Michigan State Spartans Earn No. 3 Seed in NCAA Hockey Tournament

Spartans to Face UConn Huskies in First Round, Potential Matchup with Dartmouth or Wisconsin Looms

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:03pm

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The Michigan State Spartans hockey team has earned the No. 3 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Hockey Tournament. They will face the UConn Huskies in the first round on Thursday in Worcester, Massachusetts. A win there would advance the Spartans to the second round to potentially take on either Dartmouth or Wisconsin. The Spartans are looking to reach the Frozen Four for the first time since winning the national championship in 2007.

Why it matters

Michigan State has been one of the top programs in college hockey in recent years, winning three regular season Big Ten titles and two conference tournament championships under head coach Adam Nightingale. However, the Spartans have yet to translate that regular season success into an NCAA Tournament run, losing in the Elite Eight two seasons ago and the first round last year. Reaching the Frozen Four would be a major milestone for the program as it continues its rebuild.

The details

The Spartans will face a UConn team that was the final at-large selection to the 16-team NCAA Tournament field. UConn enters the tournament with a 20-12-5 record on the season. A win over the Huskies would set up a potential second-round matchup with either Dartmouth or Wisconsin. Dartmouth won the ECAC tournament and boasts one of the stingiest defenses in the country, while Wisconsin has faced Michigan State four times already this season, splitting the series.

  • The first-round game between Michigan State and UConn will take place on Thursday, March 27, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
  • Michigan State's last game was a loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on March 18, 2026.
  • UConn last played on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Adam Nightingale

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans hockey team, who has led the program to three regular season Big Ten titles and two conference tournament championships in his four seasons.

Charlie Stramel

A forward for the Michigan State Spartans and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player in college hockey.

Trey Augustine

The goaltender for the Michigan State Spartans and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Porter Martone

A forward for the Michigan State Spartans who scored a goal against Michigan in the Duel in the D game earlier this season.

Joey Muldowney

A forward for the UConn Huskies, Michigan State's first-round opponent.

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What’s next

The winner of the Michigan State-UConn first-round game will advance to face either Dartmouth or Wisconsin in the second round.

The takeaway

Michigan State's hockey program has established itself as one of the top teams in the Big Ten in recent years, but the Spartans are still seeking their first Frozen Four appearance since winning the national championship in 2007. This year's NCAA Tournament represents a prime opportunity for the Spartans to take that next step and compete for a national title.