Spartans unite to honor the unforgettable Dan Sturges. This deeply moving tribute captures the team's grief and enduring spirit.
“I feel really good about being a part of this team. You know, I think that’s one of the assets of not only being a Spartan but being able to come back to Michigan State. That’s why I came here.” — The late Dan Sturges.
The latest episode of The Shift was a real tear-jerker. The Spartans paid homage to the late, great Dan Sturges in a heartfelt tribute but also a reflection of the players and coaches dealing with the grief.
Quick note: If you’re not familiar with the YouTube series The Shift, it’s been highlighting the entire Michigan State hockey season so far—and it’s delivered edge-of-your-seat entertainment in every episode. The sixth episode dropped on February 23rd, and it comes with a serious side of cut onions.
The video's description is short and sweet. It also links to the GoFundMe page in honor of Sturges. It reads: “Dan Sturges was a beloved member of the Michigan State hockey family—a man who did everything at 100%. Episode 6 of ‘The Shift’ honors his life and memory. Please consider a donation in support of the family of Dan Sturges: gofund.me/f8fafc44e”
The episode captures the struggles of a team dealing with a death in the program’s family.
There’s a litany of clips showcasing how fun, energetic, and playful Dan was during his life—with a charismatic smile that seemed to light up any room and a contagiously positive effect on anyone near him. Videos show him talking with the video crew, asking, “Am I camera ready?” When the crew responds that he looks ready, he quickly fires back, “Damn right.” with his trademark smile.
Dan Sturges was a man who could fill a room with excitement, and you could feel the deep pain that many of the players, coaches and truly anyone involved with the team were carrying.
Trey Augustine, Michigan State goaltender and second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, said: “Even though his time with us was cut short, his legacy will always live on.” That quote proves just how meaningful Sturges was to the entire Michigan State hockey program and the school itself.
Augustine continued: “It’s been very helpful to have each other. Celebrate his life. It’s been huge and really helpful.”
Scott Moore from Spartan Media Network added: “I think it’s brought a lot of people together. The love that’s been pouring out. It’s been a wonderful thing.”
The video doesn’t dive too much into the personal lives, obviously, of these young men—some, if not most, of whom have probably never dealt with death this close to home. As someone who’s seen death surround him for the last twenty years, I can say the first time it happens, especially at a young age, really makes you dig deep inside and figure out who you want to become.
Shayna Bruno, Director of Student Wellness, talks about how everyone handles grief in their own way in the video—and it really shows how vulnerable (or non-vulnerable) people can be. Adam Nightingale says of Dan Sturges: “He was essentially the glue of the team.”
The video then cuts to the game the Spartans played after Dan Sturges' passing. Both teams wore a “DS” patch honoring him.
Emotions ran rampant on the faces of the players, coaches, and fans. It shows the emotional opening of the game as the arena took a moment of silence for Dan Sturges, the patches being worn in his honor, flags and banners flying through the air while heads hung down in respect and tribute.
If you had forgotten about the game itself, it was a beauty of a highlights recap. Kicking things off was a behind-the-back goal from Ryker Lee that was just as sick seeing it for the 100th time as it was the first. Another beautiful goal came from Gavin O’Connell, and the capper from Maxim Strbak.
Michigan State won 3-1. It was beautiful, but it was never about the scoreboard. Adam Nightingale said in his post-game presser: “This was about honoring Dan and not about the scoreboard. Dan would be super proud. And that’s our goal. Try our best to play the right way, try our best to be great teammates and do the intangibles that don’t take any talent, that Dan was the best at.”
When Dan Sturges was asked about what advice he’d gotten from his mentors: “Learn from what we’ve done but also bring your own flavor. Put a spin on it that’ll be impactful in your own way.”
This episode is a powerful reminder of Dan's impact—definitely worth the watch. Also, a reminder to make life your own. Learn from people but make it your own. Lastly, live life to the fullest every day because you never know what's on the horizon.