Notre Dame and Penn State Net Three Stars Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Three Stars of the Week for ice hockey games played January 23-24, 2026.

First Star
Gavin McKenna, Penn State
Fr. – F – Whitehorse, Yukon – Medicine Hat (WHL)

• Spurred No. 8/8 Penn State to a road sweep of No. 5/5 Wisconsin, totaling a Big Ten-high four goals and five points on the weekend
• Recorded a hat trick as part of a four-point night in Friday’s 7-2 win
• Extended his points streak to five games, moving into a share of the team’s scoring lead
• Receives a Star Award for the third time this season (1-First Star, 2-Third Stars)
• With his selection, Penn State has six First Stars on the season

Second Star
Dane Dowiak, Penn State
Jr. – F – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Tri-City (USHL)

• Tied for the Big Ten lead in points last week, amassing five points (three goals, two assists) as Penn State recorded its first-ever sweep against a top-five opponent
• Notched his first career hat trick and tallied the game-winning goal in the series opener
• Finished with a plus-seven rating while winning 58.5 percent of his faceoffs
• The Academic All-Big Ten selection earns his first career Star honor
• Becomes the seventh different PSU player to win a Star Award in 2025-26

Third Star
Sutter Muzzatti, Notre Dame
Gr. – F – Okemos, Mich. – RPI (NCAA)
2023 NHL Draft: 5th Rd, 143rd overall, Nashville Predators

• Powered Notre Dame to its first conference win of the season, a 6-1 decision over Ohio State at the Compton Family Ice Arena
• Factored in four of six goals in the win and was on the ice for three power play goals
• Produced an NCAA-high four points on Saturday with two goals and two assists
• Paces the Fighting Irish in scoring with 21 points on the season
• Secures his second weekly award of the season, having been named a Second Star on Oct. 28, 2025

Team rankings: USCHO.com/USA Hockey polls

2025-26 Big Ten Hockey Three Stars
Oct. 7
First Star: Charlie Cerrato, So., F, PSU
Second Star: Michael Hage, So., F, MICH
Third Star: Christian Fitzgerald, Sr., F, WIS

Oct. 14
First Star: JJ Wiebusch, So., F, PSU
Second Star: Felix Caron, So., F, OSU
Third Star: Jack Ivankovic, Fr., G, MICH

Oct. 21
First Star: Matt DiMarsico, Jr., F, PSU
Second Star: Daniel Hauser, Fr., G, WIS
Third Star: Matt Basgall, Sr., D, MSU

Oct. 28
First Star: Tommi Männistö, Jr., F, MSU
Second Star: Sutter Muzzatti, Gr., F, ND
Third Star: Gavin McKenna, Fr., F, PSU

Nov. 4
First Star: Blake Montgomery, Fr., F, WIS
Second Star: JJ Wiebusch, So., F, PSU
Third Star: Will Horcoff, So., F, MICH

Nov. 11
First Star: Trey Augustine, Jr., G, MSU
Second Star: Luca Di Pasquo, Jr., G, MINN
Third Star: Charlie Stramel, Sr., F, MSU

Nov. 18
First Star: Trey Augustine, Jr., G, MSU
Second Star: Adam Eisele, Gr., F, OSU
Third Star: Porter Martone, Fr., F, MSU

Nov. 25
First Star: T.J. Hughes, Sr., F, MICH
Second Star: Blake Montgomery, Fr., F, WIS
Third Star: Ben Dexheimer, Sr., D, WIS

Dec. 2
First Star: Will Horcoff, So., F, MICH
Second Star: Javon Moore, Fr., F, MINN
Third Star: Michael Hage, So., F, MICH

Dec. 9
First Star: Brodie Ziemer, So., F, MINN
Second Star: Max Montes, Jr., F, OSU
Third Star: Quinn Finley, Jr., F, WIS

Dec. 30
First Star: Charlie Stramel, Sr., F, MSU
Second Star: Trey Augustine, Jr., G, MSU
Third Star: Anthony Romani, Fr., F, MSU

Jan. 6
First Star: Jarod Crespo, Sr., D, PSU
Second Star: Charlie Cerrato, So., F, PSU
Third Star: Aiden Fink, Jr., F, PSU

Jan. 13
First Star: Nick Moldenhauer, Jr., F, MICH
Second Star: Porter Martone, Fr., F, MSU
Third Star: Sam Hillebrandt, Fr., G, OSU

Jan. 20
First Star: Matt DiMarsico, Jr., F, PSU
Second Star: Stephen Peck, Fr., G, MICH
Third Star: Gavin McKenna, Fr., F, PSU

Jan. 27
First Star: Gavin McKenna, Fr., F, PSU
Second Star: Dane Dowiak, Jr., F, PSU
Third Star: Sutter Muzzatti, Gr., F, ND