MSU Hockey defeats Ferris State 5-2, faces Michigan Tech in GLI Championship

The No. 3-ranked Michigan State hockey program, playing without four forwards on Sunday night, rode a fast start — leading the game 4-0 just 25 minutes in — before holding off a push from Ferris State to win 5-2 in the Spartans' opening game of the Great Lakes Invitational in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With the win, MSU improved its 2025-2026 record to 13-4 overall.

Following the victory on Sunday, Michigan State will play Michigan Tech at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday in the GLI Championship Game.

Playing without Ryker Lee, Eric Nilson, Shane Vansaghi and Porter Martone — who are in Minnesota at the World Junior Championship — the Spartans dressed a defensemen at forward (Cole Ward) and had freshman Cole Burke playing in his first ever NCAA game. It was Burke, from Trenton, Michigan, who opened the scoring for the Spartans on his very first NCAA shift, when he redirected a point shot from Patrick Geary past the Bulldogs goaltender.

Anthony Romani would stretch the Spartans' lead to 2-0 less than a minute later and they were never looking back from there. MSU added two goals from Charlie Stramel and Tommi Mannisto, chasing the Ferris State starting goaltender in the process, less than five minutes into the second period. From there, the Spartans struggled to maintain their full focus, surrendering scoring chances to the Bulldogs that were turned away by junior goaltender Trey Augustine, who was making his GLI debut. The Bulldogs were able to score once in the second period, and added an early third-period goal on the power play to make the game 4-2. However, after the Bulldogs scored their second goal, Michigan State took back control and added an additional power-play goal from Stramel.

Stramel was the best player on the ice for the Spartans, as he will need to be again on Monday night against Michigan Tech with a shorthanded MSU squad.

Tiernan Shoudy and Daniel Russell stood out as well — senior leaders who aren't as heralded with no NHL logo next to their name on the line chart, but they are always steady for the Spartans. The defensemen struggled a bit on Sunday with keeping Ferris State in front of them at all times, springing some breakaways for Augustine to save.

Meanwhile, freshman Cayden Lindstrom had a tough night, winning just four of 14 faceoffs, while also taking three minor penalties, and registering no points. Lindstrom looks like a talented player, low on confidence, who could use a bounce to go his way soon.