For years, senior center Tiernan Shoudy concluded each season the same way — asking Michigan State coaches to bring his twin brother to East Lansing. This year, he stopped asking. That's when it finally happened.

Senior defenseman Travis Shoudy joined his brother on the Spartan hockey team this season, competing in 17 games before a season-ending shoulder injury. The season allowed the twins to finish the chapter of hockey they started together when they were just four years old.

“This was a dream come true, to be able to come here,” Travis said. “I wanted to come here when I was younger. I grew up a fan, and obviously Tiernan was here, and so this is where I wanted to be.”

Along with fulfilling a childhood dream, the season pushed Travis to become a better player. The program asked more of him than during his first three collegiate seasons. During Tiernan’s four years in the program, Travis watched MSU ascend the ranks. Travis brought the same effort as Tiernan on the ice and supported other scratches with his experience off the ice.

For Tiernan, the season gave him a chance to see his best friend every day, leaning on the person who pushes him and understands him the most. As soon-to-be graduates, the season has taught them to appreciate the little things: early practices, team meals and time spent together. It also brought a focus on the present rather than what lies ahead, something that was not always easy for them early in college.

“It was a little emotional,” Tiernan said on senior night. “To hear [Travis] say that it’s a dream come true was, it kind of got me a little bit…  When he’s off the ice he just helps everyone. I think about some of the guys that don’t play, and he’s right there, he gets it. He’s been through all that stuff, so I think that’s huge for him and he’s a huge part of the team still. It’s just been super awesome to have him here.”

Getting the Call

Last summer, Tiernan woke up at 4 a.m. to missed calls from two of his MSU hockey coaches. He was studying abroad in Australia, and was too excited to go back to sleep. 

Associate head coach Jared DeMichiel told Tiernan that there was an open seat on the team’s roster, and the coaches wanted his brother. Former MSU commit Tyson Jugnaut signed a contract with the Seattle Kraken, leaving room for another defenseman. Tiernan said DeMichiel was emotional about the conversation, highlighting his character as a coach.

Travis had committed to Colorado College after spending three seasons at Ferris State. He captained the 2024-25 squad, but entered the transfer portal when Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels retired after 33 seasons. While Tiernan had always talked to Travis about coming to MSU, Travis never thought of it as an actual possibility. Colorado College was one of the first schools that wanted him out of the transfer portal.