MHM 2018 Oct-digital

COLLEGE HOCKEY PRIMER
BIG TEN PRIMER:
CONTENDER CENTRAL
WISCONSIN LOOKS TO BE A TOP CHALLENGER FOR THE BIG TEN TITLE THIS WINTER
Michigan’s Jack Becker.
Photo by Jeff Wegge
by Declan Goff
The Wisconsin Badgers
haven’t been to the
NCAA Tournament
since 2014 but that streak could
end this season.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin features a top-heavy blue line which
includes Wyatt Kalynuk, who enters his sophomore
season as a unanimous selection for the Big Ten
Preseason Watch List after posting 25 points as a
freshman. Kalynuk isn’t the only defender gathering
attention as Hopkins native K’Andre Miller might
be one of the most talked about players in the Big
Ten. Miller was a first-round pick last June by the
New York Rangers and his head coach Tony Granato
envisions the blue liner playing a big role in 2018-19.
“He likes playing on our No. 1 power play unit
Notre Dame’s Dylan Malmquist.
Photo by Jeff Wegge
Ohio State’s John Wiitala.
Photo by Jeff Wegge
right now,” Granato said. “He’s going to get a lot
of minutes. He’s extremely athletic and he’s a little
bit raw in the position, he’s just over two years
playing as a defenseman. We definitely want him
to be an offensive player as well – I think the size
and physicality that he’ll be able to play with is
something that will make him a strong defensive
player. I think he’s going to get a good look to make
the World Juniors team. So I think what you can
expect is an exciting player who will be on the ice a
lot for us.”
Notre Dame
The defending Big Ten Champion Notre Dame
Fighting Irish were picked to finish third in the
conference this season after finishing the 2017-18
season as runner-up to the national champion
Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at the Frozen Four in St.
Paul. Junior goaltender Cale Morris staked his claim
as the best goaltender in college hockey last season
by posting a 1.94 GAA and a .944 save percentage.
The First-Team All-American was awarded the Mike
Richter Award as the nation’s top goaltender.
On the offense, Edina native Dylan Malmquist is
poised for a big year and the senior was named an
alternate captain for the Irish. Notre Dame coach
Jeff Jackson says Malmquist had his best season as
a junior and thinks he will be a huge factor for the
Irish as a senior.
“He’s moving back to his natural position of
center so I’m excited about Dylan,” Jackson said. “I
think he’s got his head in the right direction; he’s
learned what commitment is all about and now
hopefully he can take that next step which we’re
going to need.”
Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes were able to put it all
together last season. Always known for its potent
offense, the Buckeyes had stability on the defensive
side and in net as they punched their first ticket to
the Frozen Four for the first time since 1998. Led
by head coach, and Hill-Murray alum, Steve Rohlik,
Ohio State is the preseason favorite to win the
Big Ten conference in 2018-19. Mason Jobst and
Tanner Laczynski were unanimous selections for the
preseason watch list. Although he may not light up
a box score, Lakeville native John Wiitala is a player
to keep an eye on.
“He’s been put in a lot of situations: he’s killed
penalties, he’s been on the power play, he’s
played regular shifts,” Rohlik said on the Big Ten
conference call. “I think more of his production as
a 200-foot player, that’s my biggest thing with him,
and right now he’s had a good offseason that I can
see. I think he’s going to make some improvements
in all areas of his game.”
Michigan
What a difference a year can make. The Michigan
Wolverines made it to the Frozen Four last season
after winning just 13 games in 2016-17. Mel Pearson,
who took over for the legendary Red Berenson,
guided the Wolverines back to prominence
and now second-year coach is poised to bring
another National Championship back Ann Arbor.
Only Boston University and Boston College had
a younger roster than Michigan a year ago. With
just three seniors on their roster this season, the
Wolverines appear to be a threat for years to come.
Sophomore forward, and Dellwood, Minn., native
Jack Becker, had 15 points in his freshman season
but over the course of the year, Becker continued to
impress.
“He’s probably our most improved player,”
Pearson said of Becker. “What I like about Jack is
he does everything the right way. He wants to
be a player, he trains hard, he’s an exceptional
student and competent student-athlete. But he’s
had tremendous growth in his game and we’re just
talking the other day, we would like one of Jack
Becker on every line just because of what he brings
to the table.”
Penn State
Entering just its seventh season at the Division
1 level, Penn State has already made its mark in
college hockey. The team has secured back-toback
NCAA Tournament bids but they did lose top
scorer Andrew Strutz. However, most of the offense
returns and their 138 goals were the third most in
college hockey. Juniors Dennis Smirnov and Nate
Sucese were nearly point per game players last
season and were named to the preseason watch list.
Michigan State
Michigan State may have been picked to finish
last in the Big Ten conference but its top line of
Taro Hirose, Patrick Khodorenko and Mitchell
Lewandowski is one of the best in college hockey.
All three players were named to the preseason
watch list. John Lethemon started 34 games
last season for the Spartans but he’ll have some
competition in highly-regarded goaltender Drew
DeRidder who played last season with the U.S.
National Team Development Program’s Under-18
Team. 6
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