Michigan State Hockey: Seniors were prepared for season’s final series

As we entered the final weekend of the regular season, there were a lot of emotions for this Michigan State hockey team. The team had the opportunity to secure a second straight Big Ten regular-season title — and they did. These seniors were also preparing for their final regular season games as Spartans.

Though senior weekend at Munn was last weekend, let’s take a few minutes to honor this year’s senior class for MSU hockey.

The Spartans’ seniors this year are Red Savage, Nicklas Andrews, Tanner Kelly, and David Gucciardi.

Nicklas Andrews, Defenseman, Canton (Mich.)

Though he has only played for the Spartans for one year, Nicklas Andrews has made a name for himself on the blue line. As a graduate transfer from Colorado College, Andrews came to MSU as a sought-after transfer and has helped elevate this defensive corps. Throughout the season, Andrews has brought a gritty and tough style of play to the blue line while also adding help on offense. Andrews is third in scoring for defensemen this season for the Spartans with two goals and 14 assists. The Canton native solidifies this dangerous blue line and provides a veteran presence that has helped lift the play of the entire defensive core.

As the Spartans enter the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, that experience will be vital to finishing his collegiate career strong. Andrews will be looking to find an opportunity with an NHL organization next season with training camp tryouts.

Red Savage, Forward, Scottsdale (Ariz.)

The Michigan State hockey captain unfortunately had a premature ending to his collegiate career. He was injured in January and coach Adam Nightingale quickly made clear he was done for the season. Savage played his first two seasons at Miami(OH) before transferring to MSU last season. Since transferring, Savage saw a big increase in his counting stats and impressed so much that he earned the captaincy in only his second season. While Savage will not see any more ice time this season, he will continue to provide an important influence inside the locker room. The 2021 fourth-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings will now look to try and translate his game to the professional level as he rehabs his injury. Savage will likely be seeing time in either Grand Rapids or Toledo next season as he begins his professional career in the Red Wings system.

Savage also has gained notable attention from GFed on TikTok. GFed recognized the nod British rapper 21 Savage. Since that post, Savage’s jersey is now the top selling jersey on the NIL store. That will be a very nice graduation present once he collects that check.

Tanner Kelly, Forward, San Diego (Calif.)

Every team needs a solid bottom six if they want to stay relevant. Tanner Kelly has been exactly that through his four years with the Spartans. He has been a steady and reliable member of the depth that makes Michigan State hockey dangerous. This season he has spent most of his time on the third and fourth lines and has delivered in his role. This season, Kelly has provided six goals and nine assists, which puts him towards the top third of team scoring. His playmaking ability and his blue collar play continue to make him a vital part that will be missed after this season.

As far as next steps, it is assumed that Kelly will be looking for a spot at a training camp following this season. If he finds his way into an NHL organization, he could be a great “grinder” in any professional league.

David Gucciardi, Defenseman, Toronto, Ontario (CA)

The Spartans have been spoiled over the past two seasons with solid defensive play. One of those guys that has been one of the main reasons for that has been David Gucciardi. Another four-year player, Gucciardi uses his toughness and high hockey IQ to do his damage. He is great at finding the place to put the puck and help create crucial scores. He is more known for being a very difficult player to go up against with his defensive positioning. These things are why the Washington Capitals decided to pick him in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft. If he continues to make strides, he could be a very serviceable defenseman at the next level. Gucciardi, following this season, will be looking to find a place in the Capitals’ organization. He will likely find a place with either Hershey or South Carolina.

Final thoughts

All of these seniors have made their mark on this program and will forever be Spartans. Before they move on to new experiences, though, there is still work to be done. The Spartans were looking to seal another Big Ten title this weekend against Notre Dame and they did just that. They also secured a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament with the series sweep of the Irish. The stakes are higher now and these seniors are prepared to lead this team as the real challenge begins. This is the time of the year where good teams become great. The Spartans now need to find the momentum to propel them to the conference and NCAA tournaments to finish strong.