Michigan State hockey releases 2024-25 regular-season schedule

Michigan State hockey released its schedule for the 2024-25 season as the Spartans prepare to defend the Big Ten title.

It’s not even Labor Day and we still have Michigan State hockey news coming out of East Lansing. The Spartans recently released their 2024-25 schedule as they prepare to defend their Big Ten title from last season. This season looks to be one of the most exciting in years as the team looks to continue the hype from last season.

It’s time to break down the schedule as we get ready to drop the puck.

Non-conference schedule

• at Lake Superior State (Oct. 4-5)
• vs. Boston College (Oct. 11-12)
• at Canisius (Oct. 25-26)
• vs. Lindenwood (Nov. 29- Dec. 1)

For the non-conference schedule, the Spartans seem to have a very light load as far as opponents go except for one. The biggest thing to note is that MSU begins play on the road in Sault St. Marie against Lake Superior State. Outside of Boston College, the other three non-conference teams all finished last season with a losing record. That being said, the strength of playing Boston College will more than even out the strength of schedule here.

Boston College was the runner-up in last season’s NCAA tournament where it lost to the University of Denver in the national title game. The Eagles look to remain a very strong team with first-round picks Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard likely staying for their sophomore seasons.

Exhibition schedule

• vs. University of Windsor (Oct. 18)
• at US National Team Development Program (Nov. 21)

This season, the Spartans will be playing a pair of exhibition games against the University of Windsor and the US NTDP. Spartan fans won’t need to travel far for the NTDP game, because it is being played in Plymouth, just outside of Detroit. Out of the two games, the NTDP one will be a great showcase for hockey fans as they watch the Spartans take on some of the best young players in the country. Three players of note include Shane Vansaghi, Lucas Van Vliet, and Austin Baker. All three of these players are committed to play for the Spartans once they leave the NTDP program. MSU has been using this program more recently to get some big-name talent, including goalie Trey Augustine.

Conference schedule

• vs. Ohio State (Nov. 8-9)
• at Ohio State (Jan. 30-31)
• vs. Notre Dame (Nov. 15-16)
• at Notre Dame (Feb. 28-March 1)
• vs. Wisconsin (Jan. 2)
• at Wisconsin (Dec. 6-7)
• vs. Penn State (Feb. 21-22)
• at Penn State (Jan. 10-11)
• vs. Michigan (Jan. 18, Feb. 7)
• at Michigan (Jan. 17)

As one of the best conferences in all of college hockey, the Big Ten is looking to provide another year of great matchups for the Spartans. All the teams in the conference have added talent this year, which means that the margin for error will be minimal if the Spartans want to repeat as conference champions. The biggest team to watch of course will be arch-rival Michigan. After defeating the Spartans in the NCAA tournament last spring, the Wolverines added Michael Hage this year who was a first-round pick last June by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

The bad blood between these two bitter rivals will continue to boil this year. Especially following the loss that the Wolverines handed the Spartans in the NCAA tournament.

Neutral-site schedule

• vs. Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech, and Western Michigan — Great Lakes Invitational (GLI) at Van Andel Arena (Dec. 29-30)
• vs. Wisconsin –Frozen Confines at Wrigley Field (Jan. 4)
• vs. Michigan — Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena (Feb. 8)

This is where the fun begins. It’s clear that Spartan fans travel very well, even when the Michigan State hockey team hasn’t been this good. That home-ice advantage will only increase this year with the lineup of neutral-site games. As always, the GLI provides a great opportunity to play against former CCHA rivals and it is a great showcase for the state as a whole. There is also the Duel in the D, which brings Michigan and Michigan State against each other in the largest rink in the state, Little Caesars Arena.

This year though, the biggest neutral site game this year will be part of the biggest promotion the Big Ten has ever done for ice hockey. There will be two doubleheaders being held in early January at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago. Michigan State will face off against Wisconsin in what is set to be a great promotion for not only the conference but the sport.

Final thoughts

It is a great time to be a Michigan State hockey fan. As we get ready for football to kick off, it will only be a matter of time before the puck drops. The Spartans seem ready for success based on their newest additions and the great schedule that they have prepared. It is time to start getting excited, Spartan hockey fans.