Week 13 Hockey Release

• All seven Big Ten Hockey teams are in action this week, comprising two conference series and three nonconference matchups. No. 8/8 Michigan State looks to reclaim first place in the Big Ten standings when it travels to No. 20/19 Penn State. rv/rv Notre Dame and Ohio State clash in Columbus in a rematch of a Nov. 10-11 series swept by the Irish.

• In nonconference action, No. 3/3 Wisconsin plays host to Lindenwood, No. 12/11 Minnesota takes on Robert Morris and No. 15/15 Michigan meets Stonehill in Ann Arbor. The Big Ten has compiled a 46-15-5 record (.735 winning percentage) against nonconference competition, the best mark of any league in college hockey.

• Wisconsin took over the top spot in the conference standings with a road sweep of Notre Dame over the weekend. The Badgers, who last resided in first on Nov. 17, have won nine straight games, the program’s longest streak since 1990. Mike Hastings’ team also leads the country with 18 wins. Senior Kyle McClellan was named Goaltender of the Month by the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) after recording a 5-0-0 record, three shutouts, a 0.80 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage in December.

• Twelve Big Ten players earned gold medals playing for Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. The United States went unbeaten at the tournament, claiming the top prize for the sixth time with a 6-2 win over Sweden on Jan. 5. Rutger McGroarty of Michigan captained the squad, Michigan State’s Isaac Howard shared tournament goal-scoring honors (7) and Michigan’s Gavin Brindley tied for second in team scoring with 10 points. Trey Augustine of Michigan State played a team-high 240 minutes in net, compiling a 4-0-0 record, 1.75 goals-against average and .936 save percentage. Minnesota forward Jimmy Snuggerud returned from the WJC and promptly recorded a six-point (5 goals, assist) series against Colorado College to earn the Big Ten First Star of the Week Award.

• Penn State recorded the biggest comeback in its 12-year history with a 7-6 victory over Army Dec. 6 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions trailed 6-2 with seven minutes left in the second period when they erupted for five goals over the next 17 minutes. Junior forward Ryan Kirwan registered a natural hat trick during a span of 4 minutes, 33 seconds during the second and third periods to fuel the rally.

• Big Ten players have produced nine hat tricks in 2023-24, second only to the 11-team Hockey East for the most by a conference. Penn State has produced three tricks this season while Michigan State and Wisconsin have achieved the feat twice. Minnesota and Notre Dame have accounted for the other two. A total of 39 NCAA players have scored three goals in a game this season.