SB Nation College Hockey - Big Ten Three Stars of the WeekCollege Hockey's Home on the Blogospherehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49993/wchb-fav.png2014-02-25T12:00:10-08:00http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/rss/stream/48067612014-02-25T12:00:10-08:002014-02-25T12:00:10-08:00UW's Mersch, Rumpel, PSU's Goodwin B1G 3 Stars
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<img alt="Michael Mersch (R) was named the Big Ten's first star for the second time this year" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bCv9Y3_M_SW3tGtXxllQ4T1mSvo=/0x0:708x472/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29160495/185339254.0_standard_709.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael Mersch (R) was named the Big Ten's first star for the second time this year | Richard T Gagnon - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Badgers teammate Joel Rumpel and Penn State freshman David Goodwin join Mersch for the week ending February 24.</p> <p>For the second time this season, the Big Ten's leading goal scorer is also the conference's weekly first star.</p>
<p>Wisconsin senior forward <span>Michael Mersch</span> (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a> draft pick) earned the honor, his third total, for the week ending February 24 after a four point performance (3G-1A) in a two-game home sweep of Michigan State. The Park Ridge, Illinois native scored all three goals on the power play. That includes two in Friday's 5-2 win over the Spartans.</p>
<p>Mersch now leads all Big Ten players with 19 goals on the season while the Badgers finish the season 17-2-1 at home.</p>
<p>Another Badger, junior goalie Joel Rumpel, and Penn State freshman David Goodwin round out the weekly three stars honor. The Big Ten began sponsoring men's hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player and/or goaltender of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars regardless of position.</p>
<p>Rumpel, who also has been named Big Ten first star twice, earns this week's second star. The Swift Current, Saskatchewan native leads the conference in most goaltending categories and earned his ninth career shutout in Wisconsin's 2-0 victory Saturday.</p>
<p>Goodwin, meanwhile, earned the third star with 3 points (2G-1A) in a two game series split against Michigan. <a href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/2/21/5435188/penn-state-shocks-michigan-with-late-goal-and-ot-win" target="_blank">Penn State defeated the Wolverines 5-4 in overtime Friday</a> with Goodwin scoring twice; including the overtime winner. It was the second time this season that the Nittany Lions, who sit in the bottom of the Big Ten standings with 7 points, won against Michigan.</p>
<p>Wisconsin is idle next weekend along with Michigan State. The Badgers, which trail Minnesota by one point in the Big Ten standings (the Badgers have two games in hand), finish the season with 4 road games beginning March 7-8 at Penn State. The Nittany Lions travel this week to Minnesota for the first time.</p>
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<p><i>Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation. You can also follow him on Twitter -- <a data-show-count="false" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/gopherstate">Follow @gopherstate</a></i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/2/25/5446654/big-ten-three-stars-wisconsin-michael-mersch-joel-rumpel-penn-state-david-goodwinNathan Wells2014-02-18T18:04:37-08:002014-02-18T18:04:37-08:00B1G 3 Stars: Gophers take top two spots
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<figcaption>Second Star, Second Effort | Matt Christians - SB Nation</figcaption>
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<p>Minnesota goalie Adam Wilcox and forward Hudson Fasching earned the top 2 stars for the week ending February 17. The pair are joined by a familiar name in the Big Ten - Michigan State goaltender Jake Hildebrand.</p> <p>A week after not having a player named for the first time ever, Minnesota made a big return to the Big Ten Three <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a> after sweeping Michigan.</p>
<p>Gophers goaltender <span>Adam Wilcox</span> (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> draft pick) and freshman forward <span>Hudson Fasching</span> (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a>) were named the top 2 stars for the week ending February 17. The duo are joined by Michigan State goaltender Jake Hildebrand.</p>
<p>The Big Ten began sponsoring men's hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player and/or goaltender of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars regardless of position.</p>
