Patrick Geary and Maxim Strbak, both Buffalo Sabres draft picks, have developed a close partnership while playing for Michigan State University’s hockey team. The two defensemen, who have lived together for three years, form the top defensive pair for the Spartans, currently ranked No. 1 nationally.
Michigan State has started the season with a 9-1 record and secured all 50 first-place votes in Monday’s USCHO poll. Wins over previous top-ranked Boston University and Penn State have contributed to their strong performance after an initial loss at the start of the season.
Geary, selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and Strbak, chosen in the second round in 2023, have helped lead Michigan State to back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles. Geary scored the overtime game-winner in last year’s championship game. Both players are now aiming for a national title after two unsuccessful attempts in previous NCAA Tournaments.
Geary described their approach: “I feel like this year we’ve been just so even-keel. We’ve been so great on the back end, defending hard. I think it’s just the camaraderie between us two.” He added about his ambitions: “College hockey is hard… You got to go out there every night defending like you’re playing in the national championship. It’s a big game all the time.
“Our motto here is, ‘Treat every game and every day like tomorrow’s the national championship.’ … We’re just training for one goal, and we definitely have the group to do it.”
The current Michigan State roster is among the youngest in college hockey with 11 freshmen. Notable newcomers include first-round picks Porter Martone, Cayden Lindstrom, Charlie Stramel, Ryker Lee, and goaltender Trey Augustine. Geary serves as an alternate captain and focuses on guiding younger teammates through the challenges of a long season.
Strbak discussed their mindset: “I think it’s really just focusing on us and what we can control,” he said. “And our head coach likes to say that our biggest opponent is going to be ourselves. If we just play the right way, the way we usually play. We’re going to dominate. I think we’re a really tough team to beat. And just doing it every night, every weekend, just over and over.”
Their connection began when Strbak arrived at Michigan State following his selection by Buffalo in 2023; exposure from Sabres development coach Zach Redmond led to Geary being drafted by Buffalo a year later.
Both athletes hope to play professionally for Buffalo in future seasons. Geary said: “It’d be so cool to walk into KeyBank Center as a player for the first time… it’d mean everything. Especially to me and my family, it’d be a very cool experience.” Strbak added: “Obviously we both want to, at some point, make it to the next step and college is a great experience on and off the ice… Being here at Michigan State, the way we run things and everything, is the best decision we both could have made.”
In other prospect news:
Gavin McCarthy of Boston University was named on November 13th to represent U.S. Collegiate Selects at this year’s Spengler Cup in Davos from December 26-31—marking the first time an all-college team will represent Team USA at this tournament.
Noah Laberge has contributed significantly as an offensive defenseman for Newfoundland Regiment (QMJHL), ranking fifth among league defensemen with 17 points in 20 games so far this season.
Ashton Schultz was named by USHL on November 12th to join Team USA at December’s World Junior A Challenge in Quebec after recording five goals and three assists this season.
