Michigan State hockey wins back-to-back Big Ten titles

Well, folks, it’s official. The Michigan State hockey team can call itself Big Ten champs, once again. After Friday’s upset of Minnesota by Penn State, the Spartan hockey team knew that coming into the final day of the regular season, they were a win away from clinching at least a share of the Big Ten regular season championship. They went into South Bend on Sarurday night and did just that, defeating the Irish 5-2.

The Spartans were led by forwards Shane Vansaghi and Tiernan Shoudy who had two goals apiece. Goaltender Trey Augustine added 29 saves to propel the Spartans to the win.

This accomplishment is special

The Spartans finished the regular season on top after leading the Big Ten for a majority of the regular season. This title is certainly different than last year’s when the Spartans weren’t predicted to win much by most experts. This time was the opposite. Adam Nightingale’s squad came into the year as one of the top 2-3 teams in the country. Almost everyone predicted them to win the Big Ten and make a deep NCAA tournament run.

Nightingale alluded to this in his press conference last night as well. He mentioned how it was different this year because night in and night out, the Spartans would come into games with a target on their backs since they are the defending champions and highly-touted.

To be able to string together a run that they have so far has been quite the accomplishment.

The Coach Nighty effect

In just his third season in East Lansing, Adam Nightingale has completely turned the program around. Prior to his arrival, the Spartans had not made the NCAA tournament since 2012 and the team had won seven games the season before his arrival in East Lansing.

Now he adds a second regular season Big Ten title in three seasons and is looking to try to add a second Big Ten Tournament title to go with it. Feats that have made Nightingale become one of the most well-respected names in the coaching world. Could a deep run this season lead to bigger things for him? Potentially, as there is already chatter among hockey circles that mention him as a potential candidate to coach USA hockey at the Olympics next year.

What’s next?

Michigan State hockey has all but locked up a 1-seed in the coming NCAA tournament as well. As Nightingale said yesterday, “We have a lot of hockey left in us.”

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, that should be the main focus. The Spartans will have a tough task to retain their Big Ten Tournament title. Winning the regular season title did earn the Spartans the one seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a first round bye to the semifinals. This means their first game will not be until Saturday, March 15. All games MSU will have to play in the Big Ten Tourney will also take place at Munn. They will first match up against the lowest remaining seed after round one.

Congratulations to Nightingale and the Spartans. We are excited and can’t wait to see what else this season has in store. Go Green.