Michigan State Goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen Earns Big Ten Weekly Honor

The Michigan State Spartans have entered their first season under head coach Adam Nightingale without their trusted goaltender, Trey Augustine.

After Augustine signed his entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings, he began his professional career with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Now, the Spartans are starting a new chapter in the storied program's history.

That chapter is titled Joshua Ravensbergen, and the first few pages have been a delight.

The 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks, Ravensbergen has lived up to the considerable hype surrounding him entering the season.

Despite the Spartans winning three consecutive Big Ten titles with Augustine in net, Ravensbergen was ranked ahead of Augustine in several notable prospect rankings. That gave Spartan fans plenty of excitement about the transition awaiting the program.

Even highly regarded prospects face an adjustment period when making the jump to college hockey. However, Ravensbergen already looks comfortable between the pipes.

Ravensbergen earned his first college hockey accolade this week, receiving the Big Ten's Third Star of the Week for his performance against Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) last weekend.

Earning his second win of the young season, Ravensbergen stopped 25 of the 26 shots the Tigers threw at him, including a 15-shot barrage in the third period. As the Spartans cruised to a 5-1 victory, Ravensbergen stood tall in net, showcasing exceptional reflexes and quickness between the pipes.

Ravensbergen has shown no hesitation in challenging opposing skaters. With his quick glove and fast feet, he has consistently risen to the challenge, giving Michigan State a reliable presence in net early in the season.

Through his first two starts, Ravensbergen owns a .932 save percentage, allowing just three goals on 44 shots faced. His 1.51 goals-against average is an encouraging early indicator of what he could bring to a Spartans team looking to remain a dominant force in college hockey.

That number could rise as No. 2 Michigan State begins facing more talented opponents, but Ravensbergen has already given fans plenty of reasons to tune in. Through two starts, the freshman goaltender has looked every bit like a player capable of helping the Spartans compete for another Big Ten championship.

The Spartans will travel to New Hampshire this weekend to take on the University of New Hampshire on Friday and Saturday. After playing on the road last weekend, Michigan State will go two consecutive weeks without a game at Munn Ice Arena.

Although the Spartans' opponents have yet to feature many of the nation's top teams, Michigan State did face a highly ranked Boston College squad in an exhibition matchup.

These early-season road trips provide valuable opportunities for the Spartans to challenge themselves away from home and prepare for the tougher matchups that await later in the season.

With Ravensbergen already looking comfortable in net and earning recognition from the Big Ten, Michigan State has reason to feel encouraged about its new goaltending situation. The Spartans still have plenty of hockey ahead, but their latest addition between the pipes is off to an impressive start.