Spartans Open 2023-24 Hockey Season vs LSSU

No. 9/9 Michigan State (18-18-2 in 2022-23) vs. LSSU (9-25-2 in 2022-23)
Dates/Times	Saturday, Oct. 7 2023, 4 pm Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, 4 pm
Location	Mason Rink at Munn Ice Arena \| Bag Policy
Tickets	Spartan Ticket Office
Television	none
Radio	WJIM 1240 AM (Friday) Listen Online: Click "Spartan Media Network" Scott Moore (pxp) and Rob Woodward (analysis)
Webstreams	B1G+ (Saturday) \| B1G+ (Sunday)
Game Program	Download Digital Game Program
Live Statistics	Click Here
Game Notes	Michigan State \| Lake Superior State
Social Media	Facebook Twitter Instagram

THE ORIGINAL SIX
What you need to know about Spartan Hockey
Click "Game Notes" above to see the entire notes packet for the weekend.

• Michigan State opens the 2023-24 season with a home series against former CCHA rival Lake Superior State. The ice surface at the Clarence L. "Biggie" Munn Ice Arena will be officially be dedicated in honor of legendary hockey coach Ron Mason prior to Saturday's game. MSU leads the all-time series with the Lakers by a 73-38-14 margin.

• Michigan State's roster underwent several changes from 2022-23, as it welcomes 15 new players - 10 freshmen and five transfers (two grad transfers). The Spartans will roster 27 players this season: 15 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders. MSU's 15 new players is tied for the most in the Big Ten with Ohio State.

• MSU was selected third in the Big Ten preseason coaches poll, tied for its highest-ever ranking in the conference's pre-season poll - the 2015-16 team was also picked third. In the pre-season national polls, MSU was voted into the No. 9 spot in both the USCHO and the USA Hockey/The Rink Live rankings preseason surveys.

• Senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis will serve as the captain of the Spartans in 2022-23. Alternate captains are forwards Karsen Dorwart and Nicolas Müller, and defenseman Matt Basgall.

• Nienhuis finished his junior campaign with a 4-15-19 scoring line. He led the rearguards in assists, was the top point-scorer among defensemen, and was sixth overall on the team. Nienhuis missed six games to injury last season, but still recorded career bests in all three offensive categories. Basgall ranked second among MSU defensemen in points (4-13-17). He is the program's top-scoring freshman defenseman since Zach Osburn produced 19 points (6g, 13a) in 2015-16. His 54 blocked shots made him the top shot-blocking freshman in the Big Ten, and ranked sixth nationally in that category among first-year players. He was also the least-penalized of any Spartan defenseman last year, whistled for just seven minors.

• Müller led the Spartans in scoring a year ago with 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists). He posted single-season bests in all three offensive categories, and more doubled his career point total from his first three seasons. Müller finished 10th in the Big Ten with 25 assists and 13th in points (34). Dorwart completed his freshman season tied for second on the team in goals (10), third in points (27), and second in power play goals (4). Dorwart was the team's Outstanding Rookie Award winner and earned a spot on the Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year watch list.

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Players Mentioned

Matt Basgall

Karsen Dorwart

Nash Nienhuis