DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 17: #55 Patrick Khodorenko of the Michigan State University Spartans competes in the annual NCAA hockey game Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena on February 17. in the second period against the Michigan Wolverines. 2020 is Detroit, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans 4-1. (Photo by Dave Resinek/Getty Images)
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mich. (WLNS) – Three unanswered goals for the Wolverines, giving the University of Michigan a ticket to its third straight Frozen Four and ending Michigan State's historic season. .
It may be hard to find positives at this point when the season ends with a heartbreaking result against a rival they have beaten four times before, and on one of college hockey's biggest stages. But the journey and rebuild that coach Adam Nightingale and his staff have accomplished in two years is nothing this team can wrap its head around.
Manager Adam Nightingale said: “It's pretty arrogant to think I have the words to make the team feel better.” “This certainly hurts and it's not about who we played, it's just the opportunity to play and Frozen 4. What I liked and this doesn't show up on the scoresheet. No, but I think that's really big, you win in class, you lose in class. And I thought you guys finished the game really well in that environment. That's important to what we're trying to do. I still think we're laying the foundation on which to build a program here. These are important elements, at least to what I value in the program, and I think they're good. I thought I did my job.”
“It's definitely disappointing to get knocked out, but we have to take a step back and look at what we've done,” sophomore forward Isaac Howard said. “I think it was great to win the regular season and win the playoffs. There were a lot of really cool, really fun moments there and we were able to be a part of it, so we're going to try to learn from this next year and make this I think I can remember my feelings and move forward even deeper.”
“It was great to wear the green and white… it was a lot of fun,” said fifth-year forward Nicolas Muller. “It's been everything I ever wanted. Ups and downs…there aren't many words to say right now. It's been the best five years of my life.”
Michigan State finished the season with a 25-10-3 record, winning the program's first Big Ten regular season title, Big Ten tournament title, first dual-in-the-D championship since 2016, and first NCAA Tournament win since the program. obtained. 2008.
