Dual Paths to Michigan State
Alessio Milivojevic and Mason West arrived at Michigan State from very different sporting origins, yet both are now central figures in the university’s athletic narrative.
Milivojevic spent his childhood toggling between football, hockey and lacrosse before a decisive turn in sixth grade locked his focus on the quarterback position, a choice that eventually earned him the starting role under head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Mason West, already a first‑round selection by the Chicago Blackhawks and a high‑school quarterback who led his team to a state title, opted to devote his collegiate energy to hockey, becoming a cornerstone of a Spartans squad that boasts nine first‑round NHL draft picks.
The Michigan State hockey program’s recent dominance — three consecutive Big Ten championships and a record‑setting draft pipeline — provides the backdrop for West’s quest, while Milivojevic’s offense under Fitzgerald looks to build on a promising debut.
Both athletes are acutely aware of the expectations placed on them, and as the new season unfolds they are poised to demonstrate that their youthful versatility can translate into impact on the field and ice.