Spartans Honor Late Director of Operations with Victory Over Minnesota
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Michigan State’s hockey team channeled their grief into a powerful performance, defeating Minnesota 3-1 on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena in their first game following the unexpected passing of director of operations Dan Sturges. The No.2 ranked Spartans (18-5, 9-4) demonstrated resilience and unity, honoring Sturges’ memory with a dominant display on the ice.
A Program United in Loss
Despite the profound sadness surrounding the loss of Sturges, who died Monday at the age of 40, his presence was keenly felt throughout the arena. Head coach Adam Nightingale spoke of the team’s determination to honor Sturges’ legacy. “I thought our guys responded really well. I thought to get back on the horse, I thought our guys played extremely hard.”
Sturges’ connection to Michigan State hockey ran deep. A member of the Spartans’ 2007 national championship team, he came from a family steeped in the program’s history – his father, John, and brother, AJ, both skated for the team. Returning to his alma mater in 2019, Sturges played a vital role in the program’s resurgence under Nightingale, who took the helm in 2022.
Behind-the-Scenes Impact Felt on the Ice
While Sturges’ contributions were often made behind the scenes, his value to the program was undeniable. Nightingale visibly struggled to contain his emotion during a Thursday press conference addressing Sturges’ death, highlighting the deep personal connection he and the team shared. The Spartans paid tribute by debuting special “D.S.” jersey patches, which they will wear for the remainder of the season. Minnesota showed their respect with helmet stickers. A moment of silence was observed before the puck dropped, setting a somber yet resolute tone for the evening.
the emotional weight of the week was palpable for the players. “I definitely felt and played with a heavy heart,” said Michigan State defenseman Maxim Strbak, who contributed a goal and an assist in the victory, “and it was definitely tough out ther.” The team found strength in remembering Sturges’ guiding principle: 60 minutes of “KBH” – his acronym for “knee bend hockey.” A visit from Sturges’ wife, Becky, earlier in the week provided a notable boost to the team’s morale, Nightingale noted.
A Statement Win for the Spartans
The Spartans wasted no time making their mark on the game, scoring on their first shot of the night. Forward Ryker Lee, a first-round pick by the Nashville Predators, executed a stunning play, spinning and firing a backhander into the net just five minutes into the game. “It’s a little bit hard to get ready for the game because you’ve got so much on your mind and so many emotions,” forward Gavin O’Connell admitted, “so for sure, the first goal, first shot was a little bit of a weight lifted off and kind of that one was for you, Sturg.”
Nightingale emphasized the effort that preceded Lee’s goal, highlighting a backcheck 20 seconds earlier that created the scoring opportunity. Goaltender Trey Augustine delivered a stellar performance,recording 25 saves and maintaining a shutout until a late power-play goal by Minnesota with less than seven minutes remaining. “Trey’s a rock, he’s been so good for us,” Nightingale said. “We’re not a perfect team and when we have breakdowns, we need him to bail us out without a doubt. I thought he did a great job.”
Michigan State, fresh off a accomplished road trip with wins against then-No. 2 Wisconsin, will look to complete a weekend sweep when they face Minnesota again on Saturday (6 p.m., BTN). As the back-to-back defending Big Ten champions pursue national title aspirations, Sturges’ memory will undoubtedly continue to inspire their journey. “It’s going to be a really rough rollercoaster the rest of the way,” O’Connell acknowledged, “but I’m super glad that we’ve got each other to kind of get through it and he’ll be very missed.”
