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2026 Michigan State vs RIT - Men's

RIT Set To Take On No. 3 Michigan State In Highly Anticipated Hockey Matchup

RIT Set To Take On No. 3 Michigan State In Highly Anticipated Hockey Matchup

RIT will play host to No. 3 Michigan State in a highly-anticipated matchup at Blue Cross Arena.

Oct 15, 2026 by Chris Peters
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Chase Reid Highlights - 2026 NHL Draft Prospect8:35

Every weekend, FloHockey has some incredible college hockey action, but some weekends are just a little bigger than others. That’s especially true when the No. 3 team in the nation is heading to Atlantic Hockey America country for a one-off showdown.

The RIT Tigers will be hosting No. 3 Michigan State Saturday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester in a highly-anticipated matchup that you’ll be able to watch right here on FloHockey and the FloHockey 24/7 channel on various streaming platforms at 7:05 p.m. ET.

UPCOMING

2026 Michigan State vs RIT - Men's

Sat, Oct 17 · 11:05 PM UTC

WATCH

The Spartans boast one of the nation’s most star-studded lineups in terms of NHL prospects. Nine first-round NHL Draft picks line their roster with some of the most exciting young players in all of college hockey.

RIT, meanwhile has been challenging themselves with a tough schedule at the start of the year. Opening the season with a home-and-home split with conference foe Niagara, the Tigers followed that up with games at UMass, earning a tie and falling in the series finale against a top-20 team.

Head coach Matt Thomas has been working away at making the Tigers a regular contender in the Atlantic Hockey America conference. The four-time conference tournament champion is seeking its first title since 2024. 

Zach Wigle, last season's AHA Rookie of the Year should be a big part of the game against the Spartans. As will former Michigan Wolverine and Los Angeles Kings draft pick Matthew Mania, who transfered to RIT as a talented offensive defenseman.

Oddly enough, the Tigers have been to a Men’s Frozen Four more recently than the Spartans, having reached the final stage of the men’s college hockey season in 2010. MSU has not been back since 2007, when they won their last NCAA championship.

This Michigan State squad, however, has a real chance at it as one of the top teams in the country.

There’s really no overselling the quality of Michigan State’s roster, which has routinely been among the most loaded since Adam Nightingale took over as head coach five years ago. Each season, the blue-chip recruiting class Michigan State replenishes losses to the pros and graduation, in more of a reloading as opposed to recruiting.

As noted, nine of the players on the roster were first-round draft picks in the NHL Draft. That is a record for any one team in NCAA history, passing Michigan's team from 2021 that had seven first-rounders. 

Here’s what that looks like by order of selection.

Michigan State First-Round Picks 

  • Cayden Lindstrom, Columbus Blue Jackets (2024, 4th overall)
  • Chase Reid, Seattle Kraken (2026, 7th overall)
  • Ethan Belchetz, Utah Mammoth (2026, 17th overall)
  • Ryker Lee, Nashville Predators (2025, 26th overall)
  • Mason West, Chicago Blakchawks (2025, 29th overall)
  • Joshua Ravensbergen, San Jose Sharks (2025, 30th overall)
  • Jack Hextall, Calgary Flames (2026, 30th overall)
  • Tommy Bleyl, Nashville Predators (31st overall)
  • Cullen Potter, Calgary Flames (2025, 32nd overall)

In addition to the nine first rounders there are eight other active players that have been drafted by NHL teams for a total of 17 players who are affiliated with NHL teams already.

The Spartans started their season with an exhibition game against Boston College, which they won 5-2. Last weekend, MSU played its first live games of the campaign with 6-2 and 5-1 wins over Northern Michigan.

RIT has certainly not chosen an easy road to start the season – Thomas’s second behind the bench of his alma mater. But you have to appreciate the challenge they’re ready and willing to take on, one that they’ll be better for regardless of the result.

How To Watch No. 3 Michigan State vs. RIT

FloHockey is the streaming home for Michigan State vs. RIT live from Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. You can watch the game with a FloHockey subscription. Sign up here.

Additionally, the game will be available on FloHockey 24/7, which is accessible on a number of platforms including Amazon Prime Video (U.S. only), Fubo, The Roku Channel (Canada only), Rakuten TV (Scandanavia) and globally via FloHockey’s YouTube channel.

FloHockey is the exclusive streaming home for the Atlantic Hockey America conference and a number of NCAA Division I independents including Alaska Fairbanks, Long Island University, Lindenwood and Maryville. 

Subscribe to FloHockey today to enjoy elite college hockey as well as top professional and junior leagues including the AHL, ECHL, SPHL, OHL, QMJHL and USHL live and on demand all season long.

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