It was a notable week on the recruiting front for the Michigan State hockey program.

The Spartans added two players for the coming season and also landed commitments from four future prospects.

MSU filled the two remaining spots on the roster for this upcoming winter — gaps left when Isaac Howard departed for the NHL and an incoming defenseman suffered an injury at the NHL Development Camp.

The Spartans filled their void on defense with Sean Barnhill, a 6-5 prospect, who was a third-round pick by the New York Rangers earlier this summer in the NHL draft. Barnhill played at Dubuque in the USHL and was committed to Northeastern for the 2026 season, but he flipped to MSU and will join the Spartans for this coming season.

Up front, MSU added Cole Burke, a 21-year-old forward from Trenton, who skated for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL the past three seasons. Burke, who was the captain at Fairbanks his final year, registered 16 goals and 22 assists in 57 games and is expected to be a depth forward for the Spartans.

On Aug. 1, any 2009-born recruits — equivalent to high school juniors — could officially commit to college programs. MSU was active, landing commitments from four prospects for future seasons.

On Aug. 8, MSU secured a commitment from Charlie Murata, a 2009-born forward who was just drafted eighth overall by the Flint Firebirds in the OHL draft. Murata, who is ranked as a five-star recruit, had 50 goals and 47 assists in 76 games while skating with the Don Mills Flyers U16 team last season and was at camp this summer with Canada’s U17 squad.

The Spartans also earned a pledge from forward Gavin Burcar, who skated for the Anaheim Ducks AAA U14 team and played with the Chicago Mission U15 AAA team last season, racking up 22 goals and 30 assists in 63 games. Burcar will play for the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League next season and is expected to join MSU for the 2027-28 season.

Earlier this week, Spartans also added a 2008-born, left-shot defenseman in Tyler Martyniuk, who will skate with the US National Team Development Program’s U18 squad this coming year. Martyniuk played with the U17 NTDP last season and is expected to arrive at MSU for the 2026-27 year.

MSU also got a commitment from a 2008-born forward in Brooks Rogowski, a former standout at Detroit Catholic Central. Rogowski played with the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League last season, where he had 11 goals and 12 assists in 66 games. Rogowski, a 6-7, 240-pound power forward, will be skating with Oshawa again this upcoming year and could join the Spartans for 2026-27 or the following season.

MSU also lost one prior commitment this week when forward Brooks Cullen flipped to Minnesota. Cullen announced his decision just one day after his younger brother, Wyatt, pledged to Minnesota as well.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott