Ohio State and Notre Dame Awarded Three Stars Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Three Stars of the Week for ice hockey games played February 26-28, 2026.

First Star
Kristoffer Eberly, Ohio State
Jr. – G – Pinckney, Mich. – Green Bay (USHL)

• Allowed just two even-strength goals to help Ohio State claim four of six points against top-ranked Michigan State on the road; finished with 56 saves for the series
• Held the nation’s fifth-highest scoring team (averaging 3.83 goals per game) to four goals, two of which came on the power play; finished with a 1.94 goals-against average
• Made 11 saves in the third period, one in overtime, and stopped 10 of 13 shootout attempts in a 3-3 overtime tie on Saturday
• Receives his second career Star Award, was named a Third Star on December 10, 2024
• Last Buckeye named First Star: Sam Hillebrandt (February 10, 2026)

Second Star
Danny Nelson, Notre Dame
Jr. – F – Maple Grove, Minn. – U.S. National Team Development Program

• Compiled three points as Notre Dame went unbeaten with a tie and a win against No. 5/5-ranked Penn State
• Scored two goals in Notre Dame’s 4-3 overtime win on Senior Night
• Finished the weekend series with a 57.9 percent faceoff rate, winning 33 of 57 draws
• The two-time World Juniors gold medalist earns his first Big Ten weekly accolade
• Last Fighting Irish Star recipient: Nicholas Kempf (Second Star, February 17, 2026)

Third Star
Max Montes, Ohio State
Jr. – F – Hartland, Wis. – Dubuque (USHL)

• Shared Big Ten scoring honors with four points (two goals, two assists) in Ohio State’s series win (1-0-1) over No. 1/1-ranked Michigan State
• Tallied two goals and an assist in a 5-1 win on Friday in East Lansing
• Registered a 50.0 shooting percentage, a plus-two rating, and a blocked shot
• Secures his second Big Ten weekly award of the season, having been named a Second Star on December 9, 2025
• Captures the seventh Star Award of the season for the Buckeyes

Team rankings are from the USCHO.com and USA Hockey polls respectively.

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

Feb. 3
First Star: Charlie Stramel, Sr., F, MSU
Second Star: Erik Påhlsson, So., F, MINN
Third Star: T.J. Hughes, Sr., F, MICH

Feb. 10
First Star: Sam Hillebrandt, Fr., G, OSU
Second Star: Luke Osburn, Fr., D, WIS
Third Star: Evan Werner, Jr., F, ND

Feb. 17
First Star: Michael Hage, So., F, MICH
Second Star: Nicholas Kempf, So., G, ND
Third Star: Reese Laubach, Jr., F, PSU

Feb. 24
First Star: Gavin McKenna, Fr., F, PSU
Second Star: Porter Martone, Fr., F, MSU
Third Star: Eli Pulver, So., G, WIS

March 3
First Star: Kristoffer Eberly, Jr., G, OSU
Second Star: Danny Nelson, Jr., F, ND
Third Star: Max Montes, Jr., F, OSU