Anthony Romani’s Breakout Weekend, and the Rivalry That Could Define His Season
Anthony Romani is having himself a moment - and it’s coming on one of college hockey’s biggest stages. The Vancouver Canucks prospect and Michigan State freshman forward just capped off a two-game sweep of Penn State with his first NCAA hat trick and a win in front of nearly 75,000 fans at Beaver Stadium. Not a bad way to spend a weekend.
Let’s start with the obvious: scoring three goals in a college game is impressive on its own. Doing it in a high-pressure matchup, on the road, and under the lights in one of the largest outdoor hockey crowds ever?
That’s a statement. Romani opened the scoring early in the first period, showcasing the kind of offensive instincts that made him a draft pick in the first place.
But it wasn’t just about personal milestones - this was a game with real stakes.
“It’s always nice to get something like a hat trick, but winning the game was huge for us,” Romani said after the win. “They got the place buzzing a bit with the student section, and you could feel the tension there.”
That tension? It’s the kind you get in late-season conference matchups with playoff implications.
And Michigan State is right in the thick of it. Sitting at 21-5-0 and ranked No. 2 in the USCHO poll, the Spartans are chasing only one team: their bitter in-state rival, the Michigan Wolverines.
That rivalry is about to take center stage again this weekend, with a two-game set that could shake up the national rankings. The second game will be played at Little Caesars Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings - another big-stage opportunity for Romani and his teammates to show what they’re made of.
“I got the experience the first time we played Michigan back in December,” Romani said. “You can see how both schools get all hyped up for the game, and it’s super exciting. I know no one in our room likes anyone on their team, and I’m sure they don’t like us as well.”
That kind of edge is part of what makes this rivalry so special - and so intense. And for Romani, it’s another chance to test himself against top-tier NCAA talent.
Through 26 games this season, Romani has 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points - solid production for a freshman adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game. But beyond the numbers, it’s the way he’s developing that should excite Canucks fans. He’s getting faster, stronger, and more confident - and he credits the NCAA environment for pushing him.
“It’s harder hockey, and there’s always going to be adjustments when you go up a level,” Romani said. “In terms of my development, being here in the NCAA has been great.
I’ve gotten a lot faster and stronger being here. With fewer games, you have more time to train off the ice.”
That extra training time matters, especially when you’re surrounded by elite-level talent. Michigan State’s roster features 14 NHL draft picks, including nine players taken in the top 50 and two top-six selections: Cayden Lindstrom (4th overall in 2024) and Porter Martone (6th in 2025). That kind of internal competition breeds growth, and Romani is leaning into it.
He’s also working closely with former NHLers Mikael Samuelsson and Mike Komisarek, who are helping him refine his game - with speed being a major focus. After getting a taste of NHL pace at Canucks training camp, Romani knows what it’ll take to stick at the next level.
Now, with the Wolverines looming and the Big Ten title race heating up, Romani and the Spartans are locked in. There are six regular-season games left after this weekend’s rivalry series, followed by the Big Ten playoffs and the ultimate goal: a run at the Frozen Four.
“These two games coming up will be really important,” Romani said. “We are just trying to close that out, win the Big-10 regular season, and then the Big-10 playoffs.
Then, there’s the Frozen Four and all that... I think we have a team that can win it all.”
That’s not just talk. The Spartans have the depth, the star power, and the momentum.
And Romani? He’s proving he belongs in that conversation.
For a freshman still settling into the college game, Romani’s already shown he can rise to the moment. Now, with the biggest rivalry of the season on tap and the postseason within reach, he’s got another chance to show just how high his ceiling might be.