This story is a part of The Sun's 2025 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament Supplement.
On Nov. 3, 1995, men’s hockey debuted its newly-minted 31-year-old coach against one of the forces of college hockey: Michigan State.
Head coach Mike Schafer ’86 was looking to resurrect a program that had once soared to great heights in the 1970s, but had plummeted in the early 90s, eclipsing an abysmal 19 losses in the 1992-1993 season.
Schafer would be making his debut against a Spartan team that had made the NCAA tournament twice in three years, and in front of a rowdy road crowd in East Lansing, Michigan.
The debut did not go as planned for Schafer — Michigan State took care of Cornell, 6-2, welcoming Schafer to college hockey with a sour taste in his mouth.
“I thought we were playing pretty well until Anson Carter decided to get involved in the game,” Schafer recollected with a laugh, alluding to the future NHL star that posted 51 points in that 1995-1996 season with Michigan State. “Once he did, I knew why we needed a lot of work.”
Since then, Schafer has coached 975 games for Cornell. He has collected seven Whitelaw Cups, three Cleary Cups, made 15 NCAA tournament appearances and reached a Frozen Four. He announced his predetermined retirement last June, sounding the end to a 30-year career that will stand as one of the best in college hockey coaching history.
After winning the ECAC tournament title, the NCAA tournament selection committee sent Cornell to Toledo. The team is tasked with the No. 1 team in the country per U.S. College Hockey Online, and the second-overall seed in the tournament.
That opponent is the team that began Schafer’s career: Michigan State. He’s trying to ensure that his career won’t be ended by the Spartans.
“The challenges are laid out right in front of us,” Schafer said.
Cornell will take on Michigan State in the NCAA tournament regional semifinal in Toledo, Ohio. The Spartans have rotated with Boston College for the top ranking in the nation, but have now occupied that spot for the last two weeks.
“They're No. 2 [in the tournament] for a reason, right?” Schafer said. “They have all the different pieces. … They've been consistent from the start of the year right through, and they haven't had many faces of adversity at all throughout the course of the year.”
It’s true — Michigan State has consistently ranked within the top-five in the rankings since the season began. It entered the season ranked No. 4 in the country and has refused to fall since then.
“I think [Adam] Nightingale has done a really good job,” Schafer said. “They play hard, they play simple, they play fast. They have a good formula.”
The Spartans are led by junior forward Isaac Howard, whose 51 points earned him a spot as a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker award. Howard, who played at Minnesota-Duluth as a freshman before transferring to Michigan State, played a big role in his team’s regular season and tournament titles, posting four points in the Big 10 championship game against Ohio State.
He has rarely been slowed down — Howard has more multipoint games than games where he’s been held scoreless. Howard is a product of the United State National Team Development Program and was a standout at the Shattuck St. Mary’s School, one of the top preparatory schools for high school hockey.
While his name packs a punch, Cornell has faced players of a similar calibur. Just this past Saturday, the Red shut down Clarkson’s Ayrton Martino, who — like Howard — had 51 points.
“I don't think it's any different than a kid like Martino. [If] you give them time and space, they're going to make plays, and they can score. They can rip it. They're good on the power play,” Schafer said. “[Howard] sits over there, and not only can he shoot it, but he can fake it and find people, and he'll go all over the place to create his offense. So you have to be aware [when] he's on the ice.”
Howard is the main player to shut down for Cornell. Michigan State, despite its high-calibur offense, has six players with 20 or more points. Cornell has five.
It will be difficult for Cornell to create offense, though, going up against one of the nation’s top goaltenders. Trey Augustine, a two-time gold medalist at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships and the Big 10 Goaltender of the Year. The Spartans have only allowed more than three goals once since Jan. 30, largely due to Augustine’s stellar play between the pipes.
Michigan State has the star players, and plays in a recognizable conference — one that is sending four teams to the NCAA tournament. But that’s not enough to scare off the Red.
“They got bigger, shinier rinks and a lot more money than the teams in the ECAC. But [when] you get down to it, hockey is hockey,” Schafer said. “It's the illusion of the Big 10, but it's not the illusion of the Big 10. Our guys aren't going to be intimidated by that.”
In the last two NCAA tournaments, Cornell has been the lower seed. Last season, the Red was the three-seed in Springfield, Massachusetts, beating No. 2 Maine before going toe-to-toe with top-seeded Denver, who eventually won the national championship.
In 2023, Cornell was the four-seed, like it will be this weekend. It was playing the defending national champion Denver, which Cornell shut out, 2-0.
“We're always going to be a lower seed. I think the reason behind that is that we don't have graduate students that we can plug [in] and play,” Schafer said. “I think for a team like ourselves, you're always going to be the lower seed. But at the same time, the goal is not to make the NCAA [tournament — the goal is to win the NCAA championship.”
No matter who Cornell plays, the end goal is the same. Schafer is chasing after the one thing that eludes him: a national championship.
“Whoever you play, they’re an obstacle to try to win a championship,” Schafer said. “Whether you face that number-two seed in the last game of the year or you face them in the first game of the year, doesn't make any difference. You gotta get through them.”
Cornell and Michigan State will face off at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. All action will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Jane McNally is a senior editor on the 143rd editorial board and was the sports editor on the 142nd editorial board. She is a member of the class of 2026 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. You can follow her on X @JaneMcNally_ and reach her at jmcnally@cornellsun.com.
