Men’s D-I: Big Ten

Michigan State remains No. 1 in Jan. 6 USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll as Spartans grab 43 first-place votes in first rankings of 2025

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Michigan State is again the top-ranked team in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll, garnering 43 first-place votes this week. Boston College stays No. 2 with six first-place votes, while Minnesota remains No. 3 with the final first-place vote. Western Michigan and Providence stay fourth and fifth, respectively. USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll … Read more

Hockey Commissioners Association men’s award winners for December include Robert Morris’ Klimpke, Michigan Tech’s Morrell, Vermont’s Strand, Ohio State’s Eberly

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The Hockey Commissioners Association has announced its men’s honorees for the month of December. Robert Morris sophomore forward Tanner Klimpke is the player of the month, co-rookies of the month are Michigan Tech forward Logan Morrell and Vermont’s Max Strand, and Ohio State sophomore Kristoffer Eberly is the goaltender of the month. Klimpke averaged 2.25 … Read more

Veteran Fontaine fueling Ohio State’s quest for return NCAA tournament berth in 2025

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A New England native is making good in the Midwest in his final season of NCAA eligibility. The uniquely-named Gunnarwolf Fontaine (East Greenwich, R.I) spent the last four years at Northeastern University, compiling 32 goals and 97 points and helping the Huskies to two Beanpot tournament titles, while personally earning 2024 Beanpot MVP honors after … Read more

With 41 first-place votes, Michigan State maintains top spot in Dec. 30 USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll

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Michigan State remains the top-ranked team in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll, collecting 41 first-place votes in the Dec. 30 rankings. Boston College is again No. 2, getting eight first-place votes, while Minnesota stays No. 3. Western Michigan is up two to No. 4, and Providence jumps two spots to sit fifth this week. … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: First half of ’24-25 season complete, conference teams optimistic for strong second-half run come January

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The first half of the Big Ten season is in the books and there have been a few surprises along the way, setting up an interesting second-half sprint to the conference playoffs. As we head into the holiday break, here are some thoughts about each team. Minnesota 15-3-2 (8-1-1 B1G) The Golden Gophers had a … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: After back-to-back shutouts over Michigan, top-ranked Minnesota finding goalie rotation key to success

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With one week of hockey for Big Ten teams before the holiday break, Minnesota tops the conference standings with 23 points, eight ahead of second-place Wisconsin. Feeling a little déjà vu? Maybe you’re flashing back to the middle of the 2022-23 season, when the Golden Gophers amassed 30 points in the first half, eight ahead … Read more

November HCA men’s awards go to Boston College’s Leonard, Michigan’s Hage, Colorado College’s Mbereko, Minnesota State’s Tracy

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The Hockey Commissioners Association has announced its monthly men’s honors for November. Boston College sophomore forward Ryan Leonard is the player of the month, Michigan forward Michael Hage is rookie of the month, and Colorado College junior Kaidan Mbereko and Minnesota State junior Alex Tracy are co-goaltenders of the month. While playing the hardest schedule … Read more

Michigan State retains No. 1 ranking, collects 43 first-place votes in Dec. 2 USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll

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Michigan State is again the No. 1 team in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll, getting 43 first-place votes in this week’s rankings. Denver stays No. 2 with four first-place votes, Boston College, up one to No. 3, garnered two first-place votes, Minnesota, down one to No. 4, bagged the last first-place vote, and … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Thanksgiving is time to assess what all conference teams are thankful for so far in 2024-25

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As we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., it’s a good time to take a look at something for which each Big Ten team may be grateful. The Wolverines are road warriors with a power play that clicks After sweeping Penn State in Pegula Arena last weekend, Michigan improves to 9-2-1 on … Read more

Michigan State garners 38 first-place votes, takes over No. 1 ranking in Nov. 25 USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll

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For the first time since 2007, Michigan State is the top team in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll, getting 38 first-place votes and moving up from No. 2. Denver fell one notch to No. 2, picking up seven first-place votes, while Minnesota is up one to No. 3, earning three first-place votes, Boston … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Minnesota looking to rebound after ‘a blunder 10 seconds into the game’ costs Gophers game against Bemidji State

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Two weeks ago, Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said, “You don’t win championships early, but you can lose them.” After the Golden Gophers split a home-and-home series with Bemidji State, losing 3-1 in the Beavers’ barn last Saturday, Motzko made some remarks that echoed those he made about early season mistakes and successes. “We made a … Read more

Michigan State, North Dakota heading to Austin, Texas, for 2026 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game

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North Dakota, in partnership with Ralph Engelstad Arena, H-E-B Center, and Visit Austin, announced Tuesday that H-E-B Center at Cedar Park will play host to the 2026 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Oct. 31, 2026. This special event features North Dakota and Michigan State at 7:07 pm (CST). “We’re looking forward to hosting … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Michigan surging early with 7-2-1 record as Wolverines ‘not supposed to be doing what we’re doing’

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When the Wolverines were picked by coaches in the preseason to finish fourth in the Big Ten, there were a number of factors that contributed to the impression that Michigan is going to be a middle-of-the-conference team. For starters, Michigan lost offense that accounted for 100 or so of its 169 total goals scored in … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Golden Gophers booming with confidence heading into Wisconsin series as Minnesota’s blue line a ‘catalyst for us’

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After sweeping Penn State in their opening weekend of Big Ten play, Minnesota is 7-1-0, the team’s best start since beginning the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season with 10 wins in a row. The seven wins in eight games is the Golden Gophers’ best start under Bob Motzko outside of that truncated season. “A lot of guys … Read more

Denver’s Devine, Union’s Muthersbaugh, Augustana’s Kotai, Notre Dame’s Say take home monthly HCA accolades

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The first Hockey Commissioners Association monthly awards for men’s hockey have been announced for the month of October. Denver senior forward Jack Devine is the player of the month, Union freshman forward Ben Muthersbaugh is rookie of the month, and Augustana sophomore Josh Kotai and Notre Dame junior Owen Say are co-goaltenders of the month. … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Early nonconference action sees Big Ten teams romp to .703 win percentage, good for tops in NCAA hockey

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For the Big Ten, the season is starting and fast and, well, big. With 37 games played collectively against nonconference foes, the Big Ten’s .703 win percentage in non-league play leads all conferences as November begins, with Hockey East (.628) and the NCHC (.627) not too far behind. Last weekend, six of the league’s seven … Read more

This Week in Big Ten Hockey: Penn State ‘not sure we have anything to prove to anybody else, but we certainly do to ourselves’ heading into home opener this weekend

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Two years ago, the Nittany Lions were an overtime goal away from a trip to the Frozen Four. After beating Colgate 8-0 in the first game of the 2023 Midwest Regional semifinal, Penn State fell to Michigan 52 seconds into overtime of the regional title game. Last season, Penn State finished sixth in the Big … Read more