NHL and future NHL players were all over the ice in Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, and they showed out in Michigan State‘s 5-4 overtime win over Penn State that was punctuated by a Charlie Stramel golden goal to top off his hat trick.
Stramel, a Wisconsin transfer, played an unbelievable game in a four-point performance, opening the scoring on a gorgeous centering pass to Daniel Russell. His final goal found him all alone against Nittany Lions net-minder Kevin Reidler, and he was able to put the puck top shelf glove side to complete the second-ranked Spartans‘ season sweep of Penn State.
It’s a heartbreaking loss for No. 5 Penn State, which looked in the final two periods like the better team. It scored three goals in the middle period and a fourth in its first shot of the third, with Aiden Fink scoring a pair, Gavin McKenna scoring one, and Shea Van Olm scoring the last. For Michigan State, Russell and captain Matt Basgall had a goal apiece in addition to the Stramel hat trick.
Michigan State will get two points in the standings for the win, whereas Penn State will get one for the loss. It’s Penn State’s second overtime loss to Michigan State this season, with the first coming in their first meeting back in November. Michigan State slides ahead of Michigan in the standings with 35 points this year, with the Wolverines set to drop the puck against Ohio State at 5 p.m. ET a point behind the Spartans in the Big Ten standings.
USA TODAY followed Penn State vs Michigan State hockey live. Check below for highlights and commentary.
Kevin Skiver
Charlie Stramel notches the hat trick and the Michigan State Spartans win! He makes an unbelievable move to get over Reidler and get Michigan State the win. Somehow he finds himself all alone on the back side of the play, and it is eerily silent in Beaver Stadium after what had been a raucous atmosphere for the full 63 minutes of gametime.
Kevin Skiver
In college hockey, much like the NHL, overtime is a 3-on-3 five-minute period. It’s sudden death, which means golden goals are in play. If neither team scores, the game ends in a shootout for the extra point but is scored as a tie. If a penalty is incurred, the team on the power play will gain a skater to make it 4-on-3, rather than 3-on-2.
Kevin Skiver
For this setting, three periods just isn’t enough. Penn State has scored on its first shot of the last two periods, now if it does the same it can call game. We’re going to overtime in Happy Valley, as the Nittany Lions look to avenge a 2-1 overtime loss in these two teams’ first meeting this year.
Kevin Skiver
As the puck skids down to Augustine in the Michigan State goal the ice, which hasn’t been much of a factor to this point, nearly comes up in a big way. It skips to the side of Augustine and, lucky for him, misses the net. It remains 4-4 with under a minute remaining in regulation.
Kevin Skiver
In a 4-4 game as we approach the final five minutes, MSU and PSU are both playing some more cautious hockey and trying to mitigate transition opportunities. Gavin McKenna tried to split two defenders and found himself sandwiched, and now Aiden Fink is grappled as he tries to get a scoring opportunity. No one is trapping, but neither team wants to lose this in regulation on an odd-man rush.
Kevin Skiver
It’s hard to tell what this means for the last 10 minutes, but as Kevin Reidler is completely shaded on his end of the ice the sun is peeking through in Trey Augustine’s crease. It hasn’t been a factor to this point and shouldn’t be for long, but creates an interesting dynamic.
Kevin Skiver
Penn State will go back on the power play in a 4-4 game. It is 0-for-2 so far. McKenna and Fink will both be on the first line for the Penn State power play.
Kevin Skiver
Matt Basgall somehow finds space from the blue line and scores on a screened Reidler to make it 4-4 once again. A long review for offsides finds inconclusive evidence, and the goal is ultimately upheld. Any time Penn State grabs a lead, Michigan State seems to have an answer right now. Great shot from Basgall up top.
Kevin Skiver
Shea Van Olm snipes the water bottle on a breakaway and Penn State takes a 4-3 lead 4:17 into the third period! A misplayed puck at the Michigan State blue line gives Van Olm a clean breakaway, and Michigan State will be forced to play from behind once again.
Kevin Skiver
With the sun reflecting off a fresh sheet of ice, the puck is dropped on the third period in a 3-3 game.
Kevin Skiver
What a game this is shaping up to be through two periods. Now in the second intermission, the game is tied 3-3 after a period largely dominated by Penn State. Aiden Fink scored two goals whereas Gavin McKenna put one up for the Nittany Lions, but Michigan State had a pair of its own. The first is an answer from Charlie Stramel, then he scores the equalizer with two seconds left in the period. Penn State is looking to avoid going 0-4 against the Spartans this season, but it has already played Michigan State the best since their first matchup this year when MSU won 2-1 in overtime.
Kevin Skiver
Michigan State ties it! Daniel Russell makes a beautiful drop pass to Stramel in the slot and he converts to make it 3-3 heading into the second intermission at 19:58 in the period. Michigan State makes Penn State pay for the late tripping penalty, and we’re going to go into the final period with a clean scoresheet in addition to a clean sheet of ice.
Kevin Skiver
With 45.3 seconds in the second period, Penn State gets a whistle for tripping to give Michigan State a power play. If Michigan State doesn’t score in the next 45 seconds, it will start the third on the power play. Big opportunity here for the Spartans in a period that has been tough for them.
Kevin Skiver
The second period has belonged to Penn State in a big way. A Michigan State turnover in its own zone is found by McKenna, who finds Fink in the middle for Fink’s second goal of the game. Moments later, Fink gets tripped up as he goes for the hatty and Penn State will go on the power play. It’s Penn State’s first lead of the game.
Kevin Skiver
McKenna is really making his mark on this game, but it’s Trey Augustine who gets the upper hand in a 2-on-1. McKenna looks off the defender and tries to go five-hole on Augustine, but Augustine closes his pads in the butterfly and casts the scoring chance aside. It’s still 2-2 in the last quarter of the period.
