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A trio of goalies thrust into action swept this week's Big Ten Three Stars.
Wisconsin's Joel Rumpel, Minnesota's Michael Shibrowski and Ohio State's Logan Davis were honored by the conference for the week ending November 17.
All three players were honored for the first time this season. The Big Ten began sponsoring hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars.
Rumpel, a junior from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, was named the First Star. He returned Saturday to the Badgers after missing five games with an ankle injury. In only his second start of the season, Rumpel made 32 saves as Wisconsin held off Miami for a much-needed 3-2 win on the road. That includes a pair of RedHawks breakaway chances.
Shibrowski earned the Second Star after stopping 25 shots on Saturday against Minnesota State in a 3-0 Gophers win. The senior from Andover, MN made his first start since October 17, 2012
"I think it starts with Shibby tonight. This was his night.," University of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said Saturday about Shibrowski, whose start broke Adam Wilcox's 47 game streak. "He's a tremendous teammate. He's a guy who hasn't played much. He works as hard as anyone on our team. He stays after practice taking shots. The guys were excited for him tonight and I thought they would be.
"I thought we played like a better, tighter defense in front of him tonight."
Davis, meanwhile, earned the Third Star for the Buckeyes after Ohio State swept Canisius in his first two starts. The freshman goalie started the year third on the depth chart before an injury to Matt Tomkins and Collin Olson's departure put pressure on Davis to start. He didn't disappoint as the Upper Arlington, Ohio native made 20 saves Friday in a 3-0 shutout win. That was followed Saturday by 22 saves in a 3-1 Buckeyes win.
Wisconsin and Ohio State are off next week. Minnesota hosts Minnesota-Duluth for two games Friday and Sunday in the final weekend before conference play begins November 29.
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Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation and College Hockey News. You can also follow him on Twitter -- Follow @gopherstate