Charlie Stramel ignited the ice, netting a hat trick including the overtime winner in a thrilling outdoor showdown for Michigan State.
Claude Julien once said, “Overtime hockey is about will more than skill.” The Spartans’ motto is Spartan Will, and on Saturday, that will carried Michigan State through extra hockey — outdoors, in frigid temperatures, at Beaver Stadium.
The Spartan who showed the most will was Charlie Stramel, who continued his on-ice dominance in front of more than 70,000 fans braving near subzero conditions. Stramel capped an unforgettable afternoon by netting the overtime game-winner, completing a hat trick and sealing a 5–4 victory.
Whether you’re a die-hard hockey fan, an alum, a casual sports watcher, or someone who just happened to flip on Big Ten Network, you likely found yourself watching one of the most memorable college hockey games ever played.
The outdoor setting was stunning — reminiscent of grabbing your stick and heading to the local pond as a kid. Some of those kids grew up to be degenerates, some CEOs, but on the ice everyone was equal. Pond hockey is childhood distilled, and whenever organized hockey laces them up outside, it’s more than magical. It pulls you out of the present and drops you back into Chef Boyardee, Rocket Power, and Stuart Scott’s iconic “Boo-Yah.”
And if the nostalgia didn’t hook you, the hockey did.
Michigan State secured its fourth win over Penn State in as many meetings this season, improving to 21–5 overall and 12–4 in conference play. It marked the Spartans’ second overtime win of the year.
Stramel spoke after the game about the challenge of playing outdoors.
“It’s a lot different playing out here,” Stramel said. “The ice is a bit different and the sun was glaring. It took a bit, but the guys got used to it.”
Since joining the Green and White, Stramel has flourished. With goals No. 14, 15, and 16 on the season, he moved past Porter Martone for the team lead.
“Thankful for Coach Nightingale taking a chance on me in the portal,” Stramel said. “No better place to play than Michigan State.”
The Spartans jumped out to an early 1–0 lead and dominated the shot count in the first period, at one point holding a 15–3 advantage. Penn State, however, wasn’t going quietly in front of its home crowd. The Nittany Lions battled back and took a 3–2 lead late in the second period.
That’s when Stramel struck again.
Off a behind-the-back centering feed from Daniel Russell, Stramel found himself unguarded in the slot and buried it over the right pad of Reidler to tie the game at three.
After a Spittin’ Chiclets–hosted second intermission, the third period opened as a grind. Shea Van Olm gave Penn State the lead once more, beating Trey Augustine, but MSU captain Matt Basgall answered in fitting fashion.
“Oh captain, my captain.”
Basgall fired a wrister from the blue line that seemed to dance with the wind. Sun glare? A perfect gust? Or just a pure snipe? However it happened, the game was tied 4–4. After a lengthy review for offsides, the goal stood — there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence to overturn the call.
Overtime belonged to Michigan State.
The Spartans controlled possession for most of the extra period but struggled to generate clean looks, testing the patience of a frozen crowd. Finally, after minutes that felt like hours, Charlie Stramel ended it.
Stramel deked Reidler on the right side and flipped a pinpoint shot top shelf, completing the hat trick and sending the Spartans into celebration.
Michigan State posed for a commemorative photo on the ice, smiles everywhere. Youth was not wasted on the young, and the Spartans earned every bit of the elation.
But as quickly as the moment arrived, thoughts turned ahead.
Next up: a rematch with the No. 1 team in the nation — the Michigan Wolverines. The rivals split their last home-and-home series, with both road teams stealing victories. Another chapter of in-state chaos awaits next weekend.
As good as this Penn State series was, what’s coming next is sure to be tenfold better.