Michigan State hockey preview: Breaking down the Spartans' roster player by player

Michigan State hockey enters the 2023-24 roster with considerable expectations, being ranked No. 9 in the United States College Hockey Online preseason poll and picked to finish third in the Big Ten.

As MSU prepares to opens its season Saturday against Lake Superior State at Munn Ice Arena, Lansing State Journal sports reporter Nathaniel Bott breaks down each player on the Spartans' roster.

Forwards

Owen Baker

5-10, 185, Fr., Howell, Mich. (Waterloo USHL)

Baker is one of the trio of players who joined the Spartans this season from Waterloo of the United State Hockey League after he impressed there in his second season with 41 points. Baker is in a crowded group of forwards who will be competing for playing time, and for the moment, may be more on the outside looking in.

Gavin Best

6-2, 190, Soph., Richfield, Minn. (Minnesota NAHL)

Best appeared in just 10 games last season but was the recipient of the team's Most Improved Player award. Best showed flashes on the fourth line in his opportunities despite not recording a point. Best will have to continue to compete with the addition of talented transfers and freshmen to find his way into the lineup.

Jeremy Davidson

5-11, 177, Sr., Kalamazoo, Mich. (Massachusetts, Fargo USHL)

Davidson will be an interesting case as one of only six seniors on MSU's roster. He had 10 goals and 11 assists playing on a line with Muller last season and played heavy minutes as a sophomore when the Spartans struggled for offens4e. But with the additional firepower now on the roster, Davidson will have his work cut out for him to be a lineup regular.

Karsen Dorwart

6-1, 191, Soph., Sherwood, Oregon (Sioux Falls USHL)

Dorwart is one of MSU's alternate captains after being third on the team in points last season and leading the Spartans with a plus-10 rating. He was a late commit to coach Adam Nightingale's first recruiting class and impressed while centering the top line. Dorwart is one of the skaters who has benefitted the most from the help of athletic performance director Will Morlock. He'll likely be a key part of one of MSU's top lines again this season.

Issac Howard

5-11, 190, Soph., Hudson, Wis. (Minnesota-Duluth)

Howard was a highly-recruited prospect who arrives at MSU looking for a new start following an up-and-down freshman season at Minnesota Duluth when he had six goals and 11 assists. Howard has familiarity with coach Adam Nightingale after playing for him with the National Team Development Program where he had 33 goals and 49 assists in 60 games on the U18 team and was a first-round pick by Tampa Bay in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Griffin Jurecki

5-10, 182, Fr., Grosse Ile (Omaha USHL)

Jurecki committed to the Spartans late in the recruiting cycle after originally giving his pledge to the University of Denver. Jurecki had 25 points in 56 games for Omaha and was an alternate captain. Jurecki has a history of being a leader as he was the captain of his U15 and U16 Little Caesars teams prior to his time in the USHL. Expect him to be in the mix for playing time this season.

Tanner Kelly

5-10, 175, Jr., San Diego, Calif. (Muskegon USHL)

Kelly found some success last on the opposite wing of Tiernan Shoudy – the two having some familiarity after playing together on the 2019 Little Caesars squad. Kelly, who finished with 18 points while skating in 38 games last season should be a regular on the third or fourth line while continuing to bring a high gear and intensity to every shift.

Joey Larson

6-1, 194, Soph., Brighton (Northern Michigan)

Larson was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal after recording 13 goals and 14 assists for Northern Michigan as a freshman. Larson, who made the CCHA All-Rookie Team, chose the Spartans, seeking a chance to test himself in the Big Ten against higher competition. Larson was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten preseason pick and is expected to be a staple in MSU's lineup.

Reed Lebster

6-0, 188, Grad., Grand Rapids (Massachusetts)

Lebster is a graduate transfer after playing four seasons at Massachusetts. He reunites with assistant coach Jared DeMichiel, who was an assistant at UMass prior to joining Nightingale's staff. Lebster had a career-high 22 points last season for the Minutemen and his veteran influence and stable voice will be influential to a skilled but youthful MSU lineup.

