Minnesota-Duluth. He is the third Spartan to ever win the Hobey Baker Award, following center Kip Miller (1990) and goaltender Ryan Miller (2001).

CHL's McKenna to Play at Penn State

The best player in the Canadian Hockey League will be playing in the NCAA this upcoming season.

Gavin McKenna, who led the Medicine Hat Tigers to a Western Hockey league playoff title and an appearance in the 2025 Memorial Cup final, will skate at Penn State University for the 2025-26 campaign. The six-foot center from Whitehorse, Yukon tallied 41 goals and 88 assists for 129 points in just 56 games this past season, and was named the CHL Player of the Year. In three years with the Tigers, he posted 79-165—244 points in 133 career WHL regular-season outings, plus 12-33—45 points in 25 postseason appearances. He also helped Team Canada to gold medals at both the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

McKenna, 17, who is projected to be selected first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, is the highest-profile signing to date since the NCAA allowed CHL/major junior players to be eligible to play American college hockey late last year. 

Penn State, which finished 22-14-4 overall last season (9-11-4 Big Ten Conference), is also coming off the first NCAA Frozen Four appearance in the school's varsity history.

Penn State Edges Minnesota in OT

Simon Mack scored on a wrist shot just over three minutes into overtime to lift host Penn State to a 4-3 win over Minnesota in Big Ten action last night before 6,577 on-lookers in University Park, Pa. The No. 15 Nittany Lions also stretched their unbeaten streak, which dates back to Feb. 7, to seven games.

Brodie Ziemer had two assists for Minnesota (23-8-4 overall, 14-6-3 Big Ten), which fought back from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to force the OT. Former Penn State netminder Liam Souliere made 28 saves for the Golden Gophers, who fell one point behind Michigan State in the race for the top spot in the Big Ten.

Aiden Fink and Jimmy Dowd, Jr. set up two goals apiece for the Nittany Lions (18-11-4, 9-10-4), who also got 31 stops from Arsenii Sergeev. It was also the 400th career collegiate victory for Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky, the only coach the program has known since it joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 2013. The two schools will close out the 2024-25 regular season tonight in a rematch at Pegula Ice Arena.

ADDENDUM: Behind two goals from Matthew Wood and 30 saves from Souliere, Minnesota defeated Penn State, 5-3, in the rematch on Saturday to claim a share of the Big Ten regular-season crown. Michigan State still earned the first seed and a first-round bye in the conference tournament, while Minnesota will host seventh-seeded Notre Dame and fifth-seeded Penn State will visit fourth-seeded Michigan in the best-of-three quarterfinals next weekend.

MSU Retakes No. 1 Spot in Men's Poll

Michigan State University is back atop the NCAA Division I men's hockey poll at USCHO.com. The Spartans, who were idle this past weekend, took over the top spot from Boston College, which lost two of its last three games.

MSU received 23 first-place votes, while BC garnered 11 first-place votes and third-place Western Michigan earned 16 such ballots. Rounding out the top ten were Maine, Minnesota, defending NCAA champion Denver, Ohio State, Beanpot champion Boston University, and Michigan. Meanwhile, Wisconsin held on to the top spot in USCHO's Division I women's poll, while Hobart headlined the Division III men's poll, and Wisconsin-River Falls was first in the Division III women's poll.

MSU, which last held the top spot on Jan. 13, returns to action this weekend with two Big Ten home games against Penn State. 

MSU Routs Michigan, 6-1, in Detroit

The "Duel in the D" trophy will remain in East Lansing. Second-ranked Michigan State University routed No. 13 Michigan, 6-1, on Saturday night before 19,515 fans at Little Caesars Arena in the annual contest between the two archrivals in Detroit.

After Tyler Duke tied the game midway through the second period for Michigan, MSU erupted for five goals over the next 21 minutes to put the contest away. Six different skaters scored for the Spartans, who were led by Joey Larson's one goal and two assists. Shane Vansaghi, Gavin O'Connell and Isaac Howard notched a goal and an assist apiece for MSU, which also got two assists from Nicklas Andrews and finished two-for-five on the power play. Trey Augustine made 17 saves in net for the Spartans (22-5-3 overall, 13-4-3 Big Ten), and also added an assist. Cameron Korpi finished with 34 stops for the Wolverines (16-12-2, 10-9-1), who defeated MSU, 2-1, on Friday in East Lansing. 

It was the fourth and final game of the 2024-25 regular-season series between MSU and U-M, with each team winning twice. Their next meeting could come as early as this year's Big Ten tournament, and then possibly again in the NCAA tournament. MSU will entertain Notre Dame this weekend in Big Ten play, while U-M will host Minnesota.

Ohio State Edges Michigan State, 4-2

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine's goal just under eight minutes into the third period broke a two-all tie, and catapulted No. 11 Ohio State to a 4-2 victory last night over visiting No. 2 Michigan State in a Big Ten contest.

Riley Thompson scored two goals for OSU, and also assisted on Fontaine's game-winning wrist shot before 5,339 spectators in Columbus. Logan Terness made 35 saves in earning the win for the Buckeyes (16-7-2 overall, 9-5-1 Big Ten), who suffered a loss and a tie at Penn State last weekend. Thomas Weis scored an insurance goal for OSU late in the third period.

MSU (20-4-3, 11-3-3), which had already lost forward Red Savage to injury for the remainder of the 2024-25 NCAA season, suffered its first loss in regulation since Dec. 6 despite 25 stops on the night from Trey Augustine. David Gucciardi and Karsen Dorwart scored goals for the Spartans.

The Buckeyes and Spartans meet again tonight at Value City Arena to close out their season series. MSU swept OSU in a pair of games in East Lansing, Mich. back in November.

ADDENDUM: MSU gained the series split with a 4-1 win on Friday night, as four different Spartans scored goals and Augustine made 22 saves.

MSU Gains Split with Michigan

One night after a 3-2 loss in overtime on the road in Ann Arbor, top-ranked Michigan State gained a Big Ten series split with archrival Michigan with a 4-1 victory on Saturday at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing.

Wisconsin transfer Charlie Stramel scored two goals and set up another for the Spartans (19-3-2 overall, 10-2-2 Big Ten), who got three assists from Isaac Howard and 34 saves from Trey Augustine. Logan Stein made 28 stops for the No. 10 Wolverines (14-9-1, 8-6-0).

The two NCAA schools will close out their regular-season series on Feb. 7 in East Lansing and Feb. 8 in Detroit.