Michigan State heads into its New Hampshire series riding a sharp start to the season and carrying plenty of individual momentum with it.
The Spartans are now No. 2 in both the USCHO and USA Hockey polls, moving up from No. 3 in each ranking after sitting there for three straight weeks. They’ll also try to keep their form rolling after a 5-1 win over RIT on Oct. 27 at Blue Cross Arena during Brick City Homecoming Weekend.
That game drew 10,556 fans, the sixth-largest crowd in NCAA hockey this season. It was also the only crowd of 10,000 or more this year that did not include North Dakota. Michigan State controlled the night after leading 2-1 through two periods, then putting the game away when Tommi Männistö scored a shorthanded goal to make it 3-1 and swing the third period hard in the Spartans’ favor.
Freshman goalie Joshua Ravensbergen earned Big Ten Third Star of the Week honors after stopping 25 shots against RIT. He turned aside 15 chances in the third period alone and added five saves while the Spartans were killing penalties.
It’s the first weekly conference honor by a Michigan State goaltender since Trey Augustine on Dec. 30, 2025.
Anthony Romani stayed hot with a three-point night against the Tigers, finishing with 1-2-3. He now has seven points through three games for Michigan State, which gives him 4-3-7 on the season. Romani is currently No. 2 nationally in goals per game at 1.33 and No. 2 nationally in points per game at 2.33.
The production hasn’t stopped there. Chase Reid has five points on the season, including 1-4-5, a total that is tied for fifth among all NCAA defensemen. His 1.67 points per game rank No. 11 nationally overall and No. 2 among defensemen, while his 1.33 assists per game are sixth nationally overall.
Eric Nilson and Ryker Lee are right there with him in the scoring race. Nilson’s 1-4-5 line and Lee’s 2-3-5 mark leave both players tied with Reid for No. 11 nationally in points per game at 1.67. Nilson also matches Reid at 1.33 assists per game.
The Spartans’ roster makeup is just as striking. Michigan State has the second-most NHL draft selections in the NCAA this season with 17, and its nine first-round picks are the most of any college team. Of the 30 first-round NHL selections slated to play college hockey in 2026-27, Michigan State has 30% of them.
Adam Nightingale is closing in on another milestone as well. The head coach is two wins shy of 100 in his Spartan career and enters the weekend at 98-44-11 overall, good for a .676 winning percentage.
Ron Mason reached 100 wins the fastest at Michigan State, doing it in 182 games. Nightingale has coached 153 games since taking over.
In Other News...
Michigan State Suddenly Has A Jeremy Fears Jr. Concern Before Marquette
Jeremy Fears Jr. gave Michigan State a brief scare when he landed awkwardly in a recent game, the kind of moment that can change a game plan in a hurry. He returned, kept playing and finished without any apparent issues, which is why the Spartans are not treating the situation like a long-term concern heading into their matchup with Marquette.
Still, Tom Izzo is not brushing past it completely. Fears and the coach both expect him to play, but Izzo said he will remain cautious based on medical advice, and that leaves a small layer of uncertainty around the Spartans backcourt. If Fears is limited or unavailable, freshman Carlos Medlock Jr. would be in line to handle point guard duties, giving Michigan State at least one clear fallback if the game takes an unexpected turn. [Read more 🡒]
No. 5 Michigan State Now Faces A Frustrating Big Ten Test
A rough Big Ten night in East Lansing left Michigan State chasing from the start after Penn State struck twice early and forced the Spartans into a comeback mode they could never fully escape. Paige Kalal and Aubrey Kulpa put the visitors in front before Kayla Briggs got Michigan State on the board in the 55th minute, giving the Spartans a lifeline and a chance to turn the match back in their direction.
Michigan State did generate pressure after halftime and outshot Penn State in the second half, but the equalizer never came in a 2-1 loss that will sting in a conference race where little gets handed out easily. For a team still carrying a No. 5 ranking, this was the kind of frustrating test that can linger, especially when the chances are there but the finish is not. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Just Made A Front-Office Hire Fans Will Scrutinize
Michigan State has turned to a familiar name in college athletics circles for one of its most important off-field jobs, officially hiring Mike Polisky as the new CEO of Spartan Ventures and deputy athletics director. Polisky brings experience from Northwestern, where he served as deputy athletics director for external affairs, and he has also spent time in executive roles outside college sports since leaving that post.
At Michigan State, Polisky will be expected to help push athletic department revenue higher while taking on oversight of both football and mens golf. It is the kind of hire that can quietly shape a departments direction, and in East Lansing it is likely to draw close attention not just for what Polisky has done before, but for how Michigan State uses this new structure moving forward. [Read more 🡒]