Tommi Mannisto

6-0, 185, Fr., Riihimaki, Finland (Tappara J20)

Mannisto is one of the most intriguing additions to the roster, coming from Finland where he had plenty of success with 16 goals and 13 assists in his final season with Tappara. Mannisto was impressive at the World Junior Summer Showcase this past August and has plenty of experience playing for Finland's U16, U18 and U20 teams. It could be an adjustment to the college game to start, but Mannisto's competitiveness should keep him in the mix for regular playing time.

Nicolas Muller

6-0, 188, 5th-Sr., Arisdorf, Switzerland (Modo Sweden JMu20 SuperElit)

Muller enjoyed a breakout senior season last year, leading the Spartans in points with 34 (nine goals, 25 assists) after his previous high was eight as a freshman. Muller, who also led the Spartans in power-play points with 15, will take advantage of a fifth year of eligibility granted to college athletes after the 2020-21 pandemic season. Muller was voted an alternate captain figures to be an impact top-6 forward again this season.

Gavin O'Connell

6-0, 181, Fr., Plymouth, Minn. (Waterloo USHL)

O'Connell had 24 goals and 26 assists last season for Waterloo, scoring five game-winning goals, and finishing at a plus-27. O'Connell has familiarity with coach Adam Nightingale, having skated in a pair of games for the NTDP U18 team while Nightingale was coach. O'Connell de-committed from Minnesota-Duluth to join the Spartans and is likely to have the biggest early impact among the freshman forwards.

Daniel Russell

5-9, 160, Soph., Traverse City (Sioux Falls USHL)

Russell showcased advanced skill and speed on MSU's top line last season, playing in all 38 games and becoming the first 30-point freshman scorer since Derek Grant in 2009-10 season. Russell will likely be paired on one of the top two lines with Dorwart, as the two displayed plenty of on-ice chemistry for the Spartans as freshmen.

Red Savage

5-11, 185, Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz. (Miami Ohio)

Savage arrived at MSU this summer out of the transfer portal after two seasons at Miami and having played for the US National Team Development Program before that. He totaled 30 points in two seasons with the RedHawks. He was fourth-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2021 after getting 68 points in two seasons with the USNTDP.

Tiernan Shoudy

5-9, 180, Soph., Marysville (Youngstown USHL)

Shoudy primarily playing on the third line and was a solid penalty killer with a high motor for the Spartans as a freshman. He finished with six goals and six assists but came through in the clutch with a team-leading three game-winning goals. Shoudy should be a regular in the lineup, likely on the third or fourth line and will continue to be one of the team's go-to penalty killlers.

Defensemen

Matt Basgall

5-10, 190, Soph., Lake Forest, Ill. (Tri-City USHL)

Basgall will serve as an alternate captain after an impressive freshman season in which he helped run MSU's top power-play unit. Basgall was second among MSU defensemen in points with 17 and blocked a team-high 54 shots – which ranked eighth in the Big Ten. Basgall should have an impact on the power play again and will look to continue improving in transition and defensively against a stacked Big Ten conference.

James Crossman

6-3, 200, Sr., Denver, Colo. (Brown)

Crossman comes in as a graduate transfer from Brown, where he scored nine goals from the blue line last season. Crossman will be a steady presence for MSU's defense corps, playing a role similar to Michael Underwood last season. Crossman won't be asked to provide much scoring for the Spartans, just to be reliable as a defender and play as much mistake-free hockey as possible.

Patrick Geary

6-1, 185, Fr., Buffalo, N.Y. (Waterloo USHL)

Geary was one of the earlier prospects to commit in the most recent recruiting class and rounds out the trio of Waterloo players joining MSU this season. Geary has a nice frame and skates well, but it will likely take a season or so for him to find regular ice time on a crowded blue line.

David Gucciardi

6-1, 190, Jr., Toronto, Ontario (Waterloo USHL)

Gucciardi missed the start of last season with an illness and took some time to adjust, but he was strong in the Spartans' last eight games. The Washington Capitals sixth-round draft pick showcases great offensive ability from the point and has one of the better shots among MSU's blue-liners. Gucciardi will look to continue to develop his defensive ability, work along the boards and transitioning quickly with speed.

