Big Ten Announces Hockey Preseason Honors

ROSEMONT, lll. — Minnesota is considered the favorite to capture the 2023-24 Big Ten Championship according to the Big Ten Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll released on Monday. Preseason All-Big Ten teams (featuring 18 student-athletes total) were also selected in voting conducted by conference head coaches.

The Golden Gophers set records last season for most conference wins (19) and points (57) and have their sights set on a third-straight regular season title. Michigan, which has won the last two Big Ten Tournaments, was chosen to finish second, followed by Michigan State in third. Notre Dame was projected to finish fourth, Wisconsin slated for fifth, Penn State tabbed sixth and Ohio State selected seventh.

The Preseason All-Big Teams are comprised of six players on each team: three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender. Minnesota led the way with six players honored and Michigan earned five selections.

Minnesota forward Jimmy Snuggerud and Notre Dame goaltender Ryan Bischel were unanimous selections to the preseason All-Big Ten First Team. Snuggerud was the Big Ten co-scoring champion last year with 36 points in 24 games and Bischel posted the top save percentage (.938) in conference play. The rest of the first team consisted of Michigan forward Gavin Brindley, Michigan defenseman Seamus Casey, Ohio State forward Stephen Halliday and Minnesota defenseman Luke Mittelstadt.

Complete teams are listed below:

PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN

FIRST TEAM

Position	Name	School	Year	Hometown
Forward	Gavin Brindley	Michigan	So.	Estero, Fla.
Forward	Jimmy Snuggerud #	Minnesota	So.	Chaska, Minn.
Forward	Stephen Halliday	Ohio State	So.	Glenwood, Md.
Defenseman	Seamus Casey	Michigan	So.	Fort Myers, Fla.
Defenseman	Luke Mittelstadt	Minnesota	So.	Eden Prairie, Minn.
Goaltender	Ryan Bischel #	Notre Dame	Gr.	Medina, Minn.

SECOND TEAM

Position	Name	School	Year	Hometown
Forward	Rutger McGroarty	Michigan	So.	Lincoln, Neb.
Forward	Frank Nazar III	Michigan	So.	Mount Clemens, Mich.
Forward	Bryce Brodzinski	Minnesota	Gr.	Blaine, Minn.
Defenseman	Mike Koster	Minnesota	Sr.	Chaska, Minn.
Defenseman	Drew Bavaro	Notre Dame	Sr.	Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
Goaltender	Justen Close	Minnesota	Gr.	Kindersley, Saskatchewan

HONORABLE MENTION

Position	Name	School	Year	Hometown
Forward	Dylan Duke	Michigan	Jr.	Strongsville, Ohio
Forward	Joey Larson	Michigan State	So.	Brighton, Mich.
Forward	Landon Slaggert	Notre Dame	Sr.	South Bend, Ind.
Defenseman	Ryan Chesley	Minnesota	So.	Mahtomedi, Minn.
Defenseman	Jimmy Dowd Jr.	Penn State	Sr.	Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
Goaltender	Trey Augustine	Michigan State	Fr.	South Lyon, Mich.

# unanimous selection

PRESEASON POLL

1. Minnesota

2. Michigan

3. Michigan State

4. Notre Dame

5. Wisconsin

6. Penn State

7. Ohio State