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Michigan State hockey captain Preston Korytkowski passes away at a young age


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Daniel Lucente
August 16, 2026  (9:26)
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MSU hockey's Tommi Männistö models a jersey with a MSUFCU patch during an announcement of Michigan State Athletics and MSUFCU's jersey patch sponsorship on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the MSUFCU Club in Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
Photo credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Michigan State's ACHA Division II hockey program is mourning the loss of captain Preston Korytkowski, who wore number 4 for the Spartans.

The program shared the news on social media, describing Korytkowski as far more than the player who wore the C.
He was remembered as a teammate, a friend, and someone his team leaned on for leadership both on and off the ice.
The announcement asked for thoughts to be with his family, friends, teammates, coaches, and everyone whose life he touched.

A leader who left his mark

Korytkowski's role went beyond the captaincy itself.
Those who played alongside him have described someone who set a tone in the locker room and carried himself in a way that made teammates want to follow.
That kind of presence tends to stick with a program long after a player is gone, and the outpouring from Michigan State's hockey community reflects just how deeply he was respected.
Korytkowski's ties reportedly connected Rockford, Michigan, Fredericksburg, Virginia, and East Lansing, the different chapters of his life on and off campus.
He was still in the middle of building that story when he passed.

A program and community in mourning

Club and college hockey programs are often described as tight knit, and the reaction to Korytkowski's death shows why.
Teammates, coaches, classmates, and friends have been sharing memories since the announcement, reflecting on a young man whose future still had so much ahead of it.
The Michigan State hockey family closed its tribute simply, calling him forever number 4 and wishing him rest in peace.
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Michigan State hockey captain Preston Korytkowski passes away at a young age

Rest in peace captain


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