Spartans Picked Third in Preseason Big Ten Poll

The Big Ten coaches have spoken: Michigan, not the Gophers, is the favorite to win the conference hockey title this coming season. Ohio State looks to repeat as conference champions for the first time since finishing atop the standings in five straight seasons from 2005-09 and would be the first Big Ten team to win back-to-back titles since Wisconsin claimed three consecutive crowns from 2010-12. No team in the nation has had more wins over the last four years than Minnesota with 105 while the Maroon & Gold have also earned four-straight NCAA tournament berths including Frozen Four appearances in 2012 and 2014. The league’s coaches picked the Gophers to finish second behind Michigan this season. Michigan State goaltender Jake Hildebrand was a unanimous selection to the 12-member list, and he is joined by fellow Spartan Mackenzie MacEachern. Hildebrand also added six shutouts, tied for the league lead.

MacEachern posted a career-high 26 points in 2014-15 with 11 goals and 15 assists.

Among the players to watch is Wisconsin junior forward Grant Besse, who returns to the Badgers after leading the squad with 11 goals and 22 points a year ago.

The Spartans will host Western Ontario on Sunday, October 4 at 4 p.m.in an exhibition contest and begin the regular season on October 9 when they travel to Maine for the IceBreaker Tournament.

With the exception of two games that won’t tell us much – Penn State and Rutgers both have Army left – the league’s nonconference slate is done and dusted and, quite frankly, there’s not much there that impresses.