Michigan State hockey's season ended in painful fashion. What began with championship expectations concluded in disappointment, as the Spartans fell just short of the Frozen Four with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in the regional final.

Michigan State entered the tournament as the top seed, and head coach Adam Nightingale came agonizingly close to reaching the Frozen Four for the third consecutive year. The loss was particularly frustrating given how the game unfolded. While the Spartans fared better than their previous regional matchup against UConn in terms of shot attempts, they were still outshot 38-27, a trend that will need to be addressed heading into next season.

Michigan State's head coach Adam Nightingale calls out to players during hockey practice on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, at Munn Arena in East Lansing.…