For the first time since 2009, Michigan State hockey hoisted the Great Lakes Invitational trophy on Monday evening, beating No. 4 Western Michigan 3-1 in Grand Rapids.
The field was made up of four in-state teams in Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Western Michigan, and the Spartans. Michigan State beat Northern Michigan 2-0 on Sunday evening before taking on one of the best teams in college hockey on Monday night, Western Michigan.
Michigan State's 3-1 win makes it 15-2-1 heading into the new year and it was one of the most impressive victories of the season.
Why? Because the Spartans were without star goaltender Trey Augustine as well as Maxim Štrbák who partook in the World Junior Championship this past week. They've been gone representing their respective countries while the Spartans went 2-0 in their absence with a 5-1 advantage on the scoreboard against Northern Michigan and Western Michigan.
A win over the No. 4 team in the country to close the 2024 calendar year is the perfect way to head into 2025 for this team because it gives them confidence and pretty much solidifies that No. 1 ranking.
Sophomore goaltender Luca Di Pasquo did a great job in place of Augustine, allowing just one goal over two games, earning the GLI MVP award. He's appeared in five games this season, saving 62 shots and allowing just one goal. His save percentage of .984 is out of this world.
While Di Pasquo was the MVP, he was helped out by a couple of third-period goals by Isaac Howard and Joey Larson against Western Michigan to capture the win.
Larson, Howard, and Di Pasquo all made the All-Tournament team.
Michigan State is accomplishing feats it hasn't in decades and let's hope another major one is accomplished this spring in the Frozen Four.