Michigan State, North Dakota Clash in Historic Halloween Battle With 13 First-Round Picks

History will be made in college hockey on October 31st.

Michigan State will face off against North Dakota in Austin, Texas, on Halloween night, and the matchup is expected to feature the most first-round NHL draft picks ever in a collegiate hockey game, with 13 total first-round selections expected to be on the ice.

As the world dresses up for a night of parading around as another character and embracing the opportunity to be funny, creative, mysterious, or whatever brings a smile to people’s faces, the Spartans and Fighting Hawks will be squaring off in an epic battle between two of the top collegiate hockey programs in the country.

Michigan State enters the 2026-27 season as the three-time defending Big Ten champions but has fallen short in the NCAA Tournament in each of those three seasons.

Last season, the Spartans earned a No. 1 seed as the third-ranked team in the country. In their opening-round matchup, Michigan State held a 3-1 lead late against the Wisconsin Badgers before Wisconsin stormed back with three quick goals in the final minutes, shocking the Spartans and ending their tournament run earlier than expected.

North Dakota also entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season ranked No. 2 in college hockey. The Fighting Hawks dominated their opening matchups, shutting out Merrimack and Quinnipiac in consecutive games while winning by a combined score of 8-0 to advance to the Frozen Four.

However, much like Michigan State, North Dakota ran into the Wisconsin Badgers in Las Vegas and ultimately fell short in a hard-fought 2-1 defeat.

Now, the two programs will meet in a matchup that will have major implications on the national rankings, but it will also make history in several other ways.

The two teams will enter the game with a combined 13 first-round NHL Draft picks, setting a new record for the most first-round selections featured in a single collegiate hockey game. It will be a showcase of some of the best young talent the sport has to offer on a national stage on Halloween night in Austin.

North Dakota enters the matchup with four first-round picks on its roster. That group includes Calgary’s 2026 first-round selection Carson Carels, San Jose’s 2026 first-round pick Keaton Verhoeff, Calgary’s 2025 first-round pick Cole Reschny, and New York Rangers’ 2024 first-round selection EJ Emery.

Then there’s Michigan State.

The Spartans had a record-setting five first-round draft picks in 2026, tied for the most ever on a college hockey draft alongside in-state rival Michigan.

Michigan State has become a well-oiled machine when it comes to developing elite NHL talent, and this upcoming season will once again feature a roster loaded with future professional stars with a grand total of nine first round draft picks on the roster.

The Spartans’ nine first-round selections include the five players from the 2026 NHL Draft: Tommy Bjell (Nashville), Chase Reid (Seattle), Ethan Belchetz (Utah), Jack Hextall (Calgary), and Nikita Klepov (Anaheim).

All five players will step into East Lansing with extremely high expectations, and with such a young group of talented players, it will be a major challenge for head coach Adam Nightingale to help them adjust and reach their full potential.

Fortunately for Michigan State, they will have several experienced first-round picks ready to help lead the way.

The Spartans will lean on 2025 first-round selections Joshua Ravensbergen (San Jose), Cullen Potter (Calgary), and Ryker Lee (Nashville), who are now stepping into larger roles and will be expected to provide leadership both on and off the ice.

Adding even more experience is 2024 first-round pick Cayden Lindstrom, who enters the season as the ninth and final first-round selection on the Spartans’ roster and will likely be the leader of this talented group.

There is a wealth of additional NHL draft talent across both rosters, and this matchup is quickly shaping up to be one of the most anticipated college hockey games in recent memory.

The only question remaining is whether this Halloween showdown will be more than just a historic regular-season matchup.

Could Michigan State vs. North Dakota be a preview of what we eventually see on the Frozen Four stage?