Michigan State hockey repeats as GLI winner for first time in 25 years

GRAND RAPIDS – The Michigan State hockey team achieved something it hadn't in 25 years on Monday night.

The No. 3-ranked Spartans repeated as Great Lakes Invitational champions.

After a scoreless first period, the Spartans found some offense, scoring three straight goals through the middle frame and into the third period before skating away with a 4-1 win over Michigan Tech to claim the MacInnes Cup at Van Andel Arena.

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It was the first time the Spartans, who beat Ferris State 5-2 in Sunday's semifinal, had repeated as GLI champions since winning four straight from 1997-2000.

"It was a heck of a hockey game," MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. "We knew Tech would be a challenge and a dogfight, and it was a super competitive game where both goalies played well. Our guys stuck with it. You come to a tournament like this to find some things out about your team. Within the game, we were down to nine forwards, and coming out of a break, that's not easy.

"We ask a lot out of our guys, and I couldn't be more proud of them. It's a great way to start the second half."

Senior forward Charlie Stramel, who scored two goals in each of the GLI games, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Forward Anthony Romani, who finished with two goals and two assists, and defenseman Patrick Geary, who had three assists over the two games, were also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Junior goaltender Trey Augustine, who won both GLI games, stopped 32 shots Monday and was the All-Tournament Team goaltender.

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"I just try to approach every game the same, and at the end of the day, I'm just going out there and play hockey, and I try to focus on that," Augustine said. "I want to keep in the moment, whether it's a goal medal game or a championship game here, to just stay level-headed and focus on the job at hand."

Tech forward Stiven Sardarian and defenseman Jack Anderson rounded out the rest of the All-Tournament Team.

Romani opened the scoring early in the second period, redirecting a shot from defenseman Colin Ralph past Tech goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz. Stramel would hammer in a rebound in the later stages of the frame to give the Spartans a two-goal advantage.

Romani and Stramel connected on MSU's third goal, with the freshman winger delivering a pinpoint pass in the slot to Stramel, who fired a shot past Bartoszkiewicz.

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Tech would score its lone goal in the third period on a tip-in past Augustine, but junior forward Tommi Mannisto cashed in on an empty-net chance to secure the win for MSU.

What's next

MSU (14-4-0) will play an exhibition against the U.S. National Team Development Program on Jan. 4 at Munn Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU hockey: Repeats as GLI champion for first time in 25 years