Kevin Skiver
Speaking of productive shifts, there’s the equalizer for McKenna! The prodigal son finds the net to tie the game 2-2 from the middle of the ice. He catches Augustine sliding too far post-to-post and it’s tied up halfway through the middle period.
Kevin Skiver
Penn State finally gets some pressure with its first line. Although the Nittany Lions are unable to find the net, McKenna just misses on a one-timer event that goes a bit wide. Augustine is proving difficult for Penn State to figure out when it’s in the offensive zone for a sustained period.
Kevin Skiver
A couple of first-rounders answer for the Spartans to give them the lead back! Porter Martone’s rebound finds the stick of Charlie Stramel, who chips it in to make it 2-1 Michigan State. Both of the Spartans’ goals have come in transition, as they meet Penn State where it likes to play. Some quick play on a fresh sheet of ice here to open the second period.
Kevin Skiver
Penn State gets the equalizer 13 seconds into the second period! A great stutter step from Aiden Fink ends with a goal on the top far post over the shoulder of Augustine. It’s 1-1 here in the second period, and the Nittany Lions have finally found some momentum.
Kevin Skiver
The goal from Russell on Stramel’s feed remains the only score so far in the game, as the Spartans go into the first intermission 1-0. Michigan State has kept up the pressure, with the Nittany Lions struggling to get pucks to the net to test Trey Augustine. It’s been a physical game so far, but the difference has been that Michigan State has gotten out in transition better than Penn State has.
Kevin Skiver
Not only does Michigan State successfully kill the Penn State penalty, it nearly doubles its lead as Romani comes out of the box. A fresh Romani gets the puck in transition as the puck clears the Penn State zone, and Reidler makes an outstretched pad save on the Romani backhand attempt. He keeps the game in check, but Penn State needs to figure some things out in the first intermission.
Kevin Skiver
Michigan State now gets its first penalty, as Anthony Romani is called for hooking. Penn State will look to find some sustained pressure here as the first period winds down.
Kevin Skiver
Great penalty kill for Penn State. Only one big mix-up in front of the net that Reidler handles with apparent ease. We’re back to 5-on-5 hockey.
Kevin Skiver
Loud boos rain down from the crowd as Lev Katzin gets popped for holding behind the net. Michigan State will go on the power play, on which it is 22.4%.
Kevin Skiver
Game is moving a little slow after a fast and furious pace to open it up. Trey Augustine is covering everything up for the Spartans and, while Penn State is starting to throw the puck on net, it is still being outshot 8-4 a little under halfway into the first period. The Nittany Lions are looking for some high-danger chances but not coming across them yet.
Kevin Skiver
As Beaver Stadium fills up and an icing gives Penn State an opportunity in the o-zone, both of these teams are hitting early. After the scuffle in front of the net, we see both teams exchange hits. Michigan State has had the pressure early, Penn State will try to reverse course.
Kevin Skiver
Michigan State gets on the board first, as Charlie Stramel finds Daniel Russell from the wing to put the Spartans up 1-0! A beautiful centering feed has Michigan State up 1-0 less than three minutes into the first period. Porter Martone gets the secondary assist on a nice outlet pass to Stramel on the wing. Penn State and Michigan State get into a tie-up in front of the net shortly after.
Kevin Skiver
Penn State wins the faceoff but Charlie Stramel gets the first scoring chance for Michigan State, as Kevin Reidler makes a nice glove save in an odd-man rush. We’re underway from Beaver Stadium with a beautiful snowy backdrop.
Kevin Skiver
Beaver Stadium is just the latest college football stadium to host an outdoor hockey game. It joins Big Ten fellows Michigan and Ohio State. Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor became the first collegiate Winter Classic host in 2014, when the Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings 2-3 in a shootout. Notre Dame then hosted event between the Bruins and Blackhawks in 2019, and in 2020 the Stars played the Predators in the Cotton Bowl.
In the Stadium Series, the Wild played the Blackhawks in TCF Bank Stadium in 2016, the Capitals hosted the Maple Leafs at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in 2018, the Kings traveled to Falcon Stadium to play the Avalanche in 2020, NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium hosted Hurricanes-Capitals in 2023, and Ohio Stadium housed Red Wings-Blue Jackets in 2025.
Next season, the 2026 Winter Classic will be played at Rice-Eccles Stadium between the Mammoth and Avalanche in Utah.
Kevin Skiver
We’re nearly underway in Happy Valley, as both sides make the long walk to the rink in the middle of Beaver Stadium from the tunnels. Both teams go with some classic threads.
Kevin Skiver
*– Denotes Big Ten matchup
Full Michigan State hockey schedule
Kevin Skiver
* – Denotes Big Ten matchup
Full Penn State hockey schedule
Kevin Skiver
With most of the league slated to play Saturday (Bruins, Lightning, Ducks, and Blackhawks have the day off) and the NHL winding down toward the Olympic break, the Vancouver Canucks currently have the best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick at 41 points, seven points fewer than the Flames. That would give them 19% odds as No. 1 overall. It would be the first time the Canucks have won the draft lottery.
Kevin Skiver
Michigan State is 3-0 against Penn State this year, including a 6-3 win on Jan. 30. Anthony Romani was dominant for the Spartans Friday night, netting a hat trick in a four-point performance.
Kevin Skiver
18-year old Gavin McKenna, a presumed top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, enters this game with 29 points on 10 goals and 19 assists with a shooting percentage of 11.5%.
Kevin Skiver
Penn State and Michigan State drop the puck at 1 p.m. from Beaver Stadium.
Kevin Skiver
No. 5 Penn State plays No. 2 Michigan State from Beaver Stadium on the Big Ten Network.
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