Exhibition Showdown Sets Stage for 2026-27 Season
The Boston College men’s hockey team is set to open its 2026-27 campaign with an exhibition matchup against the Michigan State Spartans. The consensus No. 12-ranked Eagles will travel to East Lansing, Mich., for the game scheduled at 5 p.m. The contest will be televised live on Big Ten Plus.
This marks the first meeting between the two programs since October 2024. While exhibition results do not count toward official records, the matchup provides an early evaluation of both rosters as they prepare for conference play.
Spartans Return Loaded Roster With High Draft Presence
Michigan State enters the season with a roster featuring 17 total NHL draft selections, the second-most in NCAA Division I hockey. The Spartans boast nine first-round picks, accounting for 30 percent of all first-round selections currently playing college hockey.
The Spartans were selected to finish second in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll, trailing only Michigan. This follows a period of sustained success, as MSU won the Big Ten regular season championships in 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26.
The roster is bolstered by significant incoming talent, welcoming over 10 newcomers that include nine rookies and three transfers. This influx mirrors Boston College’s own freshman class of 11 players, setting the stage for a battle between two programs integrating new blood.
Key Contributors and Draft Picks
Sophomore forward Ryker Lee, named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team, finished third on MSU in scoring last season with 15 goals, 15 assists, and 30 total points as a rookie. His performance earned him a spot on the preliminary 2026 U.S. Hockey Men’s National Team for the 2026 IIHF World Championships after scoring one goal in a prelim game.
Lee, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed shooter from Shattuck St. Mary's, was selected by the Nashville Predators with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to college, he posted 68 points, including 31 goals and 37 assists, for the Madison Capitols in the USHL.
Notable returners include sophomore forward Anthony Romani, a 2024 sixth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks, who recorded 28 points last year. Senior forward Tommi Männistö also returns, contributing 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points in the previous season.
The Spartans’ draft pedigree extends to several high-profile prospects. The roster includes 2026 first-rounders defenseman Chase Reid (Seattle, No. 7 overall), forward Ethan Belchetz (Utah, No. 17), forward Jack Hextall (Calgary, No. 30), and defenseman Tommy Bleyl (Nashville, No. 31).
Physicality and New Goaltending
Michigan State is the fifth-heaviest team in the country, averaging 196.8 pounds per player. The Spartans carry three players who stand 6-feet-6-inches tall: freshman forward Mason West, a 2025 first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks; sophomore defenseman Cole Ward; and sophomore defenseman Matt Lahey. Sean Barnhill, a 2025 New York Rangers’ third-rounder, is also listed on the roster.
The team has undergone significant changes in net following the departure of Mike Richter Award winner Trey Augustine, who signed with the Detroit Red Wings. MSU brought in an entirely new trio of goaltenders, including junior transfer Quentin Sigurdson from Northeastern.
Sigurdson made 10 starts for Northeastern last season, posting a 2.45 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. However, freshman Joshua Ravensbergen is expected to likely take over net-minding duties for the majority of the season.
Transfers Joining the Mix
In addition to Sigurdson, the Spartans have integrated key transfers into their lineup. Junior forward Cullen Potter arrives from Arizona State, while senior forward Jimmy Clark joins from Minnesota. These additions complement the existing core as Michigan State prepares for its Big Ten schedule.