MSU Hockey's Artyom Levshunov named AHCA All-American honors

Team honors and awards continue to circulate through the program following the Michigan State University men's hockey team's season-ending loss in the NCAA Championship regional finals in Maryland Heights, Missouri. That includes freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov, who was named a second-team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA).

Levshunov had a very rewarding freshman season, finishing tied for sixth in the conference in assists and tied for 11th in points.

Throughout Michigan State's history-changing season, Levshunov played as a top defensive duo with senior Nash Nienhaus, scoring nine goals and 26 assists for 35 total points. He was just two points shy of the rookie defenseman scoring record set by Jason Woolley and Pat Betterly.

Levshunov finished the season tied for eighth nationally in scoring and ranked second among rookie defensemen. As a finalist for the Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year Award, he was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and was named All-Big. He honed his list of first-team and All-Big Ten accomplishments. A team of 10 freshmen.

Levshunov is the first Spartan to earn the AHCA honor since Taro Hirose in 2019 and the first Spartan defenseman since Torey Krug in 2012. He is tied with the Wisconsin Badgers as one of seven freshmen to earn this honor this year. In the Second Team East category, goaltender Kyle McClellan and Michigan Wolverines forward Rutger McGroarty. According to Central Scouting Rankings, Levshunov is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.