Michigan State Hockey Drops First Game Of Last Series 5-2 To Western Michigan

Michigan State Hockey Drops First Game Of Last Series 5-2 To Western Michigan by Colin Pineau

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State’s last regular season game against Western Michigan was senior night, and the Spartan seniors took that to heart. They won the game 1-0, with only Spartan seniors earning points on Spartan senior night. Senior Anthony Hayes scored the only goal, and his fellow seniors Kevin Walrod and Chris Forfar earned the assists on the tally.

Though the Michigan State seniors were the only ones to rally and score in the game, they also had a freshmen to thank for the win. Freshmen goaltender Jake Hildebrand earned his first career shut-out on the night, helping to send the seniors off with a win. Hildebrand made 28 stops to earn the shut-out.

The senior night win means a series split against Western and a 1-1-1 record against the Bronco’s this season.

MSU’s season ends with an 11-23-3 overall record and a 9-18-1 CCHA record. The Spartans will remain last in the CCHA, behind Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State.

Miami clinched the regular season title this year with a 16-7-4 CCHA record.

Next season the CCHA will be non-existent as the conference dissolves. Next year Michigan State will join the Big Ten Conference.