State of Michigan college hockey spotlight
By Levi Bright
When thinking about college sports, hockey probably isn’t the first one that comes to mind. Football and basketball usually take center stage, and while that’s understandable, hockey is not to be overlooked. It’s a fast-paced sport that packs a huge punch of drama, excitement and rivalry — perfect for anyone, especially newcomers. Frankly, there’s never been a better time to be a fan in this state. Let’s take a look at a few teams around Michigan and what makes the scene so exciting.
First and foremost, the Michigan State Spartans look like the best college hockey team in the country. They currently sit atop the national rankings with a 22-6-0 record and have been dominant in all facets of the game. This season’s success is hardly a surprise for a team that’s coming off back-to-back years with at least a share of the Big Ten title — MSU hockey has been a powerhouse ever since hiring Adam Nightingale in 2022. They bowed out of the last tournament early, and this year’s group clearly wants to make up for it. The tournament is fast approaching, and the program is in excellent shape to chase its fourth national title and first since 2007.
Meanwhile, the state’s most historic team is also one of the country’s best. The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a disappointing season in which the team finished fourth in the Big Ten, but they’ve rebounded in dramatic fashion and show no signs of similar struggles this year. UofM has compiled a 23-5-0 record this year, and it’s earned them a No. 2 national ranking. Despite starting goalie Jack Ivankovic being sidelined with an injury for a significant amount of time, the team has not missed a beat. Head coach Brandon Naurato, a Michigan native, has this squad rolling. Just like their archrivals in East Lansing, Michigan is a true championship contender.
While the Western Michigan Broncos don’t historically have quite the pedigree of some of the other teams they share a state with, they do have something else: the most recent national title. Now, following that 2025 campaign in which WMU climbed the mountain for the first time in program history, the Broncos are looking like serious threats to repeat. Led by fifth-year head coach Pat Ferschweiler, the team boasts a 20-8-0 record to go with their No. 4 national ranking. Regardless of their program’s status in the past, it’s safe to say that the sports world is well aware of them now. There’s some excellent hockey being played in Kalamazoo.
Finally, let’s talk about the state’s northernmost university. They don’t boast quite the star power of their lower-peninsula competition, but the Michigan Tech Huskies are having a strong year. They currently own a 20-10-2 record, good for second in their conference and No.17 nationally. The story of the season in Houghton is the return of coach Bill Muckalt. The British Columbia native spent four years as an assistant coach at Tech in the early 2010s before pursuing other coaching endeavors, one of which was a six-year stint as an assistant at Michigan. MTU re-hired him prior to the 2025 campaign — this time as head coach — and he’s off to a strong start. Following an up-and-down 2024-25, it’s a return to form for a historic program that boasts ten Frozen Four appearances and three national titles all-time.
For those keeping track, that’s three Michigan-based teams ranked in the top four spots and another inside the top 20. The state has a stranglehold on the world of college hockey. The NCAA tournament is slated to begin in less than two months, and it’s conceivable that any of them could be raising the trophy at its conclusion. Their individual rankings are sure to shuffle around a bit over the remainder of the season, but one thing’s for sure: this is an elite group. Regardless of which one you support, being a college hockey fan in the state of Michigan is a lot of fun right now.