Thank you, 2023-24 Michigan State Hockey

Michigan State hockey is back on the map thanks to this year’s team and it feels like just the beginning for this program.

This article was going to have to be written at some point this year. With that said, it’s being written too soon for this Michigan State hockey team.

Was this team a favorite to win the national championship? No, but it was one that could have done it. This result was not what anyone wanted especially against the Spartans’ top rival but this team is going to be remembered and should be remembered in Michigan State history.

While it’s tough looking back while it’s still fresh, let’s look at what this team achieved.

This was the team that truly brought Michigan State hockey back to the exciting and fun times that have been missing. This was the team that brought fans back to Munn Arena and gave people not only excitement but also hope for the future. This was the team that not only won last second against Minnesota, but it also won the Big Ten regular season title, the Big Ten Tournament crown, and beat Michigan four times. This team featured fun hockey and it was full of youth and experience. This team also won its first NCAA Tournament game since 2008.

Just take a step back and remember the game a few days ago. Remember coming back from down two to win it in overtime. Remember the fun games and all the memories that this team provided for the fans. This team created those and it also created momentum and a movement and it’s just the beginning. While the Spartans lose the graduates and possibly the seniors, there are a number of key players that could come back and many coming in that should have fans excited. 

It’s never easy looking back on a season after losing in the tournament. This game is going to sting for a while. While it’s going to sting, I think that shows how much this team meant to fans. It’s because of this group. Every year, you will have a different group of players. Next year, that will be true. This won’t be the same group of guys and it’s a tough pill to swallow. There were so many great guys on this team that have been through the ups and downs of Michigan State hockey. There were also guys that contributed to hopefully the growth of this program for many years to come.

Because of that, I want to say thank you.

Thank you to all the athletes and the coaches. Thank you for giving us a season that we will never forget. While it’s a season that ended early, it’s a season that fans haven’t seen in almost 20 years. This was a fun run and some might say it was magical. It had moments of elite hockey. These moments, for now, will stop but next year, they will be back. This is a program that’s on the rise. Under Adam Nightingale, I don’t think this will be the last time the Spartans are in the tournament.

There’s a bright future ahead and fans should be excited. For now though, let’s all say thank you to the 2023-24 Spartan hockey team. The Big Ten regular season and tournament champions. Thank you for an unforgettable season.