The 2025-26 Michigan State hockey season is right around the corner, and the Spartans are looking to avenge last season’s NCAA Tournament loss to Cornell and prove it was a fluke.
The Spartans’ magical 2024-25 season came to a screeching halt in the first NCAA Tournament matchup, blowing an early lead and losing to Cornell with 10 seconds left. That loss ripped the hearts out of Michigan State hockey fans everywhere, but Adam Nightingale pieced together one of the best rosters in the country this offseason.
Despite losing Isaac Howard to the NHL in a bit of a surprising move and Gavin McKenna to Penn State on the recruiting trail, Michigan State is going to have a loaded roster.
College hockey experts and Top 25 voters agree.
On Monday, the preseason poll came out, and Michigan State is officially going to be the No. 3 team in the country to start the season.
The votes are in - We'll start the 2025-26 season as the consensus No. 3 team in the national polls! pic.twitter.com/sWUcYoxZv2
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) September 29, 2025
Does it feel a little early for the preseason ice hockey poll? I agree, but it’s already almost October, and the team takes the ice on Friday, Oct. 3, against Windsor in an exhibition matchup. The team’s first regular-season game will be next Thursday against New Hampshire. The Spartans will also play New Hampshire the next day to conclude a two-game home series to begin the year.
Nightingale has an incredible roster heading into the season filled with skilled players from both the transfer portal and the 2025 recruiting class. He also has one of the best goalies in the nation.
Shaking off last year’s loss to Cornell won’t be easy, but this team has Frozen Four written all over it.