Patrick Geary anchors a new leadership trio as the Spartans chase a fourth straight conference title and their first Frozen Four appearance in nearly two decades.
Michigan State hockey head coach Adam Nightingale and the Spartans have officially announced who will be captaining the team during the upcoming 2026-27 season.
As Michigan State looks to capture its fourth straight Big Ten title, three players will don the “C” and “A” this season. For anyone new to the game, the “C” designates the team captain, while the “A” represents an assistant captain.
These three players will be tasked with leading the Spartans through whatever challenges the season brings. Whether things are going smoothly or adversity strikes, it will be up to them to keep the team's focus on the ultimate goal: winning a fourth straight Big Ten title and making a return to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2008, when Michigan State last won the national championship.
Assistant Captain: Tommi Männistö
The senior from Finland was a massive part of the Spartans' success last season.
Männistö finished his junior campaign with 12 goals and nine assists, totaling 21 points. His offensive production took a major step forward, as his 12 goals were four times the three he scored during his sophomore season and three times the total he recorded during his first two seasons combined.
Männistö quickly became a recognizable name among Michigan State hockey fans. With dazzling puck-handling ability paired with a physical, bully-style approach on defense, he proved to be one of the team's most important players and leaders.
Now, he will be asked to take an even bigger step forward as one of the Spartans' assistant captains.
Assistant Captain: Shane Vansaghi
Vansaghi is another standout player for Michigan State and someone who has already proven himself on the national stage.
The junior forward was selected to represent Team USA at the World Junior Championship last season. While he did not see a significant amount of playing time during the tournament, simply making the roster showed just how highly regarded Vansaghi is.
The St. Louis, Missouri, native was selected in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Vansaghi recorded four goals and seven assists last season, both of which were a drop from his freshman campaign. While the Spartans will likely look for him to take another step forward offensively, his biggest responsibility this season may be helping lead Michigan State's talented incoming freshman class.
With plenty of young players joining the program, Vansaghi's experience and leadership will be valuable both on and off the ice.
Captain: Patrick Geary
Nightingale has shown that he values strong defensive leadership, and this season, senior defenseman Patrick Geary will take over as captain of the Green and White.
Geary replaces Matt Basgall, who served as Michigan State's captain last season.
Last year, Geary recorded two goals and a career-high nine assists while also accumulating 70 penalty minutes. He is not expected to be the Spartans' top offensive defenseman, especially with talented freshman Chase Reid joining the roster.
However, Geary's value to the team goes far beyond his offensive production.
His demeanor, physicality, and leadership will be crucial for a Michigan State team entering the season with a massive target on its back. Geary was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, going 172nd overall.
Now, he faces perhaps his biggest challenge yet: captaining a team with championship expectations while also helping guide a roster filled with youthful talent and inexperience.
It will not be an easy task, but Geary appears ready to conquer the challenge.
With Geary wearing the “C” and Männistö and Vansaghi serving as assistant captains, Michigan State will once again have experienced leadership guiding the program as it chases another Big Ten championship and a return to college hockey's biggest stage.
