Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Messier ya shiga Jami'ar Jihar Michigan, ya bi gurbin ɗan'uwansa Mitch. Ya buga wa Spartans wasa na shekaru hudu kuma ya kasance zaɓaɓɓen All-Star na farko na CCHA a shekararsa ta ƙarshe a 1991-92. Bayan shekara ta biyu, New York Rangers sun zaɓi Messier a cikin 1989 NHL Entry Draft
, na 118 a cikin duka. A lokacin da yake tare da Spartans wasu daga cikin abokansa sun hada da Rod Brind'Amour, Kip Miller, Jason Woolley, Bryan Smolinski da Rem Murray.