No. 1 Michigan State hosts Notre Dame in hockey showdown

Spartans and Fighting Irish set for two-game series at Munn Ice Arena

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The top-ranked Michigan State Spartans hockey team is set to host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a highly anticipated two-game series on Thursday and Friday at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top teams in college hockey, with Michigan State currently ranked No. 1 in the nation. The series could have major implications for the Spartans' hopes of securing a high seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

The details

Michigan State enters the series with a 26-5-3 record and is coming off a sweep of Wisconsin last weekend. Notre Dame, meanwhile, is 22-10-2 on the season. The Spartans are led by senior forward Josh Nodler, who has 20 goals and 22 assists, while the Fighting Irish are paced by junior defenseman Jake Boltmann, who has 7 goals and 18 assists.

  • The series opener is set for Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM EST.
  • The second game of the series will be played on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM EST.

The players

Michigan State Spartans

The No. 1 ranked college hockey team in the country, based in East Lansing, Michigan.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

A top college hockey program based in South Bend, Indiana.

Josh Nodler

A senior forward for the Michigan State Spartans who leads the team in goals and assists.

Jake Boltmann

A junior defenseman for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish who is one of the team's top scorers.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge series for us as we look to solidify our position atop the national rankings. Notre Dame is a very talented team, so we'll need to bring our 'A' game if we want to come away with two wins.”

— Danton Cole, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans (on3.com)

“We're excited for the challenge of taking on the No. 1 team in the country. Michigan State is extremely well-coached and has a lot of firepower, so we'll need to play a complete 60 minutes if we want to pull off the upset.”

— Jeff Jackson, Head Coach, Notre Dame Fighting Irish (on3.com)

What’s next

The winner of the series could potentially earn a higher seed in the upcoming NCAA hockey tournament, which begins in March.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between two of college hockey's elite programs should provide an exciting weekend of action and could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.