Viktor Hurtig

6-6, 197, Soph., Avesta, Sweden (Vaxjo HC J20)

Hurtig had some freshman growing pains last season after coming over from Sweden and now will be competing with some talented freshmen. Halfway through last season, Hurtig, New Jersey Devils draft pick, established himself as the seventh defenseman in the lineup and he will likely battle for a similar spot this season.

Artyom Levshunov

6-2, 198, Fr., Zhlobin, Belarus (Green Bay USHL)

Levshunov's path to East Lansing was unique, but he arrived on campus this summer as one of the most heralded prospects in program history. Levshunov is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2024 NHL draft — and possibly as high as the top 5 with a good freshman season. Levshunov exhibits true game-changing ability with his shot, offensive creativity and sound defensive capabilities despite being only 17. Levshunov was the third-highest scoring defenseman in the USHL last season with 13 goals and 29 assists. He is expected to make an immediate impact as one of the best defensemen in the Big Ten.

Nash Nienhuis

5-10, 185, Sr., Sarnia, Ontario (Omaha USHL)

Nienhuis will be a regular on the blue line again and was unanimously voted by his teammates as the captain. Nienhuis had a career-high with four goals and 15 assists last year. And with an influx of talented freshman defensemen, Nienhuis will be helpful in getting them adjusted to the physicality of Big Ten play, even if he takes a step back from captaining one of MSU's power play units.

Austin Oravetz

5-9, 192, Fr., Canonsburg, Penn. (Green Bay USHL)

Oravetz is another in a talented group of freshman blue-liners and he could compete for a role as the seventh defenseman. Oravetz was an alternate captain playing with Artyom Levshunov in Green Bay last year where we scored five goals and had 15 assists.

Maxim Strbak

6-2, 205, Kosice, Slovakia (Sioux City USHL)

Strbak was drafted in the second round of this summer's NHL draft by Buffalo after a strong season in Sioux City. Strbak is an all-around defenseman with the ability to thrive on both the power play and the penalty kill, as well as five-on-five. Strbak, who served as an alternate captain when Team Slovakia finished fourth at the 2023 Men’s U18 World Championships, is expected make an immediate impact for the Spartans.

Goaltenders

Trey Augustine

6-1, 179, Fr., South Lyon (USNTDP)

Augustine, who was one of the best goaltenders in USNTDP history, begins his freshman campaign as the Spartans' clear-cut No. 1 in net. Augustine, who was committed to Michigan before flipping to MSU, posted a 2.13 goals against average and .926 save percentage while only losing one game in regulation last season. He also played a key role in helping Team USA to a gold medal at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship in May. Augustine will likely have a lot on his shoulders, but the Spartans believe his experience shows he's ready for the moment.

Luca Di Pasquo

6-0, 201, Fr., (Penticton BCHL)

Di Pasquo dominated the British Columbia Hockey League with Penticton, going 36-3-1 with a 1.70 goals against average, four shutouts and a .922 save percentage. He was a perfect 12-0 in the BCHL postseason and helped lead Penticton to its second straight Fred Page Cup. Augustine enters as the clear starter, but Di Pasquo provides capable depth and will likely be the starter during the Great Lakes Invitational in late December while Augustine is away playing for the U.S. at the World Juniors Tournament.

Jon Mor

6-2, 200, Sr., Highland Park, Ill. (Langley BCHL)

Mor, who is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, likely won't see any ice time unless the scoreboard tips too far in either direction, but the team's two-time Goofus Award winner is a great locker-room presence and is capable as a third goaltender, if needed.

This MSU hockey roster breakdown is free to read, but most of our Spartan hockey coverage this season will be for subscribers. You can get all of it for just $1 for the first six months. https://subscribe.lansingstatejournal.com/offers?gps-source=CPSUBFOOTER&itm_medium=onsite&itm_campaign=subfooter&itm_source=subfooter&itm_content=subfooter

Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State hockey preview: Breaking down the Spartans' roster