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Mitten Hockey story card: Michigan State Spartans, NCAA Division I

Michigan State Game Preview: vs. North Dakota (Oct. 31) — A record 13 first-round picks meet in Texas for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game

No. 4 Michigan State faces No. 8 North Dakota on Saturday at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas, in a game featuring 31 NHL draft picks.

Shaun
2–3 minutes

No. 4 Michigan State takes on No. 8 North Dakota on Saturday night in the 2026 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas, outside Austin. Puck drop is 7:07 p.m. Central (8:07 p.m. Eastern), and the game airs on NCHC.TV and Midco Sports. It is the first meeting between the programs since 2016, and the rosters carry more first-round NHL draft picks than any college game ever played.

A record amount of NHL talent

The two teams combine for 31 NHL draft picks, 17 for Michigan State and 14 for North Dakota, and 13 of them are first-rounders, nine on the Spartans’ side. Michigan State’s 17 picks tie the 1990-91 team for the most in program history.

The Spartans’ group includes Cayden Lindstrom (Columbus, fourth overall in 2024), defenseman Chase Reid (Seattle, seventh overall in 2026), Ethan Belchetz (Utah, 17th overall in 2026), and goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen (San Jose, 30th overall in 2025). North Dakota counters with Carson Carels (Calgary, sixth overall in 2026), Keaton Verhoeff (San Jose, ninth overall in 2026), Cole Reschny (Calgary, 18th overall in 2025), and EJ Emery (New York Rangers, 30th overall in 2024).

Where both teams stand

Michigan State is 4-1-0. The Spartans swept Northern Michigan at Munn Ice Arena (6-2, 5-1), won 5-1 at RIT, and split at New Hampshire last weekend, losing 1-0 before winning 2-1. North Dakota is 4-2-0 after losing both games of last weekend’s series at Minnesota, 5-3 each night.

North Dakota leads the all-time series 64-37-3 over 104 meetings. The last series, in 2016, ended with a Michigan State win and a 2-2 tie. Spartans coach Adam Nightingale has 99 career wins and can reach 100 on Saturday.

Game day in Texas

The game is a neutral-site event honoring the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, and the arena is hosting a free pregame party on its plaza from 3 to 6 p.m. Central, with doors opening an hour before puck drop. The venue is cashless.

What’s next

Michigan State returns home to host Boston University on Nov. 6-7 at Munn Ice Arena, then visits Notre Dame on Nov. 12-13. North Dakota hosts Western Michigan on Nov. 6-7 to open NCHC play.

Sources

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