The Big Ten announced its hockey postseason awards, and as expected, there was a lot of love for both Michigan and Michigan State.
The conference's Player of the Year was Michigan forward Gavin Brindley, who scored 51 points in 36 games, including a league-leading 29 points in 23 Big Ten games. The 5-foot-9 sophomore from Estero, Fla., scored six goals and 10 points in seven games, helping the U.S. win gold at this winter's world juniors. He was a second-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in last year's NHL Draft.
Brindley was selected to the All-Big Ten first team along with other sophomores, forward Rutger McGroarty and defenseman Seamus Casey. McGroarty ranks fourth in the nation in scoring, averaging 1.59 points per game. He had 16 goals and 35 assists in 31 games. The captain of this season's U.S. World Junior Team was drafted 14th overall in the 2022 draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
Last timeout:Michigan State hockey team defeats Minnesota 2-1 to set up Big Ten title game vs. Michigan State
Casey, who also played for Team USA, leads all college hockey defensemen with 44 points (7 goals, 37 assists). He has a plus-10 rating this season with 45 blocked shots.
The Spartans also earned numerous accolades, including Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year Artyom Levshunov. The 6-2, 210-pound defenseman from Belarus has nine goals and 23 assists in 35 games this season with a plus-25 rating. He is likely to be a top pick in this summer's NHL Draft.
Levshunov was named to the All-Big Ten first team and the All-Freshman team along with MSU goaltender Trey Augustin. He is the youngest starting goaltender in college hockey, boasting a .919 save percentage and 2.86 goals-against average, with 21 wins in 32 games. The starting goaltender for the U.S. national team at the world juniors was a second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings last summer. He was also on the All-Big Ten second team.
Last timeout:MSU defeats Ohio State in Big Ten semifinals, faces Michigan in finals
MSU's Adam Nightingale led the Spartans to the regular season title and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. In his second season on the job, Michigan State was ranked in the top 10 for much of the season. His 41 years as coach, his first two seasons, is the second-longest first two years for a coach in program history.
The Wolverines and Spartans will face off for the Big Ten Tournament title Saturday at 8 p.m. at Mann Ice Arena. The 16-team NCAA Tournament berths will be announced Sunday, with both UM and MSU expected to qualify. MSU has won three of four games against UM this season.
Other honorees include Michigan's Dylan Duke, second team, UM's TJ Hughes and Frank Nazar III, MSU's Carsen Dorwart, Isaac Howard and Joey Larson, honorable mention. UM's Garrett Schifsky, all-freshman team;
