Michigan State halts North Dakota's perfect season with 5-3 win in Texas

Michigan State scored five goals to defeat North Dakota 5-3 at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas, on Saturday night. The loss ended the Fighting Hawks' early season winning streak in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game.

UND freshman Caleb Heil started the contest, a decision coach Dane Jackson attributed to the need for internal competition. Heil replaced sophomore Jan Špunar in the net after the latter struggled in a previous game in Minneapolis. Despite the high-profile matchup, Heil faced 32 shots and conceded four goals. The result left the team's save percentage at .876, which ranks 54th among 63 NCAA teams.

"Need internal competition," Jackson said regarding the goaltending decision. "Some of our top guys haven't been quite good enough. I didn't think Spoons was that strong in Minneapolis. Got to compete and give other guys opportunities to see what we've got."

Freshman forward Cooper Simpson provided the offensive spark for North Dakota. Elevated from a healthy scratch to the captain's line, Simpson recorded two power-play goals from the right circle. These were his first two collegiate goals. Simpson finished the 2025-26 season fourth in goals and second in points in the United States Hockey League.

Jackson praised Simpson's performance after the game, citing the player's elite stick skills and shot quality. "He's got an elite stick and a high-level shot," Jackson said. "Really nice to see him score a couple big goals. We need that. We're lacking a little bit of the high-end ability and Cooper showed that, so that was really nice step. Proud of him."

The Fighting Hawks relied heavily on their man-advantage unit for their scoring. North Dakota's power play operates at a 33.3% conversion rate, ranking first in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Through seven games, 42.3% of the team's total goals have come on the power play, the highest proportion of any NCHC team. This reliance highlights a gap in even-strength production, where UND ranks sixth in goals per game and sixth in expected goals.

"We've got to get resilient and improve our game," Jackson said. "There's some good spots, some good parts we'll highlight. And we'll continue to drive home the details of things we're missing. But we've got to start seeing improvements and taking steps in those areas."

Logistical issues delayed the start of the game by 10 minutes. Security staff at the arena were unprepared for the sell-out crowd, causing long lines outside the venue. UND administrators worked with arena staff to speed up entry and were prepared to delay the puck drop by up to 20 minutes if necessary.

Hall of Famer Ed Belfour dropped the ceremonial puck for the opening faceoff. Belfour won an NCAA national championship with North Dakota in 1987, defeating Michigan State in the final. He also won a Stanley Cup in Texas with the Dallas Stars. Belfour spent the weekend in Austin, participating in a golf tournament and a local event before the game.