Hockey Returns To Action at Great Lakes Invitational

No. 1/1 Michigan State (13-2-1) at the Great Lakes Invitational
Dates/Times	Sunday, Dec. 29, 7 pm Semifinal vs. Northern Michigan Monday, Dec. 30, 3:30/7 pm Consolation/Championship vs. Michigan Tech /No. 6 Western Michigan
Location	Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids \| VAA FAQ's
GLI History	Great Lakes Invitational Yearbook
Tickets	Ticketmaster/Van Andel Arena
Television	Gray Television (see full listings below) Mark Evans (pxp); Dave Ellis (analysis); Zak McClellan (rinkside)
Radio	WJIM 1240 AM Listen Online: Click "Spartan Media Network" Scott Moore (pxp) and Rob Woodward (analysis)
Webstreams	BTN+; More listings below
Live Statistics	Click Here
Press Conference	Adam Nightingale Weekly Availability
Game Notes	Michigan State \| Michigan Tech \| Northern Michigan \| Western Michigan
Social Media	Facebook Twitter Instagram

THE ORIGINAL SIX
What you need to know about Spartan Hockey

• Michigan State will participate in the 58th annual Great Lakes Invitational this week, and is in search of its 13th all-time title. MSU is 50-41-5 all-time in the GLI, which includes 12 titles (its most recent in 2009). The first semifinal features tournament co-host Michigan Tech and No. 6 Western Michigan, and MSU takes on Northern Michigan in the nightcap (7 pm). The consolation and championship games will be held Monday, Dec. 30 at 3:30 and 7 pm, respectively. WILX-TV in Lansing and BTN+ will carry the MSU games (See a complete listing of broadcasts and webstreams below.)

• The Spartans return from holiday break with a 13-2-1 record and No. 1 national ranking. MSU has played its last two B1G series away from Munn Ice Arena, going 2-1-1 in four games at Wisconsin (L 0-4, W 3-2 OT) and at No. 1 Minnesota (3-3 T, W 5-3). Against the top-ranked Gophers, MSU won the shootout point before rallying from a 3-1 deficit with four third-period goals. It was MSU's first win in Minneapolis since February of 2020.

• The Spartans have surrendered 30 goals in 16 games this season, and its team defense of 1.88 goals against ranks first in the Big Ten and fourth nationally. Ranking fifth nationally with a 3.44 goals per game average and a 1.88 team scoring defense, MSU's scoring margin (+1.56) is second in the B1G and fourth in Division I.

• Over the last three games, Charlie Stramel is centering a line with Isaac Howard and Daniel Russell a stretch in which the trio has combined for 4-6-10 against Big Ten competition. Howard owns or shares the team lead in all three offensive categories, (9-11-20), with a single-season career best in goals. Stramel owns a 5-7-12 scoring line (+6) through 16 games, new career bests in each. Russell is second on the team in goals and is third on the team in points (8-4-12) and shares the national lead in game-winning goals (5).

• MSU is getting consistent offense from his back end - among D pairs, the Buffalo pair (Patrick Geary and Maxim Štrbák) have 1-11-12, the David Gucciardi- Nicklas Andrews duo 4-8-12, and Owen West- Matt Basgall 2-12-14. Basgall shares the team lead in assists (11) with Isaac Howard, and his 2-11-13 (+8) scoring line is tops among blueliners and second on the team in points overall. Andrews leads the Spartans with a +13 rating and also owns a 2-7-9 scoring line - second to Basgall in both points and assists among defensemen. He also leads the team with 19 blocked shots.

• With the participation of Trey Augustine and Maxim Štrbák, the Spartan net will belong to sophomore Luca Di Pasquo. In two starts this season, he owns a 0.50 GAA and .970 save percentage with one shutout. DiPasquo started both GLI games a year ago, posting a 1.92 GAA and .923 save percentage in a win and a tie. He stopped 48 of 52 shots against.

COMPLETE GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL TELEVISION INFORMATION

Television:
   WLUC-TV (Marquette)                           WILX -TV (Lansing/Jackson)
   KBJR-TV (Duluth, MN)    KEYC-TV (Mankato, MN)
   KTTC-TV (Rochester, MN)                    KCRG-TV (Cedar Rapids, IA)
   KMOX-TV (St. Louis, MO)                     WFSB (Hartford, CT)
   WOIO (Cleveland, Ohio

Palmetto Sports Network:
   WPAM & WIS-TV (Columbia SC)        WHNS-TV (Greenville/Spartanburg SC)
   WZCH-TV (Charleston SC)                WMBF-TV (Myrtle Beach SC)

Webstreams:
Uppermichiganssource.com (Free)
BTN+ (MSU Games, $) Midco Sports Plus (MTU/NMU Games, $)

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Players Mentioned

Nicklas Andrews

Trey Augustine

Matt Basgall

Luca Di Pasquo

Patrick Geary

David Gucciardi

Isaac Howard

Daniel Russell

Charlie Stramel

Owen West