Get to Know the MSU Hockey Roster

Get to know the 2018-19 Michigan State University Hockey team! From the Spartan seniors to the freshman, find out more about the 27 student-athletes that make up MSU hockey

Goalkeepers

Redshirt junior Ed Minney and freshman John Lethemon will compete for ice time in net this season. Minney has appeared in eight games over his two-year career, posting a 3-3-1 record with a .880 save percentage and a 3.42 goals-against average. Lethemon comes to MSU after a successful career in the United States Hockey League where he posted a 16-9-2 record with a .924 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average last season.

Defensemen

The Michigan State University men’s Hockey Team is composed of 22 student-athletes, including four defensemen. The four defensemen on the roster are:

– Seniors John Klingberg and Michael Brodzinski
– Junior Zach Osburn
– Freshman Luke Martin

Klingberg, a native of Sweden, is the Spartans’ captain and has led the team in scoring for the past two seasons. He is a two-time All-American and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.

Brodzinski, from Minnesota, is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie Team in 2016. He has appeared in all 37 games for the Spartans this season, tallying nine points (2 goals, 7 assists).

Osburn, from Michigan, has skated in 36 games for MSU this season, recording seven points (1 goal, 6 assists). He was named an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten defenseman in 2018.

Martin, from Illinois, is one of two freshmen on MSU’s blue line He has skated in 35 games this season and has recorded eight points (2 goals, 6 assists).

Forwards

The Spartans have 12 forwards on the roster for the 2019-20 season These are the players that will be responsible for scoring goals and helping out on defense.

Leading the way is senior Patrick Khodorenko, who is entering his fourth year with the team. He is a two-time captain and has been one of the top scorers in the nation over the past two seasons. Joining him up front are sophomore Mitchell Lewandowski, junior Josh Nodler, and seniors Gerald Mayhew and Tanner Motley. These five players will be counted on to provide a lot of offense this season.

Rounding out the forward group are sophomore Brody Stevens, junior Tommy Apap, seniors Cody Milan and Austin Keating, and junior transfer Bailey Webster. All of these players bring a different skill set to the table and will be important pieces of the puzzle as the Spartans look to make a run at the NCAA tournament

The Captain

The captain of the Michigan State University Hockey Team is forward Bryan Lerg. The Livonia, Michigan, native was chosen as captain by his teammates prior to the start of his senior season. Lerg is a three-time letterwinner and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as a junior. He has appeared in 119 career games, tallying 37 goals and 38 assists.

The Coaches

The Michigan State University Spartans Hockey team is coached by Danton Cole. He is assisted by Mike Viola and Brad Tapper.

The Rookies

The 2019-2020 Michigan State hockey team has a total of 9 freshmen on the roster. Here is a brief rundown of the newcomers:

Forward Simon Edvinsson is from Sweden and is 6’2”. Center Connor Gagliardi hails from British Columbia and is 6’0”. Winger Wade Allison is from Minnesota and is 6’2”. Also from Minnesota, defenseman Owen Power is 6’5”. Forward Marcus Rohlfs is from Michigan and stands at 6’3”. Goaltender John Lethemon is also from Michigan and is 6’2”. Defenseman Gus Burnett rounds out the Michigan contingent on the roster, coming in at 6’1”. Finally, forward Tanner Hollenstein comes to MSU from Illinois and is 6’0”.

The Veterans

Though they’re only entering their second season in the program, the five seniors on the 2018-19 Michigan State University Hockey Roster have plenty of experience. They’ve been through ups and downs, experienced an NCAA Tournament run and are looking to finish their collegiate careers on a high note.

Forwards Taro Hirose and Patrick Khodorenko, defensemen Josh Healey and Jerad Rosburg, and goaltender John Lethemon are the Spartans’ captains this season. Each played major roles in MSU’s success last year, and they’ll be counted on again to provide leadership both on and off the ice.

Hirose, a native of Calgary, Alberta, led the team in scoring as a junior with 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists). He had at least one point in 32 of MSU’s 42 games and was named an All-American after being named the Big Ten Conference’s co-Player of the Year.

Khodorenko, from North Andover Massachusetts, was second on the team in scoring with 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists). He scored seven game-winning goals, tied for second most in the nation. Khodorenko is MSU’s top returning goal scorer.

Healey, from Pickerington, Ohio, had nine assists last season while skating in all 42 games. He was third among Spartan defensemen in scoring and led MSU with 54 blocked shots.

Rosburg had four points (one goal, three assists) in 36 games as a junior. The Chanhassen, Minnesota native has appeared in 131 career games, tied for seventh most among active Spartans.

Lethemon emerged as MSU’s No. 1 goaltender last season after splitting time in that role as a sophomore. The Brighton native posted a 21-10-1 record with a 2.40 goals against average and .917 save percentage while starting 33 games.

The Fans

The MSU hockey team is made up of 25 student-athletes, all of whom have a story to tell. From walk-ons to scholarship players, the team strives to create an environment that is both supportive and competitive.

The team is coached by Danton Cole, who has been with the program for six years. In that time, Cole has led the team to two NCAA Frozen Four appearances and one National Championship

Off the ice, the team works with a number of local and national charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

The Schedule

The complete Michigan State University Hockey Schedule is available here.

The Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL). It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) considers it to be one of the “most important championships available to the sport”. The trophy was commissioned in 1892 as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup and is named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada who donated it as an award to Canada’s top-ranking amateur Ice hockey club. The entire Stanley family supported the sport, the sons and daughters all playing and promoting the game. The first Cup was awarded in 1893 to Montreal HC, and subsequent winners from 1893 to 1914 were determined by challenge games and league play. Professional teams first became eligible to challenge for the Stanley Cup in 1906. In 1915, professional hockey organizations National Hockey Association (NHA) and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA), reached a gentlemen’s agreement in which their respective champions would face each other annual