Heading into the Big Ten Championship this weekend, the 10th-ranked Michigan State hockey team has reason to celebrate even before it takes to the ice to claim its third straight conference title. Because on Tuesday, the Big Ten announced its hockey postseason awards, and there was no shortage of players representing the Wolverines.
Michigan State is celebrating several individual accomplishments this week as the Wolverines prepare to defend their spot atop the Big Ten, led by sophomore forward Gavin Brindley's Big Ten Player of the Year award.
In addition to Brindley, sophomore forward Rutger McGroarty and sophomore defenseman Seamus Casey earned spots on the All-Big Ten First Team, and junior forward Dylan Duke was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team. Sophomore forwards Frank Nazar III and TJ Hughes earned honorable mention, while freshman forward Garrett Sifsky secured a spot on the All-Freshman team.
“I'm very proud and very happy that all of them were recognized individually,” University of Michigan coach Brandon Nowrat said Tuesday. “All these parts fill the whole, and that is our team.”
Brindley, who brought home the most hardware, leads the Wolverines and the Big Ten with 24 goals this season. He uses his speed and skill with his stick to evade opposing defenses and take dangerous shots. Especially in the second half of the season, Brindley established himself as a force to be reckoned with.
When Michigan desperately needs a goal, the Wolverines often turn to Brindley. He is shooting 22.2% from 108 total shots, which is an outstanding number compared to other players in the nation who shoot the same number of shots.
And when they don't rely on Brindley, they usually rely on his linemate in McGroarty.
The top line duo of Brindley and McGraw-Arty are tied for the most points on the team with 51 points each, and McGraw-Arty's 1.59 points per game ranks fourth in the nation. McGroarty brings energy and leadership to Michigan and is a deadly threat as both a passer and goal scorer.
Rounding out the All-Big Ten first-team group is Casey, who has become the Wolverines' complete weapon on both ends of the ice. An offensive-minded defenseman with great hands and acumen, Casey leads the University of Michigan with 37 total assists. He has very high standards for himself and has continued to meet them for the majority of this season.
Duke, just behind Brindley, McGroarty and Casey, is the only Wolverine on the All-Big Ten second team. He has a slightly different style of play than other award winners, playing hard and gritty, and is at his best when he's in front of the net. Duke's 21 goals are second on the team behind Brindley.
The contributions of Nazar and Hughes were also integral to Michigan's success this season, and both earned honorable mention. Nazar scored 37 total points, while Hughes' 44 points tied for second on the team with Casey.
Last but not least for the Wolverines, Szyvsky has exceeded expectations this season. In doing so, he became recognized as one of the five best freshmen in the conference. In recent games, he has slotted into the top line alongside McGroarty and Brindley, proving just how much he brings to the table as an undrafted freshman.
“It's great to see the hard work of not only Seamus, Gavin and myself, but also Duker, TJ and Frank,” McGroarty said. “Honestly, this is just an award. I mean, it's pretty cool to see. But I can't really think about it too much because there are bigger things coming up, but it is what it is. It's pretty cool. That's true, but it doesn't really matter because it's not a team win.”
McGraw-Arty quickly moved beyond individual recognition, giving a quick shout-out to himself and his teammates before continuing to focus on team goals. While it is important to maintain a team-first mentality heading into this weekend, they are not mutually exclusive. Naurat believes these personal accolades “will be the driving force behind his team's success this weekend and in the NCAA Tournament.”
In fact, the University of Michigan will be looking to build on this momentum next weekend and beyond. The Wolverines have a reason to celebrate individual accomplishments, but more importantly, they want to use that recognition as fuel to bring home hardware to the entire team, giving them even more reason to celebrate.