<p>Wilcox earned his fourth weekly honor - all of which have happened in the last six weeks - and first 1st star for his performance in Minnesota's 5-3 and 4-1 wins against the Wolverines. The sophomore from South St. Paul, MN made 35 saves Friday before stopping 28 consecutive shots Saturday after letting in the first one he saw.</p>
<p>Wilcox, who has only allowed more than 2 goals once in 12 Big Ten conference games, currently has a .931 save percentage.</p>
<p>Fasching, the second star, was the only Gophers player to score multiple goals.He had two goals, one each night, in addition to an assist Saturday. The Burnsville, MN native helped Minnesota rebound from just two goals last weekend in a pair of losses to Wisconsin to scoring nine against Michigan. The Gophers currently lead the Big Ten by 7 points over the Badgers and 12 points over Michigan (although the Wolverines have a pair of games in hand).</p>
<p>Hildebrand, this week's Third Star, claims his fourth Big Ten Three Stars award. The Butler, PA native had a .946 save percentage in a tie and road win against Penn State and stopped all 7 shots in the Spartans' shootout win Friday to take the extra league point. He also made 28 saves Saturday against a Nittany Lions team that peppered Michigan State with shots before MSU won with a late Matt Berry goal.</p>
<p>Minnesota is off next week before hosting Penn State. Michigan State, meanwhile, travels to Wisconsin.</p>
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<p><i>Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation. You can also follow him on Twitter -- <a href="https://twitter.com/gopherstate" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @gopherstate</a></i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/2/18/5424230/big-ten-three-stars-minnesota-gophers-adam-wilcox-hudson-fasching-michigan-state-jake-hildebrandNathan Wells2014-02-11T13:45:42-08:002014-02-11T13:45:42-08:00Skoff first Penn State player named 3 Stars
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<img alt="Wisconsin goaltender Joel Rumpel's role in the Badgers sweeping Minnesota earns him the Big Ten first star" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_9Fpk4zwrIho19vFfU1DwGgcfIk=/0x44:960x684/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28451363/rumpel2.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Wisconsin goaltender Joel Rumpel's role in the Badgers sweeping Minnesota earns him the Big Ten first star | Larry Radloff Photography</figcaption>
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<p>The sophomore goaltender made 32 saves in PSU's first conference win. Skoff is joined by Wisconsin goaltender Joel Rumpel and Michigan State forward Greg Wolfe.</p> <p>Three days after Penn State earned its first ever Big Ten conference win, the Nittany Lions also became the final team to break through in the weekly Three <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a>.</p>
<p>Sophomore goaltender <span>Matthew Skoff</span> was named the conference's second star for the week ending February 10 in part for making 32 saves in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/2/8/5393906/big-ten-hockey-penn-state-shuts-out-michigan-4-0-for-first-conference-win">a 4-0 shutout over then #10 Michigan</a>; his second career D1 shutout coming to the day of his first. Skoff, the first Penn State player awarded with one of the three stars, was joined by first star Joel Rumpel and third star Greg Wolfe.</p>
<p>The Big Ten began sponsoring men's hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player and/or goaltender of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars regardless of position.</p>
<p>Rumpel earned the first star for his role in Wisconsin's home sweep of then #1 Minnesota (whose absence in this week's Three Stars after playing a game is also a first). The junior goaltender only allowed a single goal both nights, making a total of 59 saves in a pair of 2-1 Badgers wins. In doing so, Rumpel helped get Wisconsin, entering the weekend 10 points behind a Gophers team which hadn't been swept since February 2012, back in the Big Ten conference race.</p>
<p>This is the second time the Swift Current, Saskatchewan native was named first star after doing the same on November 19.</p>
<p>Michigan State senior forward and captain Wolfe earned his first Big Ten award with four points (3G-1A) in a pair of 2-2 ties at home against Ohio State. (The Buckeyes won both shootouts to take the extra league point.) The Canton, Michigan native had his second multi-goal game of the season on Saturday with two second period goals. He now has 11 on the season.</p>
