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Postgame: Tom Izzo talks MSU's win over Stony Brook

Short-handed Michigan State preps for Great Lakes Invitational title run

Idle since December 9, the Spartans look to keep their excellent season going this weekend in Grand Rapids...

After a near three-week break, No. 7 Michigan State returns to action on Thursday against Ferris State in the 57th annual Great Lakes Invitational (GLI) at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. The Spartans have been idle since their two-game sweep over Notre Dame in early December.

Should Michigan State defeat the Bulldogs, they will play the winner of Michigan Tech and Alaska Fairbanks in the championship game on Friday. A loss to Ferris State would drop MSU into a third-place game.

The Spartans will be competing for their 13th GLI title overall and first since 2009. They'll do so without goaltender Trey Augustine, forward Isaac Howard, forward Tommi Mannisto and defenseman Maxim Strbak, who are all competing in the 2024 World Junior Championships.

Although the loss of these players will be immense, the Spartans’ depth is sturdy. Head coach Adam Nightingale will likely give freshman goaltender Luca Di Pasquo the start in both games this weekend. Di Pasquo has posted a .896 save percentage with 2.04 goals against average in his two games in goal this year. A year ago, playing for the British Columbia junior "A" hockey league's Penticton Vees, Di Pasquo had a .922 save percentage and 1.70 goals against average.

With the absence of Howard, the Spartans will rely on sophomores Karsen Dowart and Daniel Russel, who are tied for second in goals on the team and were among the top scorers as freshman. With Strbak on leave for the World Junior Championships, Artyom Levshunov will step up with his partner on the blue line, senior captain Nash Nienhuis. The pair are the only Spartan duo with double digit points this season.

Michigan State (12-4-2) is tied for second with Michigan Tech in all-time wins in the tournament with 49. The Spartans will look to add to that total and chase another GLI title tomorrow against Ferris State (5-11-1) when the puck drops at 7 p.m.

Friday's third-place game begins at 3:30 p.m., while the championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on December 28.

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