No. 1 Michigan State Defeats Notre Dame in Throwback Jersey Game

Spartans hold off Fighting Irish despite being outshot 39-31

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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In a matchup between the No. 1 ranked Michigan State Spartans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Spartans came away with a 4-2 victory at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans, playing in throwback jerseys from their 1986 National Championship team, were outshot 39-31 by the Fighting Irish but got a strong performance from goaltender Trey Augustine, who made a season-high 37 saves. Charlie Stramel had a goal and an assist for the Spartans.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Spartans, who were playing their first game since being ranked No. 1 in the country. The Fighting Irish, despite their losing record, proved to be a tough opponent and pushed the Spartans throughout the game, showcasing the depth of talent in college hockey.

The details

Michigan State was a bit rusty coming off an idle weekend, and Notre Dame controlled the puck for stretches of the game. But the Spartans were able to capitalize on their scoring chances, with Charlie Stramel netting a goal and an assist. Trey Augustine was the star of the game for the Spartans, making a season-high 37 saves to preserve the victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 20, 2026 at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan.

The players

Trey Augustine

The Michigan State goaltender made a season-high 37 saves to lead the Spartans to victory.

Charlie Stramel

The Michigan State forward scored a goal and added an assist in the win.

Adam Nightingale

The Michigan State head coach praised the Fighting Irish, saying they were the better team and that their coaching staff does a great job.

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What they’re saying

“I give Notre Dame credit, I thought they were the better team. I said that to our guys when we played them earlier in the year, you look at their team, their coaching staff does a great job and I think they're a Top 20, Top 15 team all day long.”

— Adam Nightingale, Michigan State Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The Spartans will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a top seed in the NCAA tournament. Their next game is against a ranked opponent, so they will need to maintain their focus and intensity.

The takeaway

This game showcased the depth of talent in college hockey, as the Fighting Irish, despite their losing record, were able to push the top-ranked Spartans to the limit. Michigan State's ability to grind out a victory against a tough opponent demonstrates their championship pedigree and the team's resilience.