Week 10 Hockey Release

OFFICIAL RELEASE

• Six Big Ten teams are in action this week, marking the last conference games until the new year. No. 14/14 Michigan is idle. After this weekend, teams are off until the start of holiday tournaments on Dec. 28.

• No. 10/9 Minnesota will become the first Big Ten team to reach the halfway mark of the conference schedule, taking on Ohio State in Columbus. Both games of the series will be carried by Big Ten Network. No. 6/6 Wisconsin will host Penn State as part of a BTN doubleheader on Friday. Michigan State, unbeaten in seven of its last eight, plays host to Notre Dame in a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals.

• Early returns from the Big Ten season show a shift in fortunes for a pair of teams. First-place Michigan State stands atop the standings after finishing fifth last season while Wisconsin resides in second following a seventh-place showing in 2022-23. Michigan State is vying for its first Big Ten regular season championship. The Spartans’ highest finish was in 2014-15 (second).

• Wisconsin’s rise from the bottom of the Big Ten into a top-10 ranked team has been possible due to a strong defense. The Badgers lead the NCAA in scoring defense, holding teams to 1.69 goals per game. Over its last four games, Wisconsin has outscored opponents, 14-2. In net, senior Kyle McClellan sports the nation’s top goals-against average (1.74) and second-best save percentage (.934) on the strength of three shutouts. He allowed just one goal last weekend against Ohio State to earn Big Ten First Star of the Week honors. 

• USA Hockey has announced its training camp roster for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships. Nearly half of the roster hails from the Big Ten, where 14 players look to make the 25-man roster that will compete in Gothenburg, Sweden from Dec. 26-Jan. 5. The Team USA Preliminary roster includes: F Gavin Brindley, D Seamus Casey, F Rutger McGroarty and F Frank Nazar III from Michigan; G Trey Augustine, D Patrick Geary and F Isaac Howard from Michigan State; D Ryan Chesley, F Oliver Moore, D Sam Rinzel and F Jimmy Snuggerud from Minnesota; F Danny Nelson from Notre Dame; and F Quinn Finley and F William Whitelaw from Wisconsin. The U.S. National Junior Team training camp will take place Dec. 14-16 in Plymouth, Mich., with the final team expected to be announced on Dec. 17.

• Notre Dame Coach Jeff Jackson hit a milestones on Dec. 1 recording his 400th win at the school with a 6-1 triumph over Michigan. Jackson, who also coached at Lake Superior State, leads active NCAA coaches with 582 career wins and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances in 25 seasons behind the bench.