MSU hockey drops to No. 14 in the USCHO rankings after the GLI losses

Michigan State hockey dropped USCHO survey for the first time since it entered the November rankings. The Spartans (12-9-1) fell three spots to No. 14 this week after losses to Ferris State and Michigan Tech last week at the Great Lakes Invitational.

MSU attempted a comeback against Ferris State on Tuesday thanks to two goals from the fifth-year defenseman Cole Krygierbut eventually fell 4-2 in the GLI semifinals.

The loss earned the Spartans a spot in the consolation game against Michigan Tech Wednesday. MSU led 2-1 throughout the third period until MTU’s sophomore defender Brett Thorne tied the game with less than two minutes left in the game. Freshman forward Arvid Caderoth beat the Huskies in sudden-death overtime to hand the Spartans the fourth seed in the tournament.

Western Michigan, crowned GLI champions after defeating FSU in the finals, is now one spot above MSU at No. 13.

For the rest of the Big Ten, Minnesota maintained the No. 3 ranking after exhibition wins over the USNTDP and Bemidji State. Penn State remains at No. 5 with a win over Rochester Institute of Technology. Michigan remains at No. 7, having not returned to the ice since splitting its series with MSU on Dec. 9-10. Ohio State is the only conference team to move up at No. 12. Notre Dame remains at the bottom of the top 20, sitting at No. 20 after splitting a win with Alaska over the weekend.

The Spartans also sit in 13th place in the PairWise ranking, dropped five spots after the Michigan streak. Minnesota, Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State are now ahead of MSU at No. 1, No. 4, No. 8, and No. 9.

The Spartans hit the road this week as they return to conference play against Ohio State in Columbus on December 6th and 7th.

Here’s a look at the rest of the top 20: