The 2025–26 Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey season was the 84th season of play for the program and 35th in the Big Ten. The Spartans representeed Michigan State University in the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at the Munn Ice Arena and were coached by Adam Nightingale in his fourth season.
On January 19, 2026, director of hockey operations for the team and former Spartan player Dan Sturges died suddenly. It was announced that the team would wear a jersey patch in his honor of the remainder of the season.
With a win over Minnesota on March 5, the Spartans secured their third straight Big Ten regular season championship.
Offseason Departures Nicklas Andrews Defenseman Graduation (signed with Toledo Walleye) Mikey DeAngelo Forward Transferred to Massachusetts Luca Di Pasquo Goaltender Transferred to Minnesota Karsen Dorwart Forward Signed professional contract (Philadelphia Flyers) David Gucciardi Defenseman Signed professional contract (Washington Capitals) Isaac Howard Forward Signed professional contract (Edmonton Oilers) Tanner Kelly Forward Graduation (signed with Toledo Walleye) Joey Larson Forward Signed professional contract (New York Islanders) Vladislav Lukashevich Defenseman Transferred to Miami Kaden Nelson Forward Transferred to Oklahoma State Austin Oravetz Defenseman Transferred to Merrimack Red Savage Forward Graduation (signed with Rochester Americans)
Recruiting and incoming transfers Austin Baker Forward 19 White Lake Township, MI; selected 203rd overall in 2024 Sean Barnhill Defenseman 18 Scottsdale, AZ; selected 70th overall in 2025 Cole Burke Forward 21 Trenton, MI Matt Lahey Defenseman 19 Victoria, BC; selected 200th overall in 2024 Ryker Lee Forward 18 Wilmette, IL; selected 26th overall in 2025 Cayden Lindstrom Forward 19 Chetwynd, BC; selected 4th overall in 2024 Porter Martone Forward 18 Peterborough, ON; selected 6th overall in 2025 Eric Nilson Forward 18 Calgary, AB; selected 45th overall in 2025 Colin Ralph Defenseman 19 Maple Grove, MN; transfer from St. Cloud State; selected 48th overall in 2024 Anthony Romani Forward 20 Pickering, ON; selected 162nd overall in 2024 Travis Shoudy Defenseman 23 Marysville, MI; transfer from Ferris State Melvin Strahl Goaltender 20 Sollefteå, SWE; selected 156th overall in 2023 Cole Ward Defenseman 19 Rochester Hills, MI
Season summary
Exhibition The Spartans were ranked No. 3 in the preseason polls and received several first place votes in each poll. The Spartans played an exhibition game against Windsor on October 3, 2025. The Spartans won the game 4–0. Four different MSU player scored a goal while Trey Augustine and Melvin Strahl combined to hold Windsor scoreless.
Regular season
New Hampshire MSU began the regular season welcoming New Hampshire to Munn Arena on October 9 and 10 as the consensus No. 2 team in the country. In game one against the Wildcats, the Spartans fell behind 2–1 early in the second period before Charlie Stramel tied the game with just under eight minutes remaining the period. The Wildcats retook the lead on a power play goal in the third before the Spartans tied it with a goal by Tommi Männistö with less than four minutes left in regulation. However, the Wildcats put in a rebound past Trey Augustine with 5.2 seconds left in the game to shock the Spartans 4–3. In game two, neither team scored in the first before Matt Basgall scored to give the Spartans a 1–0 lead in the second. Patrick Geary added a goal in the third as Augustine shut out the Wildcats 2–0.
Boston University The following week, the Spartans, now ranked No. 3, travelled to face No. 1-ranked Boston University. MSU struck early taking a two-goal lead on a power play goal by Stramel and a short-handed goal two minutes later by Eric Nilson. Following a Terriers power play goal later in the first, the Spartans stretched the lead back to two with a goal with less than five minutes left in the period. Following a scoreless second, Michigan State took a three-goal lead less than two minutes into the third. A BU power play goal with a minute left narrowed the lead to 4–2, but MSU held on for the win. In game two against the Terriers, MSU again took a 2–0 lead through two periods. After BU scored less than three minutes into the third, Männistö added his second goal of the season just 39 seconds later to push the lead to 3–1. However, the Terriers mounted a furious comeback, scoring a short-handed goal with less than seven minutes left in the third and tying the game at 15:02 of the third. In overtime, Basgall notched in the winning goal after a Terrier shot was stopped by Shane Vansgahi just short of crossing the goal line to give MSU the 4–3 win.
Northern Michigan Following the sweep of No. 1 BU, the Spartans moved to No. 1 the following week.
The Spartans travelled to face Northern Michigan on October 24 and 25. In game one, the Spartans shut out the Wildcats 4–0. Maxim Strbák had two assists in the game while four different Spartans notched a goal in the win. In game two, MSU won again, beating NMU 6–2. Tommi Männistö scored two goals in the game as the Spartans earned the sweep over Northern Michigan.
Penn State After an off week, the Spartans, still ranked No. 1 in the country, faced No. 3-ranked Penn State at Munn Arena on November 7 and 8. In game one, Anthony Romani gave the Spartans the lead 17 minutes in. However, the Nittany Lions tied it in the second, beating Trey Augustine on a deflected shot. Going to overtime, Tiernan Shoudy scored the game winner as MSU won 2–1. In game two, the Spartans finished off the sweep, routing PSU 5–0. Augustine stopped all 36 Lion shots while Charlie Srtamel scored two goals and had two assists in the win. Daniel Russel added three assists as MSU won easily.
