Western Michigan

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Western Michigan

11/6/2026 | 7:07 p.m.


Midco Sports/NCHC.tv


Fighting Hawks Radio Network


Nov. 06 (Fri) / 7:07 p.m.


 Western Michigan

AUSTIN, Texas – Eighth-ranked North Dakota dropped a 5-3 decision to No. 4 Michigan State on Saturday night in the annual U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game from H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Austin, Texas.
 
After the Fighting Hawks (4-3-0) tied the game late in the third on a power play goal from Cooper Simpson, Michigan State’s (5-1-0) Cayden Lindstrom answered back just 19 seconds later to restore the lead for the Spartans before an empty-net goal sealed the victory.
 
Simpson put together his best offensive game as a Fighting Hawks in his young career, scoring a pair of power play goals for his first tally and multi-goal game of his career. Will Zellers also snapped a four-game pointless skid with a  goal and an assist to give him eight points on the season.
 
Freshman netminder Caleb Heil finished with a career-high 28 saves on 32 shots against but suffered his first defeat of his collegiate career.
 
Following a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Michigan State struck first with a power play goal just 54 seconds into the middle frame before extending its lead to 2-0 with only 3:40 played in the stanza. North Dakota was able to cut the deficit in half when Simpson wired home his first-collegiate goal on a great pass from Mac Swanson to pull the Hawks within 2-1 heading into the second intermission.
 
Early in the third, UND brought the game level after Gavin Lindberg won a faceoff directly back to Zellers who found the back of the net for his third of the season and tied the game at 2-2.
 
Michigan State jumped back in front on Anthony Romani’s second of the night, but once again, UND was able to draw even. On a late power play, Simpson blasted home his second of the game to send the 6,483 fans into a frenzy and bring the game level at 3-3 with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.
 
The even score lasted for only 19 seconds, however, as the Spartans were able to regain the lead on a rebound tally from Cayden Lindstrom before MSU sealed the 5-3 win with an empty netter in the final minute.
 
North Dakota will return home to open NCHC play against Western Michigan beginning on Friday night at 7:07 p.m. from Ralph Englestad Arena. The contest will air on Midco Sports, NCHC.tv and the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
 
Postgame Notes 


UND falls to 64-38-3 all-time against Michigan State and 6-5-0 at a neutral site
The Fighting Hawks have lost three straight games for the first time since Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2024
Saturday’s game featured 13 first round picks – the most ever in a college hockey game
The game was also the first collegiate hockey game played in the state of Texas
Cooper Simpson scored the first two goals of his collegiate career
Will Zellers snapped a four-game pointless streak with a goal and an assist
Ollie Josephson registered his first point of the season with an assist
Gavin Lindberg recorded his team-leading sixth assist of the season
UND falls to 3-3-0 all-time in destination games that it has hosted and has lost three straight
The Hawks have allowed nine goals over their last three third periods
UND drops to 0-2-0 this season following a loss
NoDak is also 0-1-0 this season against ranked opponents
The Hawks have scored at least one power play goal in every game this season
UND went 2-for-7 on the power play while MSU was 1-for-4
Caleb Heil made a career-high 28 saves and dropped to 2-1-0 in his career
Shots were 35-33 in favor of UND
Faceoffs were 42-36 UND, with Josephson leading everyone at 14-8

How It Happened 

First Period:                                                     

No scoring

Second Period: 

00:54 | MSU – Anthony Romani (6, PP) from Chase Reid (5) and Gavin O’Connell (3)

03:40 | MSU – Eric Nilson (2)

05:25 | UND – Cooper Simpson (1, PP) from Mac Swanson (4) and Ollie Josephson (1)

Third Period:

01:54 | UND – Will Zellers (3) from Gavin Lindberg (6)

07:41 | MSU – Romani (7) from Cullen Potter (2)

16:08 | UND – Simpson (2, PP) from Zellers (5) and Sam Laurila (4)

16:27 | MSU – Cayden Lindstrom (2) from Ryker Lee (5) and Reid (6)

19:11 | MSU – Tommi Mannisto (2, EN)

For more information on North Dakota hockey, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmhockey.