Week 24 Hockey Release

OFFICIAL RELEASE

• The 2025 Big Ten Hockey Tournament Championship Game will feature a Top 10 battle when No. 1 seed Michigan State plays host to No. 3 seed Ohio State on Saturday (March 22) at 7:30 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich. The Big Ten Network will broadcast the game. The Spartans are the consensus No. 1 team in the nation while Ohio State is ranked ninth in both national polls. Last Saturday’s semifinals saw No. 1 seed Michigan State down No. 7 seed Notre Dame, 1-0, and No. 3 seed Ohio State defeat No. 5 seed Penn State, 4-3, in overtime.

• No. 3 seed Ohio State (24-12-2) at No. 1 seed Michigan State (25-6-4)
Ohio State and Michigan State are meeting for the first time in the Big Ten Tournament Final. Michigan State is seeking its second title after defeating Michigan in overtime last year at Munn. Ohio State is making its third appearance in the final, having lost twice in overtime (2018-Notre Dame; 2014-Wisconsin). The Buckeyes have won five of six meetings against the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament, although MSU defeated OSU, 2-1, in last year’s semifinals at Munn. Michigan State went 3-1-0 against Ohio State this season, winning both contests in East Lansing. MSU has also taken four-straight in the series on home ice dating to last season.

• Michigan State’s Isaac Howard, Minnesota’s Jimmy Snuggerud and Penn State’s Aiden Fink have been named Top Ten Finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. The Big Ten’s three selections are the most of any conference. Fink leads the NCAA in scoring with a 1.41 points per game average (52 points in 37 games), Howard captured the Big Ten scoring title with 33 points in 24 conference games and Snuggerud leads active Big Ten players with 64 career goals in 133 games. The Hobey Baker Hat Trick (three finalists) will be announced on April 3 and the winner unveiled on April 11.

• Trey Augustine of Michigan State is one of four finalists for the Mike Richter Award. The Big Ten’s Goaltender of the Year, Augustine sports a 2.02 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage and 18-6-4 record for the nation’s top-ranked team. A two-time gold medalist for the U.S. National Junior Team, Augustine is the youngest starter in college hockey and is a finalist for the AAU Sullivan Award. This year’s Richter winner will be announced on April 11.

• The Big Ten Conference released its postseason honors on Tuesday. Voting was conducted by conference head coaches and a media panel and winners were revealed live on Big Ten Network’s B1G Today show. Isaac Howard was named Player of the Year, becoming the third Spartan to win that award. Minnesota’s Sam Rinzel was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year and Michigan forward Michael Hage chosen Freshman of the Year, marking the seventh time the Wolverines have captured that honor. Ohio State’s Steve Rohlik was named Coach of the Year for the third time, tying a conference record.