<p>The Spartans travel to Penn State for a Friday-Saturday series. Wisconsin, meanwhile, goes on the road to face Ohio State this weekend.</p>
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<p><i>Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation. You can also follow him on Twitter -- <a href="https://twitter.com/gopherstate" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @gopherstate</a></i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/2/11/5402244/big-ten-three-stars-matthew-skoff-penn-state-joel-rumpel-wisconsin-greg-wolfe-michigan-stateNathan Wells2014-02-04T15:23:11-08:002014-02-04T15:23:11-08:00B1G 3 Stars: Adam Wilcox & Christian Frey repeat
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<img alt="Ohio State had two players honored by the Big Ten this week" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2pOD1gV7UzI21Blw7RL5E_wcTBo=/0x0:959x639/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28050921/1549464_10152222365837806_1599594093_n.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ohio State had two players honored by the Big Ten this week | Matt Christians - SB Nation</figcaption>
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<p>The goalies, joined this week by First Star Ryan Dzingel, switch spots from last week's Three Stars honors.</p> <p>Rest assured this is not last week's honors. It just only seems like a copy-and-paste job.</p>
<p>Ohio State goaltender Christian Frey and Minnesota goalie <span>Adam Wilcox</span> (<a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> draft pick) once again were named the second and third stars by the Big Ten. While Frey was second and Wilcox third in last week's Three Stars, the duo have switched places this time around.</p>
<p>Fellow Buckeye Ryan Dzingel (<a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Ottawa Senators</a>), who is no stranger to these awards himself, was named the First Star for the week ending February 3.</p>
<p>The Big Ten began sponsoring men's hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars.</p>
<p>Dzingel, a junior forward from Wheaton, Illinois, earned his third honor this season after leading the country last weekend with six points (3G-3A) in a pair of wins against Penn State. The Big Ten's leading scorer with 36 points (17G-19A) scored twice Friday. He then played a big role in Ohio State's Saturday comeback from a 2-0 deficit. Dzingel had three points, including the tying goal, in the second period of the Buckeyes' 5-2 win.</p>
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<p>Wilcox, who has been honored by the conference three times in the last four weeks, continues his run of great play. The South St. Paul, MN native <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/2/1/5369840/big-ten-hockey-minnesota-shuts-out-michigan-state-1-0">out-dueled Michigan State's Jake Hildebrand in a 1-0 win Saturday</a> by making 19 saves. It was the sophomore goalie's third shutout of the season. The night before, Wilcox made 28 saves in a 2-2 tie. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/1/31/5367144/big-ten-hockey-michigan-state-ties-minnesota-2-2-once-again-takes-shootout">The Spartans went on to win the shootout</a>, 2-1, for conference purposes.)</p>
<p>Minnesota has had nine different players earn a total of 16 weekly honors. There hasn't been a week this season in which the Gophers have played and not been represented in the Big Ten Three Stars.</p>
<p>Frey started both games this past weekend for Ohio State. The freshman has made the most since joining the Buckeyes mid-season from the USHL, which includes stopping 70 of 73 saves against Penn State. That includes a career-high 46 against Penn State in Friday's 5-1 win and raised his save percentage from .923 to .936%.</p>
<p>Ohio State travels to East Lansing this weekend to face Michigan State while Minnesota is on the road against rival Wisconsin in a Thursday-Friday series.</p>
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<p><i>Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation. You can also follow him on Twitter -- <a data-show-count="false" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/gopherstate">Follow @gopherstate</a></i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/2/4/5378990/big-ten-three-stars-ohio-state-ryan-dzingel-christian-frey-minnesota-adam-wilcoxNathan Wells2014-01-28T17:39:35-08:002014-01-28T17:39:35-08:00January 28 B1G 3 Stars: Compher, Frey, Wilcox
