North Michigan News

State Rep. Cam Cavitt on Wednesday welcomed Michigan State University hockey coach Adam Nightingale to the State Capitol. Nightingale, who is from Cheboygan, was honored for being named the 2024 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Big Ten Regular Season Champion, and Big Ten Tournament Champion. He was also a finalist for the 2024 Spencer Penrose National Coach of the Year award.

“Coach Nightingale has led his Spartans to reclaim their status as a powerhouse in collegiate hockey. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding the team to unprecedented success,” said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. “There are only about 5,000 people who live in Cheboygan, so to say that I share my town with the coach of MSU’s incredible hockey team is really something to be proud of.”

Nightingale played collegiate hockey at Lake Superior State University from 1999 to 2002 and at MSU from 2003 to 2005. He graduated from MSU with a degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2005. He previously coached at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels before joining MSU in 2022.

“I remember when Coach Nightingale played hockey in Cheboygan,” Cavitt said. “By the time my own kids started playing there, he was already a local legend. I have witnessed firsthand his journey and dedication to the sport.”

During his first season as head coach at MSU, Nightingale led the team to its first postseason wins in a decade. In the 2023-2024 campaign, he led the team to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 12 years and captured both the regular season and Big Ten Tournament titles.

In his first two seasons, Nightingale owns a 43-28-5 overall record.

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