Top 5 Programs Square off in Grand Rapids for GLI Championship

VAN ANDEL ARENA- Grand Rapids, MI

The newly top ranked NCAA Men’s Hockey program #1 Michigan State Spartans (13-2-1, Big Ten) will square off against in-state and rival power #4 Western Michigan Broncos (11-3-1, NCHC) at Van Andel Arena Monday evening for the annual Great Lakes Invitational Championship. Van Andel is home to the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL affiliate, Grand Rapids Griffins.

O Captain! My Captain!#BroncosReign pic.twitter.com/kUzT3QHRaj

— WMU Hockey (@WMUHockey) December 29, 2024

GAME, SET, WASHE in OT for WMU

The Broncos survived in an OT classic against Michigan Tech (1-17-1, CCHA) after losing 3 separate leads in regulation, capped by the game-winner from captain (Grad Student) Tim Washe, unassisted, at the 0:44 mark into the first sudden death period. WMU received additional scoring help from Robby Drazner (GS- Miami/OH) assisted by Iiro Hakkarainen (Fr-Espoo, Finland), Matteo Costantini (Sr-N. Dakota), PP by Liam Valente (Jr-Providence) assisted by Own Michaels (So-Northville, MI) and Samuel Sjolund (Jr-Stockholm, Sweden), Michaels again from Alex Bump (So-Prior Lake, MN) and Sjolund.

Despite Michigan Tech being last in the CCHA, the conference WMU originally was in before moving to the NCHC, the Huskies are familiar with their in-state competitors and gave WMU everything they could handle. Their goal scorers were Ryder Matter (Ast: T. Kukkonen), Kukkonen (Ast: A. Nordstrom and C. Pietila) and Matthew Campbell (Ast: I. Gordon and E. Jansson). Broncos’ goalie (GS- Wisconsin) Cameron Rowe stopped 28 of 31 shots while opposing Huskies netminder Derek Mullahy turned away 35 of 39 pucks on net.

Pick a pocket, force a turnover, split the D, upper right corner.

Kinda pretty. pic.twitter.com/gH5mBcfVIS

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) December 30, 2024

DEFENSIVE EXCELLENCE DRIVES MSU to WIN vs. NMU

Michigan State dominated Northern Michigan (9-6-2, CCHA) on the defensive end and made a pair of 1st period goals stand for a 2-0 win in the second semi-final match, Sunday evening. The Spartans struck quick, only 2:13 apart, first by Karsen Dorwart (Jr-Sherwood, OR), assisted by Joey Larsen (Jr-NMU) and Austin Oravetz (So-Cannonsburg, PA) and then Isaac Howard (Jr-Minn Duluth), unassisted. Spartans’ backup netminder Luca Di Pasquo (So-Livonia, MI) turned aside all of the Wildcats 16 shots on net while his starting counterpart, Ryan Ouellette stopped 40 of 42 shots before departing with 5 minutes left in regulation (undisclosed), resulting in cohort Ethan Barwick stopping all 5 pucks sent at him.

Opportunities to play for a trophy are special.

Tonight, we get that chance against No. 6 Western Michigan.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/wAn0doFGhy

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) December 30, 2024

SPARTANS SEEK REVENGE

Michigan State fell in the title match in 2023 to Michigan Tech and is seeking their first banner in 15 years last defeating RPI Engineers of the ECAC with Brett Perlini winning the Jack Tompkins Trophy (MVP). MSU had won 7 times from 1997-2009 prior. The Broncos are seeking consecutive banners since UofM did it in 2014-2015, defeating long-time rival Ferris State in 2023. They have won 3 titles since 2013 and runner up in 2012. Red Wings draft prospect, goalie Trey Augustine, is absent from the Spartans roster due to the World Juniors tournament, representing Team USA. Di Pasquo will mind the net again versus WMU’s balanced scoring team in what is a highly anticipated matchup and potential NCAAM Hockey Tournament matchup and even Frozen Four pairing, depending on how the seeding aligns. WMU made the 2023-24 Tournament as a 3-seed (at-large) in the East Region while MSU fell short in defeating UofM in the Big Ten Conference Title game, for an automatic bid. Both programs are in solid position for potential 1-seeds.