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<img alt="Michigan freshman J.T. Compher was named the Big Ten first star for the week ending January 27" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qylaYGXCPE_I0aIc2zvXsYansGY=/0x283:3110x2356/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27642381/153031151.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michigan freshman J.T. Compher was named the Big Ten first star for the week ending January 27 | Bruce Bennett</figcaption>
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<p>Compher, a Michigan freshman, is joined by a pair of goalies in Ohio State's Christian Frey and Minnesota's Adam Wilcox.</p> <p>J.T. Compher's 4 point game Friday was too much to overlook.</p>
<p>The Michigan freshman and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> draft pick was named the Big Ten's First Star - his second time being honored - for the week ending January 27. He is joined by a pair of goalies in Ohio State's Christian Frey and Minnesota's <span>Adam Wilcox</span> (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>) in the weekly Three <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a> honors.</p>
<p>The Big Ten began sponsoring men's hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars.</p>
<p>Compher, who is second among Big Ten freshmen with 20 points (albeit the only one averaging a point per game), notched five points (3G-2A) in a sweep over Michigan State last weekend. That includes a career-high two goals and two assists in Friday's 5-2 win against the Spartans in East Lansing.</p>
<p>The Northbrook, Illinois native was also involved in the end of the game fracas between the two teams Friday; <a target="_blank" href="http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/wolverines-embrace-physical-style-against-spartans">explaining to the Michigan Daily</a> that it was "no big deal," and "part of the game."</p>
<p>Frey, this week's second star, made 36 saves in Saturday's 3-1 win over Wisconsin to help garner OSU a road split against the Badgers. He has a .923 save percentage in four appearances since joining the Buckeyes midseason from the USHL.</p>
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<p>Wilcox has the North Star College Cup tournament MVP to go along his 2nd third star honor in 3 weeks. The South St. Paul, MN native made a career-high 38 saves Friday in a 4-1 win over St. Cloud State. He matched that total the next against Minnesota-Duluth and stopped both shots faced in a shootout; his first shootout win (officially the game ended in a 4-4 tie).</p>
<p>"Anytime you get that many shots, especially in a game like this, you kind of get into a rhythm. Especially with penalties, getting that many shots keeps you alive throughout the game. UMD is a good team. They can score at any time," Wilcox said about facing so many shots. "They had those two goals real quick right there, but when you get that many shots it keeps you alive in the game."</p>
<p>All six Big Ten teams played at least one game this weekend.</p>
<p>This upcoming week sees all six teams in Big Ten conference play. Michigan hosts Wisconsin, Ohio State hosts Penn State, and Minnesota hosts Michigan State.</p>
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https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/1/28/5355766/big-ten-3-stars-j-t-compher-michigan-christian-frey-ohio-state-adam-wilcox-minnesotaNathan Wells2014-01-21T13:04:58-08:002014-01-21T13:04:58-08:00Hildebrand, Warning, Reimer B1G 3 Stars this week
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<img alt="Minnesota junior Sam Warning earned his fourth Big Ten 3 Stars honor with a hat trick Saturday." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IUXeSy0jNd9-Vz_XbIwmSR-1WWo=/1x0:958x638/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27229417/1476136_10152083049797806_1932460661_n.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Minnesota junior Sam Warning earned his fourth Big Ten 3 Stars honor with a hat trick Saturday. | Matt Christians - SB Nation</figcaption>
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<p>Michigan State's Jake Hildebrand and Lee Reimer are joined by Minnesota's Sam Warning in the weekly conference honors ending January 20.</p> <p>While the first season of Big Ten hockey continues to unleash firsts every weekend, a couple names are making regular appearances in the honors department.</p>
<p>Michigan State goaltender Jake Hildebrand and Minnesota forward Sam Warning have been named Big Ten three stars for the third and fourth time, respectively. The Big Ten began sponsoring men's hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars.</p>
<p>The pair are joined by Spartans forward Lee Reimer.</p>