Notre Dame The Spartans, now unanimously the No. 1 team in both polls, next traveled to face Notre Dame on November 14 and 15. In game one, Porter Martone scored two goals as the Spartans beat the Irish 4–1. Charlie Stramel and Daniel Russell each had two assists while Maxim Strbak and Ryker Lee also scored for the Spartans. With 54 second remaining in the game, senior goaltender Dolan Gilbert, a South Bend native and the team's third goalie, entered the game in his Spartan debut. In game two, Lee scored 90 seconds in to give MSU the early lead. Martone scored his third goal of the weekend to push the lead to 2–0. An empty net goal gave the Spartans the 3–1 win and sweep of the Irish.
Wisconsin The Spartans returned home still the unanimous No. 1 team to face No. 7-ranked Wisconsin. In game one on November 21, the Spartans took an early 2–0 lead on goals by Daniel Russell and Porter Martone before Wisconsin scored four straight to take the lead. The Spartans narrowed the lead to 4–3 with a Ryker Lee goal, but Wisconsin added another to push the lead back to two. Despite a second goal by Martone, the Badgers held on for the 5–4 win. In game two on November 22, the Spartans trailed 1–0 in the third before Martone scored his third goal of the weekend with just 3.8 seconds remaining in regulation. The Badgers completed the sweep with a goal 2:36 into overtime to win 2–1.
Colgate Following the sweep by Wisconsin, the now No. 3-ranked Spartans welcomed Colgate to Munn where they swept the Raiders, winning 5–2 and 4–1. Daniel Russell had two goals in the second game while Ryker Lee scored his second of the series. The wins moved the Spartans to 11–3–0 on the season.
Michigan The Spartans, still ranked No. 3 in both polls. returned to the ice to play a home-and-home series against No. 1 ranked Michigan on December 5 and 6. In the first game in Ann Arbor, Michigan controlled the game, shutting out the Spartans 3–0. In game two back in East Lansing, the Spartans fell behind 1–0 in the first. However MSU rallied to tie the game on a goal by Anthony Romani with less than two minutes remaining in the second period. Early in the third, Romani again lit the lamp to give the Spartans the 2–1 lead. Trey Augustine held the Spartans scoreless from there and Porter Martone added an empty net goal to give MSU the 3–1 win over the top-ranked Wolverines. The win moved the Spartans to 12–4 overall and 5–3 in conference play.
Great Lakes Invitational After three weeks off, the Spartans, still ranked No. 3, travelled to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the Great Lakes Invitational.
Ferris State In game one of the tournament on December 28, the Spartans played Ferris State. The Spartans scored quickly, notching two goal less than nine minutes into the game. Two more goals in the second gave MSU a commanded 4–0 lead. The Bulldogs rallied for a goal late in the second and pulled within two early in the third before Charlie Stramel secured the win with a goal with 12 minutes left. The 5–2 win moved MSU to 13–4 on the season.
Michigan Tech In the championship game of the GLI, MSU defeated Michigan Tech 4–1. Charlie Stramel scored twice, his third and fourth of the tournament, and the Spartans added an empty net goal to win the tournament championship for the second consecutive season. Stramel was named tournament MVP and was the Spartans 14th tournament title. The win moved the Spartans to 14–4 on the season.
Exhibition The Spartans returned home to face the USA Hockey National Development Under-18 Team in an exhibition game on January 4, 2026. MSU took an early lead before the development team tied it midway through the first. Goals by Anthony Romani and Cayden Lindstrom gave MSU a 3–1 lead. A Charlie Stramel goal less than five minutes into the third pushed the lead to three. The US team pulled within three with a goal with less than three minutes remaining as MSU held on for a 5–2 win.
Regular season
Ohio State MSU, now ranked No. 2 in the nation, will return to Big Ten action on January 9 and 10 by visiting Ohio State. In game one, the Spartans jumped on the Buckeyes, scoring four goals in the first period, two by Porter Martone. Ohio State narrowed the lead to 4–2 with a goal in the second and another early in the third. However, Charlie Stramel scored a power play goal four minutes in to the third as MSU won easily 6–2. The next day, neither team scored in the first before Ohio State took the lead 2:53 into the second. Porter Martone scored his third goal of the series to tie it at two with 10 minutes left in the period. However, OSU scored 8:01 into the third and held the Spartans off for a 2–1 win. The loss dropped MSU to 15–5 and 6–4 in conference.
Wisconsin Dropping to No. 4 in the country, the Spartans travelled to face No. 2 Wisconsin on January 15 and 16. In the first game, Wisconsin tied it early in the second after a Ryker Lee goal had given MSU the 1–0 lead in the first. The Spartans scored three straight goals in the second to take a 4–1 lead. However, the Badgers narrowed the lead to eon with a goal near the end of the second period and si minutes into the third. MSU, however, held UW off for the 4–3 win. On January 16, MSU blew the game open in the first period, taking a 3–0 lead on a goal by Shane Vansaghi and a short-handed and power play goal by Daniel Russell. Michigan State pushed the lead to four with less than five minutes left in the second half. The Badgers finally scored with less than a minute left in the game. The 4–1 victory gave the Spartans the sweep and put MSU at 8–4 in conference and 17–5 overall.
Minnesota