Spartan Hockey Honors Nine With Team Awards

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State announced its annual team awards this evening, with Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wisconsin) earning Team MVP and Outstanding Offensive Player honors and junior defenseman Matt Basgall (Lake Forest, Ill.) earning three awards, including Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player kudos.

Isaac Howard
Ron Mason Most Valuable Player, Outstanding Offensive Player Award

Howard had one of the finest offensive seasons for any Spartan over the last three decades, capped with earning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation's top player. He compiled 52 points on 26 goals and 26 assists, leading the nation with 1.41 points per game. The First Team All-American delivered personal career bests in all offensive categories, including power play goals (5) and ranked second on the team in game-winners (4). The Big Ten scoring champion, he was also the Big Ten Player of the Year, earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, and captured Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player kudos with a hand in each goal MSU scored in capturing its second consecutive tournament title – including the overtime game-winner vs. Ohio State in the Championship game. Howard also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

Matt Basgall
Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player Award; Amo Bessone Award, Spartan Fitness Award

Basgall earned Second Team All-America honors, First Team All-Big Ten recognition, and was also a finalist for the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. The junior turned in his best offensive season in maintaining his commitment to the classroom, the community, and to his team as a role model and assistant captain. He completed his junior campaign with a career best in goals (6), assists (20) and points (26), the team's top-scoring defenseman. He also contributed 45 blocked shots and committed just four minor penalties in 37 games, which aided in him earning the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. In addition, Basgall was voted to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team as he helped the Spartans secure a second consecutive B1G tournament title. He boasts a GPA of 3.981 as a Kinesiology major, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors for the second straight season and he qualifies for Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors as well as nomination for Academic All-America for the second straight season. Basgall also serves as one of the hockey program's two representatives on the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and is involved in several community outreach activities including accessible trick-or-treating, working with Brandon's Defense on children's cancer initiatives, Teams for Toys, Operation Christmas Child, and is a member of Athletes in Action. The Amo Bessone Award is named for the legendary Spartan hockey coach that honors not only on-ice play but also academic achievement and community involvement, while the Fitness Award recipient is selected based on a commitment to the weight room and off-ice training.

Red Savage
Blue Line Club President's Award; Spartan Shield Award

Savage served as the captain of the Spartans in the 2024-25 season, which was likely his most challenging personally while incredibly successful for the program on the ice. The senior's season ended in January due to injury, but he was a consistent presence and guiding force for his team despite having to rehab from injury instead of competing with his teammates on the ice. The Spartan Shield is awarded to the player who best embodies the qualities of a selfless Spartan. Savage, a Communication Leadership & Strategy major, also boasts the top GPA of the senior class, for which he earned the Blue Line Club President's Award. Over his two years at MSU, he appeared in 58 games in Green and White with 15 goals and 23 assists (+15); In four collegiate seasons, he skated in 125 games between MSU and Miami, with 68 points (28 goals, 40 assists).

Tanner Kelly
Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award

One of two fourth-year seniors on the Spartan roster, Kelly helped guide Michigan State to the rekindled glory of the best years of the program, as MSU became the first team in Big Ten Conference history to win the regular season and tournament titles in consecutive seasons. In 2024-25, he skated in all 37 games, with an 8-9-17 scoring line. He contributed to the Spartan power play, with the first two PPG of his career in his final season. Kelly also had one game-winning goal and won 63 % of his faceoffs. Over his four seasons, he skated in 144 career games in Green and White, contributing 58 points (24 goals, 35 assists). He finished his career a +14 with 40 blocked shots and six career game-winners.

Karsen Dorwart
Dave Carrier Award

The Dave Carrier Award was established in 2022 to honor MSU's longtime athletic trainer and meant to honor the player who overcame considerable adversity or injury to contribute to the team. Dorwart required off-season surgery, which compromised his training and preparation for the 2024-25 campaign. He missed just two games at the start of the year and still managed to produce at least a point per weekend series, as he delivered a 13-18-31 scoring line and was a +20, finishing second on the team in points. He earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten kudos for the second consecutive season, as well as Academic All-Big Ten honors. Dorwart led the team with a career-best five power play goals (5) and was second in power play points (13) and added three game-winners. Dorwart signed a professional contract with Philadelphia at the conclusion of the season and appeared in five games with the Flyers.

Trey Augustine
Dr. Stephen Swistak Memorial Scholarship

Swistak played for the Spartans from 2000-04 and also attended the MSU College of Human Medicine, and his family established the scholarship after his passing in 2015 to honor his legacy.
The Dr. Stephen Swistak Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a hockey player who embodies what the Spartan alumnus stood for - hard work, dedication, teamwork & grit. The recipient for the second straight season is Augustine, who posted a second consecutive standout season in the Spartan crease. The First Team All-American was not only a Richter Award Finalist as the top netminder in Division I hockey, but also a finalist for the AAU Sullivan Award, given to the top amateur athlete in the United States. The Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten honoree, and Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection completed his sophomore season with a 2.08 GAA and .924 save percentage, with a 19-7-4 record and three shutouts. He improved upon his freshman season numbers by nearly a full goal (2.97 GAA in 2023-24) and also upheld one of the most demanding schedules of any collegiate netminder in the country over the last two seasons, as he captured a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and became the all-time leader in goaltending wins in that tournament for Team USA (12). Augustine, the youngest starting goaltender in the country for the second consecutive season, has captured back-to-back Big Ten regular season and Tournament titles in addition to back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF World Junior championships since enrolling at Michigan State in the summer of 2023.

Shane Vansaghi
Outstanding Rookie Award

The sixth-youngest player in college hockey this season, Vansaghi played in all 37 games and played in several spots in the lineup throughout the season. The big winger posted six goals and 10 assists (+10) , with a pair of power-play goals. He is eligible for the 2025 NHL draft, and is ranked No. 33 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of American skaters, up from No. 36 in the midterm rankings. He is one of just 12 Spartans – and the only freshman – to appear in all 37 games this season.

Owen West
Most Improved Player Award

West was voted by the team as the Most Improved Player, skating in 34 of MSU's 37 games as a first-year rearguard. He recorded three assists and was a +9 with 15 blocked shots on the year, skating primarily with alternate captain Matt Basgall throughout the season.

David Gucciardi
Goofus Award

The Goofus Award is given annually to the Team Humorist, and as a tribute to Spartan fan Alan "Goofus" Wayne Ammesmaki. While keeping the room loose, Gucciardi also turned in his finest statistical season in Green and White, with six goals and 10 assists (18 points), all his career bests. He also posted a career low in penalties (10) and was a +21 with 39 blocked shots. Drafted by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round (213th overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, he signed a professional contract at the end of the MSU season with the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate. He appeared in two regular-season games and scored his first professional goal against Hartford on April 6; the Bears earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and await their first opponent as Hershey begins its quest for a third consecutive Calder Cup.

Players Mentioned

Trey Augustine

Matt Basgall

Karsen Dorwart

David Gucciardi

Isaac Howard

Tanner Kelly

Red Savage

Shane Vansaghi

Owen West

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