<p>Hildebrand, the first star for the week ending January 20,<a href="http://www.theonlycolors.com/2014/1/19/5325192/tunes-time-spartans-sweep-penn-state" target="_blank"> made 48 saves Friday night against Penn State</a> in a 3-0 win and 77 of 79 total in the two-game sweep. Friday's shutout was the sophomore goalie's second of the season. The Butler, PA native is second in the conference in save percentage with .929% in 18 appearances.</p>
<p>It's the second time in a three week span that Hildebrand has been named the Big Ten first star. He was also honored December 31, 2013.</p>
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<p>Warning, meanwhile, earned the second star after the junior forward, who leads the Gophers with 26 points and tied for first with 10 goals, compiled Minnesota's first natural hat trick since 2010 on Saturday. Trailing 2-0 to Ohio State, the Chesterfield, MO native scored three goals in a 13:02 span of gametime to put the Gophers ahead 3-2 at Mariucci Arena (the top-ranked<a href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/1/18/5323588/big-ten-hockey-minnesota-defeats-ohio-state-4-2-for-series-sweep" target="_blank"> Gophers went on to win 4-2</a> to complete a series sweep of the Buckeyes).</p>
<p>"It was a pretty special moment. I think at the time it was a 3-2 game, so we couldn't get too excited," Warning said about his hat trick.</p>
<p>Including a pair of goals against Penn State, his first since October 19, Warning had five goals in a five day span.</p>
<p>The third star this week is Reimer, whose go-ahead goal 3:41 into the third period Saturday gave the Spartans a 3-2 win; its first regulation win in Big Ten history. (MSU previously won two shootouts.) The senior forward also had three points (1G-2A) in Friday's game and now sits in third place for Michigan State scoring with 14 points (4G-10A).</p>
<p>Michigan State faces Michigan for a pair of conference games Thursday in Detroit and Friday in East Lansing.</p>
<p>Minnesota faces St. Cloud State in the inaugural North Star College Cup on Friday at the Xcel Energy Center. The Gophers play either Minnesota State or Minnesota-Duluth the next night depending on the result against the Huskies.</p>
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<p><i>Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation. You can also follow him on Twitter -- <a data-show-count="false" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/gopherstate">Follow @gopherstate</a></i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/1/21/5331622/big-ten-three-stars-michigan-state-jake-hildebrand-minnesota-sam-warning-lee-reimerNathan Wells2014-01-14T14:18:22-08:002014-01-14T14:18:22-08:00Mersch, Dzingel, Wilcox honored
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<img alt="Adam Wilcox (32) was named the Big Ten Third Star this week" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CwnxEgfqsl1N83QgxRFsy8rysf8=/0x0:1099x733/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26835467/wilcox_adam_233.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Adam Wilcox (32) was named the Big Ten Third Star this week | Minnesota Athletics</figcaption>
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<p>Minnesota sophomore goalie Adam Wilcox joins the pair with his performance in a sweep against Penn State.</p> <p>This week's Big Ten 3 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a> trio includes a pair of hat tricks.</p>
<p>In the first weekend all six schools played conference series, Wisconsin senior forward <span>Michael Mersch</span> (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a>), Ohio State junior forward Ryan Dzingel (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Ottawa Senators</a>) and Minnesota sophomore goaltender <span>Adam Wilcox</span> were honored for their performances in the week ending January 13.</p>
<p>The Big Ten began sponsoring men's hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars.</p>
<p>Mersch and Dzingel each notched hat tricks, the first two in conference history, Friday at home for their second weekly honor. Mersch, this week's first star, had five points (3G-2A) in a sweep over ranked Michigan. Dzingel, the second star, had four points (3G-1A) Friday as the Buckeyes won and tied against Michigan State. (The Spartans won Saturday's shootout.)</p>
<p>The pair of players are also on top of the Big Ten goal scorers with 14 (Mersch) and 13 (Dzingel), respectively.</p>
<p>Wilcox, meanwhile, earned his first B1G honor when he was named the third star for his performance in Minnesota's road sweep over Penn State. He matched his career high Monday with 36 saves; including a breakaway that kept the Gophers ahead against the Nittany Lions.</p>
