Michigan Tech’s Tom Leppa, right, tries to stay ahead of Michigan State’s Tommi Mannisto, center, during the championship game of the Great Lakes Invitational college hockey tournament held at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Monday. (Photo courtesy of MTU)

GRAND RAPIDS — The champions of the past two Great Lakes Invitational tournaments collided in this year’s title game on Monday, with national No. 3 Michigan State prevailing 4-1 over Michigan Tech at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

While the Huskies won the crown two years ago in a shootout over the Spartans, MSU successfully defended its title after taking out Western Michigan in the finals a year ago.

MSU won the championship in this 59th edition of the tourney for the 14th time, while the Huskies were runners-up for the 18th go-around.

“Credit to Michigan State. They’re one of the top teams in college hockey,” Tech coach Bill Muckalt said. “I loved the way we played and competed. It’s not the result we wanted, but I’m proud of the effort.”

The Spartans scored three straight goals starting near the midpoint of the second period to break a scoreless deadlock. Anthony Romani tipped in the first goal with 9:34 left in the middle period, then Charlie Stramel put in a loose puck at the side of the net with 1:56 to go in the second before Stramel made it 3-0 3:08 into the third on a one-timer.

Stramel, who finished the weekend with three goals, was named tournament MVP.

MTU tried to make it interesting with a goal with 11:12 remaining after Carson Latimer tipped in a shot by Jack Anderson. It marked Latimer’s third goal this season and Anderson’s third point of this GLI.

After Muckalt pulled goalie Owen Bartoszkiewicz for an extra attacker, State scored the final goal unassisted into an empty net with 1:05 left by Tommi Mannisto.

Tech held a 33-31 edge in shots on goal, with Bartoszkeiwicz stopping 27 shots and MSU’s Trey Augustine 32.

And for the second straight Tech game, neither team scored a power play goal.

Anderson and teammate Stiven Sardarian joined Stramel, Romani, Augustine and the Spartans’ Patrick Geary on the All-Tournament Team.

In the third-place game earlier Monday, Miami (Ohio) downed Ferris State 4-2.

Story contents based on Michigan Tech Sports Information press release reviewing the game. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.