The weather has finally turned to that cool, crisp Fall air and the leaves blowing in the breeze is not the only sound we are hearing. That’s right, it’s time for the sound of blades on the ice, forechecks, and goal scoring horns. It’s hockey time! The Spartans enter the season at number 2 in both polls and while last season was great, exciting and successful, it fell short and ended with disappointment in the close loss to Cornell in Toledo. Toledo Ohio is the last place you’d want your season to die
and those memories are still haunting us. The good news, this may be MSU’s most talented team it has ever assembled and those haunting memories are in the rearview mirror as they look to bring home a championship banner to Munn. We are going to take a look at the team and potential lines and preview the season.
MSU’s top two lines are going to be a lot of fun and very exciting to watch. The top line is expected to be Charlie Stramel, Daniel Russell and newcomer Porter Martone. Martone and Stramel are both first round NHL picks and Russell recently spent time with the Capitals developmental team. Russell was mister clutch last season as he led the team and was one of the top in the nation with game winning goals. He has also been with Nightingale for all four years. Stramel returns for a senior year after being drafted by the Wild. He will serve as an alternate captain and hopes to improve on his 9 goal, 18 assist season. Martone joins the Spartans as the newest member and is someone that could be the most impactful as the season develops. Martone played last season in the OHL and is bringing some size and speed to the table. He’s already netted a goal in last weekend’s exhibition against Windsor and we definitely may be seeing some Martone jersey sales on the rise this season.
The second line is no slouch either and for many programs it would be the top line. To say we are spoiled this year is an understatement. Gavin O’Connell, Shane Vansaghi and newcomer Cayden Lindstrom make up line two. O’Connell looks to bounce back to his freshman year form and after a season with some injury and scoring struggles, is going to be next to a pair of very complimentary players that can help him get back to goal scoring form. Vansaghi is a hard worker who improved with every opportunity he was given his freshman year which was rewarded by being drafted in the second round in this past draft. Vansaghi is physical and adds muscle and skill to the second line. The other big addition besides Martone is Lindstrom. He comes to MSU from the WHL. He has gone through his fair share of injuries and rehab over the past year but did make it back to the ice for the end of his Medicine Hat season and comes to East Lansing the healthiest he’s been in a while. He will be centering the second line and adds speed and another bigger body to the line.
The third line will very likely be the all freshman line. Eric Nilson, Ryker Lee and Anthony Romani (all NHL draft picks) could add some excitement and perhaps growing pains. Lee is a fantastic passer and a very capable scorer as well. He was the USHL Rookie of the Year last season and drafted number 26 to the Predators this past draft. Nilson played last season in Sweden and is a talented goal scorer with good fore and back checking abilities. Romani joins MSU from the CHL and is a shooter. He loves the breakouts and will definitely keep goaltenders busy.
Tiernan Shoudy and Tommi Mannisto return as strong PK players and will also likely be in the mix on that third line as Nightingale looks to find the right combination of players. Shoudy and Mannisto often started games last season and Mannisto is one of the quickest players MSU has and will hopefully find the back of the net this season. MSU also has strong depth at the forward position and many of these players will be called upon in December during the World Juniors. Players like Mackie, Jurecki and newcomer Cole Burke will be looking for moments and opportunity.
Goaltending is once again led by Trey Augustine and will be backed up by Melvin Strahl. Augustine shocked many by deciding to return to MSU and not head to Detroit. With all of Augustine’s experience it’s hard to remember how young he still is. To have his experience back in goal puts MSU at an advantage in most games. Augustine returns with not his less than a title being acceptable and a definite chip on the shoulder this season. Strahl was a great get for MSU last February and is their next star net minder. He is another NHL draft pick as he was drafted by Columbus in 2023.
MSU defenders are led by the extremely talented shot blocker and team captain Matt Basgall. He is the leader on the power play. He looks to live up to his preseason accolades and go beyond. Maxim Strbak and Patrick Geary also return and will be key contributors. Strbak commits very few penalties while be active with his stick and pushing the puck out to create scoring opportunities for players with a style like Romani. Geary will likely be paired with Strbak again this season. He is also very good at blocking shots and is a physical player. Geary does see the box a lot and it would be nice to see him reduce those minutes but I also like that he has that edge and defends his teammates so much. Owen West also returns and was the 7th defensemen last season and may end up in the same spot this year. That is due to the incoming players that will be filling in some spots ahead of him. Colin Ralph is one of those players who arrives after one season at St Cloud State. He is a big body that eliminates breakaways and will be a thorn in opponents sides this season. I personally am looking for him to shut down a McKenna breakaway when MSU faces Penn State. Travis Shoudy and Sean Barnhill also look to be in the mix of defenders getting action this season. Shoudy, brother of Tiernan, is great on the power play and offers veteran experience as another senior defender. Barnhill and fellow freshman Cole Ward will be fighting West for that seventh defender spot and could get action is injuries or poor play creep up on the team.
MSU opens the season at Munn against New Hampshire on October 9/10. Followed by a trip to face Boston U next week as the two top 3 powerhouses face off in an early season barometer. Other big matchups include Penn State coming to Munn early November to kick off the B1G season. We’ll all get to see the highly acclaimed Gavin McKenna in action and get an opportunity to show him what he missed out on. In late January the two teams meet again with the Jan 31 being an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. The Spartans also will face former Spartan back up goalie Luca DiPasquo as Minnesota comes to Munn on Jan 23/24. The GLI takes place late December again but the Spartans will likely be without five forwards playing in the World Juniors.
I’m loving the makeup of this team and I am filled with anticipation for how Nightingale uses this talent and which lines end up working best with different circumstances. This team is bigger and stronger than the last few so we could see more physical play but the size does not mean this team is slower. Lot’s of freshman and newcomers will have MSU as one of if not the youngest team in the B1G again this season.
TOC readers, what are you most excited about this season? What are your expectations? Which player are you intrigued about the most? Let us know in the comments and Go Green!