<p>Wisconsin is idle this week. Minnesota and Ohio State face one another both outdoors Friday at TCF Bank Stadium and indoors Saturday at Mariucci Arena.</p>
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<p><i>Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation and College Hockey News. You can also follow him on Twitter -- <a data-show-count="false" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/gopherstate">Follow @gopherstate</a></i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/1/14/5308648/big-ten-3-stars-michael-mersch-ryan-dzingel-adam-wilcox-hat-trickNathan Wells2014-01-07T12:01:04-08:002014-01-07T12:01:04-08:00Boyd, Rau & McCabe named B1G 3 Stars
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<figcaption>Matt Christians - SB Nation</figcaption>
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<p>A trio of juniors earn the first Big Ten awards of 2014.</p> <p>With only two Big Ten teams in action this past weekend, the competition for the Three <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a> was slim. That didn't stop Minnesota junior forwards Travis Boyd (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> draft pick) and Kyle Rau (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/">Florida Panthers</a>), along with Wisconsin junior defenseman <span>Jake McCabe</span> (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a>), from having weekends worthy of being honored.</p>
<p>Boyd was named the first star after a three-point performance (1G-2A) Saturday in the Gophers' 6-2 win over RPI. The junior forward, playing on Minnesota's third line, did so while matched up against the Engineers top line of Matt Neal, Brock Higgs and Ryan Haggerty (the nation's leading goal scorer).</p>
<p>"We knew were going to be matched up against them, so we knew we had to do a good job on D," Boyd said Saturday. "I think we picked our spots to create offense and I thought my line tonight played absolutely phenomenal.</p>
<p>Boyd also <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/1/3/5272260/mariucci-classic-colgate-ties-minnesota-2-2-wins-shootout-to-spoil-1/in/5035429">scored the tying goal in Friday night's 2-2 tie</a> with Colgate. (The Raiders won a shootout 2-1 to advance to the Mariucci Classic championship against Ferris State.) It's the first time in his career the Hopkins, MN native recorded goals in both series games.</p>
<p>Rau, this week's second star, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/1/4/5272566/gophers-hockey-kyle-rau-becomes-80th-minnesota-player-reach-100-points/in/5035429">assisted on Boyd's goal Fridau for his 100th career point</a>. The Eden Prairie, MN native scored twice Saturday in addition to being the only Gopher to beat Raiders goalie Charlie Finn in the shootout.</p>
<p>This is the second time Rau has been named one of the Big Ten Three Stars, having earned the third star October 15th, and (along with Boyd) continues a streak where at least one Minnesota player has been honored every week the 12-2-3 team has played this season.</p>
<p>McCabe, meanwhile, earned the third star for his performance in Wisconsin's split at home against Alaska-Anchorage. The Eau Claire, WI native scored twice Saturday in a 4-3 win, including the game-winning goal, and continues to be one of the top defensemen in the conference.</p>
<p>"I'll take that second goal any night of the week," <a target="_blank" href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/wisconsin-badgers-mens-hockey/2014/1/5/5275774/wisconsin-alaska-anchorage-hockey-recap-saturday-2014">McCabe said about his second goal</a>, which went off a Seawolf defender. "To get puck luck like that, it hasn't really been in our favor. So I guess the hockey gods were on our side tonight and we'll take that any day of the week."</p>
<p>The Big Ten began sponsoring men's hockey in 2013-14. In lieu of naming a player of the week, the conference is instead naming three stars.</p>
<p>Next weekend, Minnesota becomes the first Big Ten to play at Pegula Arena against Penn State in a two game series Sunday and Monday. Wisconsin hosts Michigan at Kohl Center Friday-Saturday in Big Ten conference play.</p>
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<p><i>Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation and College Hockey News. You can also follow him on Twitter -- <a data-show-count="false" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/gopherstate">Follow @gopherstate</a></i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/1/7/5284820/big-ten-3-stars-minnesota-travis-boyd-kyle-rau-wisconsin-jake-mccabe-honoredNathan Wells