No. 4 Michigan State Set for Top-10 Showdown Against No. 8 North Dakota

Two of college hockey's most storied programs are set to meet Saturday night as No. 4 Michigan State takes on No. 8 North Dakota in the 2026 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game.

The Spartans walk in with a 4-1-0 record, while the Fighting Hawks sit at 4-2-0. Despite their strong starts, both teams are looking to prove they're not just among the best, but the best. Michigan State split its two-game series against New Hampshire, suffering a 1-0 shutout loss before bouncing back with a 2-1 win. North Dakota, meanwhile, was swept by rival Minnesota, surrendering 10 goals across the two games. And the Minnesota team they lost to isn’t the same national powerhouse they used to be. 

Tonight features NHL-caliber talent, with 13 former first-round NHL draft picks across the two rosters. Michigan State has nine first-round selections, while North Dakota has four, making this one of the most talent-loaded matchups of the young college hockey season.

A couple of key players tonight are Michigan State’s Ethan Belchetz, who will face a tough game against a strong blueline featuring multiple first-round picks. Belchetz has two points in five games and will have to do a lot of dirty work for the top-six while also fighting for position in the net front. 

For North Dakota, it’s defenseman E.J. Emery, a New York Rangers first-round pick in 2024, and he’s been a steady shutdown guy so far this season and will have a tough task tonight. The Spartans will apply heavy pressure, and they have a ton of size, so Emery will have to be sharp on puck retrieval. 

History favors North Dakota, which holds a 64-37-3 all-time series advantage. However, this will be the first meeting between the programs since 2016, adding another layer of intrigue to Saturday's showdown.