Spartans Tangle With Wisconsin to Open 2025

No. 1/1 Michigan State (15-2-1, 6-1-1 B1G) vs RV Wisconsin (9-910-1, 5-7-0 B1G)
Dates/Location	Thursday, Jan. 2; 6:30 pm Mason Rink at Munn Ice Arena \| Bag Policy/FAQ's Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 pm CT/8 pm ET Frozen Confines at Wrigley Field \| Bag Policy/FAQ's
Tickets	Thursday: Spartan Ticket Office \| Seat Geek Saturday: Ticketmaster
Television	Big Ten Network Friday: Ben Holden (pxp) and Fred Pletsch (analysis) Saturday: Dan Kelly (pxp) and Ben Clymer (analysis)
Radio	WJIM 1240 AM Listen Online: Click "Spartan Media Network" Scott Moore (pxp) and Rob Woodward (analysis)
Webstreams	Fox Sports App
Live Statistics	Click Here
Press Conference	Adam Nightingale Weekly Availability
Game Notes	Michigan State \| Wisconsin
Social Media	Facebook Twitter Instagram

THE ORIGINAL SIX
The top notes you need to know about Spartan hockey

• No. 1/1 Michigan State has a quick turnaround after the Great Lakes Invitational as it hosts Wisconsin at Munn on Thursday then tangles with the Badgers in the Frozen Confines game at Wrigley Field on Saturday. At 15-2-1, MSU recorded its best first-half start since 2000-01. That squad reeled off seven more wins after January 1 for a 22-1-4 start to the season. This is the second series between the rivals this season after MSU earned a December split in Madison (0-4, 3-2 OT). Saturday will be MSU's sixth all-time outdoor game.

• The Spartans have surrendered 31 goals in 18 games this season, the eighth-fewest allowed of any team nationally. MSU's team defense of 1.78 goals against per game ranks first in the Big Ten and second nationally; its offense averages 3.35 goals per game (2nd B1G/8th NCAA), and the scoring margin (+1.59) is second in the B1G and fourth in Division I.

• Sophomore Luca Di Pasquo earned MVP honors at the Great Lakes Invitational, and also was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week on Tuesday. He faced 46 shots and allowed just one goal on the weekend in backstopping MSU to the GLI title. In four starts this season, Di Pasquo has allowed just two goals (0.50 GAA) and boasts a .975 save percentage. He has not allowed a goal five-on-five - both of the goals he has allowed have come on the power play.

• Charlie Stramel has centered a line with Isaac Howard and Daniel Russell over the last five games - in which the trio has combined for 6-7-13. Howard had a goal in each game of the GLI, and leads the team in goals (11) and points (22) and is tied for the lead in assists (11). In the Big Ten, he ranks fourth in points per game (1.22, 12th NCAA) and fourth in goals per game (0.56, 17th nationally). Stramel owns a 5-8-13 scoring line and is tied for second among Spartans in power play points (1-3-4). Russell is second among Spartans in goals (8), and his 8-4-12 puts him in a tie for third on the team in points. Russell also shares the national lead in game-winning goals (5).

• Karsen Dorwart, Joey Larson and Red Savage have skated together for the last five games, and the trio combined for five points at the GLI (2-3-5). Larson improved his scoring line to 6-4-10 with a goal and two assists in the GLI, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team. Dorwart scored the game-winning goal in the shutout win over Northern Michigan, and has a 4-8-12 scoring line, good for fifth on the team. Savage owns a 5-5-10 scoring line on the year, and assisted Larson's game-winner against Western Michigan.

• MSU gets offensive help from its defensive corps, with three blueliners averaging 0.5 points per game or better. Matt Basgall is MSU's top defensive scorer, sharing the team lead in assists (11) and blocking a team-high 20 shots. Grad transfer Nicklas Andrews lead the team with a +15, has a 2-7-9 scoring line, and has 19 blocks. Maxim Štrbák also has nine points (1-8-9) in 16 games with 17 blocks.

Players Mentioned

Nicklas Andrews

Matt Basgall

Luca Di Pasquo

Karsen Dorwart

Isaac Howard

Joey Larson

Daniel Russell

Red Savage

Charlie Stramel

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