The No. 1 Michigan State hockey team will travel to Grand Rapids to compete in the annual Great Lakes Invitational at Van Andel Arena, an event the Spartans came up short in last season and haven't won since 2009.
The Spartans will face off against the Northern Michigan Wildcats in the first game of the Great Lakes Invitational on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.
The Spartans are back at the top spot in the USCHO poll after an impressive sweep of previously No. 1 ranked Minnesota two weeks ago. MSU won in a shootout in the first game and it won 5-3 in come-from-behind fashion to complete the sweep.
Trey Augustine was excellent in net for the Spartans in the Minnesota series recording 65 saves and had impressive saves down the stretch in the third period in both games.
Augustine will not play in the Great Lakes Invitational because he is representing the U.S. in the IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Defenseman Maxim Strbak is also at the tournament representing his native Slovakia.
Luca Di Pasquo will get his third start in net for the Spartans in the absence of Augustine. Di Pasquo in two starts this season is allowing 0.5 goals per game and has a .970 save percentage. Di Pasquo started both games of the GLI Invitational last season recording 48 saves and a .923 save percentage.
Junior forward Isaac Howard also had an impactful series for MSU against the Golden Gophers. The Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick recorded two goals in the Spartans' 5-3 win in the second game, with one of his goals helping to spark the Spartans third period rally.
Howard leads the Spartans in scoring with nine goals through 16 games this season and is tied for fourth in the Big Ten Conference in goals scored.
MSU’s success on the offense and defensive ends is one of the reasons why it is ranked No. 1 in the USCHO poll. The Spartans rank in to top five in both scoring offense and defense this season.
The Spartans are scoring on average 3.4 goals per game which is second best in the Big Ten behind Minnesota and fifth best in the country. Courtesy of a stout defense and the talent of Augustine, the Spartans are tied for fourth in the nation and are best in the Big Ten in scoring defense allowing on average 1.88 goals per game.
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In-depth analysis and review: Michigan State Hockey at the holiday break
Looking at Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan enters the Great Lakes Invitational with a 1-16-1 record on the season and a 0-11-1 record in CCHA conference play. The Wildcats are also on a six-game losing streak and have the worst record in Division I.
The Wildcats are on two weeks of rest after they were swept by the Bowling Green Falcons, losing 2-0 in the first game and 4-3 in the second game.
One of the Wildcats biggest struggles this season has been their defense. NMU ranks near the bottom of Division I in scoring defense allowing on average 3.5 goals per game.
The Wildcats are led by sophomore forward Matthew Romer and freshman Grayden Slipec. Romer has recorded three goals, two assists, and five points on the season and Slipec leads NMU in points with seven (five assists and two goals).
The Spartans will face off against the Wildcats in the first game of the Great Lakes Invitational on Sunday night with puck drop set for 7 p.m. on WILX Channel 10 in the Lansing Area.
Depending on their result against NMU. MSU will face off against either Michigan Tech or No. 6 Western Michigan on Monday.
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