Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Emily Martin
Spartan Stories: Matt Lahey
2/4/2026 10:58:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By: Christopher Rodriguez, JRN 418
For MSUSpartans.com
Michigan State freshman defenseman Matt Lahey was ready to come to college and contribute to one of the top programs in hockey. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Maple Leafs in 2024 but stayed in the USHL to keep developing.
Coming to MSU was going to be part of his development toward the NHL, and to also work on getting an education. He attended the NFHL Development Camp last summer, an opportunity for the league's top prospects to gain experience and be evaluated by teams.
And that's where Lahey's journey hit a bump. He suffered an "upper body injury", one that Lahey chooses not to elaborate on, and needed to take his first semester of college off from hockey to recover.
Lahey, who stands 6-foot-6, is now back playing for MSU, and looking to regain his momentum on the ice.
"It was tough at the moment, but I think looking back at it, it was a blessing in disguise," Lahey, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, said. "Being able to get introduced to university life and put some extra time in the gym, which I needed, was really helpful."
Lahey's injury created a new experience, as he adjusted to life away from the ice.
"I haven't really dealt with too many injuries growing up," Lahey said. "It was all new, but I think I took a good approach to it. You need to attack every day, and I feel like I accomplished that."
MSU hockey's strength and conditioning coach Will Morlock supported Lahey's return to the ice and understood how difficult it can be to recover.
"Obviously, initially, you're disappointed," Morlock said. "You're excited to be a part of the team and come in and have an impact. That got delayed for him a little bit, but I think he also recognized that he had an opportunity, especially being a freshman, to really develop some things that, if you're skating and practicing and playing every week, you can't do to the extent that he was able to."
Morlock emphasized all areas of training in preparation for Lahey's return, understanding that in hockey, you need everything at full strength.
"I think hockey's fairly complex. It's a little bit of everything, and early in the process, it's probably more general. It's more body composition, strength work. As we shift the focus more to him getting back on the ice and into practice, it becomes more of a performance focus around his mobility and acceleration," Morlock said.
Lahey made his debut for Michigan State on Jan. 9 against Ohio State after months of rehab. Despite being away for the longest he's ever been away from his sport, Lahey feels like he came back with more belief in himself.
"I was silent for a while there, so I think having more confidence and being able to spend more time working on my weaknesses really helped. That time off really helped my confidence for sure."
Lahey was able to cause a blocked shot in his debut game back from injury and earned an assist the following game to earn his first college point.
"I mean, I love him," Morlock said. "He's been great to work with. He's super into the gym, which has been fun. He's really interested, curious and intentional about what we're doing, and I really think he's left no stone unturned as far as getting back and getting ready to go. It's been fun to see it pay off for him. As I said, he's young and has some good things ahead of him."
The blueliner has begun to come into his own as the season has progressed, recording seven blocked shots and three assists over his last eight games as the Spartans ride a six-game winning streak.
Lahey played with the Fargo Force in the USHL before MSU, where he registered 17 points, including four goals.
Now fully recovered and back on the ice, Lahey is focused on continuing his improvement and remains grateful for the support system that guided him through his recovery.
"It was the people I talked to every day. I worked with great strength coaches, and my parents, too. I feel like that helped me and really grounded me," Lahey said.
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For MSUSpartans.com
Michigan State freshman defenseman Matt Lahey was ready to come to college and contribute to one of the top programs in hockey. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Maple Leafs in 2024 but stayed in the USHL to keep developing.
Coming to MSU was going to be part of his development toward the NHL, and to also work on getting an education. He attended the NFHL Development Camp last summer, an opportunity for the league's top prospects to gain experience and be evaluated by teams.
And that's where Lahey's journey hit a bump. He suffered an "upper body injury", one that Lahey chooses not to elaborate on, and needed to take his first semester of college off from hockey to recover.
Lahey, who stands 6-foot-6, is now back playing for MSU, and looking to regain his momentum on the ice.
"It was tough at the moment, but I think looking back at it, it was a blessing in disguise," Lahey, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, said. "Being able to get introduced to university life and put some extra time in the gym, which I needed, was really helpful."
Lahey's injury created a new experience, as he adjusted to life away from the ice.
"I haven't really dealt with too many injuries growing up," Lahey said. "It was all new, but I think I took a good approach to it. You need to attack every day, and I feel like I accomplished that."
MSU hockey's strength and conditioning coach Will Morlock supported Lahey's return to the ice and understood how difficult it can be to recover.
"Obviously, initially, you're disappointed," Morlock said. "You're excited to be a part of the team and come in and have an impact. That got delayed for him a little bit, but I think he also recognized that he had an opportunity, especially being a freshman, to really develop some things that, if you're skating and practicing and playing every week, you can't do to the extent that he was able to."
Morlock emphasized all areas of training in preparation for Lahey's return, understanding that in hockey, you need everything at full strength.
"I think hockey's fairly complex. It's a little bit of everything, and early in the process, it's probably more general. It's more body composition, strength work. As we shift the focus more to him getting back on the ice and into practice, it becomes more of a performance focus around his mobility and acceleration," Morlock said.
Lahey made his debut for Michigan State on Jan. 9 against Ohio State after months of rehab. Despite being away for the longest he's ever been away from his sport, Lahey feels like he came back with more belief in himself.
"I was silent for a while there, so I think having more confidence and being able to spend more time working on my weaknesses really helped. That time off really helped my confidence for sure."
Lahey was able to cause a blocked shot in his debut game back from injury and earned an assist the following game to earn his first college point.
"I mean, I love him," Morlock said. "He's been great to work with. He's super into the gym, which has been fun. He's really interested, curious and intentional about what we're doing, and I really think he's left no stone unturned as far as getting back and getting ready to go. It's been fun to see it pay off for him. As I said, he's young and has some good things ahead of him."
The blueliner has begun to come into his own as the season has progressed, recording seven blocked shots and three assists over his last eight games as the Spartans ride a six-game winning streak.
Lahey played with the Fargo Force in the USHL before MSU, where he registered 17 points, including four goals.
Now fully recovered and back on the ice, Lahey is focused on continuing his improvement and remains grateful for the support system that guided him through his recovery.
"It was the people I talked to every day. I worked with great strength coaches, and my parents, too. I feel like that helped me and really grounded me," Lahey said.
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