Michigan State, Western Michigan earn No. 1 seeds in NCAA Hockey Tournament

Michigan State hockey has earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, following their Big Ten Tournament Championship victory. The Spartans will face Cornell, the ECAC champion, in their opening game scheduled for Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Toledo, Ohio. If successful, Michigan State could meet Ohio State again in the regional final, as they both compete in the same bracket. This season marks a significant turnaround for MSU, which last qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and aims for its first Frozen Four appearance since 2007. The team's head coach, Adam Nightingale, expressed pride in his players' consistent performance throughout the season, which included multiple tense games. The tournament features four Big Ten teams, including Minnesota, Ohio State, and Penn State.