2022–23 Big Ten Conference ice hockey season explained

Color:color:white; background:#0088CE;
Color Text:white
Season:2022–23
Season:2022–23
Conference:Big Ten Conference
Shortconference:Big Ten Conference
Division:Division I
Sport:ice hockey
Sportname:ice hockey
Pixels:225 px
Duration:October 1, 2022–
April 8, 2023
No Of Teams:7
Tv:Big Ten Network
Draft Link:2023 NHL Entry Draft
Top Pick:Adam Fantilli
Picked By:Columbus Blue Jackets
Regular Season:
Season Champs:Minnesota
Mvp:Matthew Knies
Mvp Link:Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Player of the Year
Top Scorer:Jimmy Snuggerud
Logan Cooley
Tournament:
Tournament Champs:Michigan
Tournament Place:Minnesota
Mvp2:Adam Fantilli
Mvp Link2:Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Top Scorer2:Adam Fantilli (12)
Ncaa:
Bids:4
Conf Rec:7–4
Best:National Runner-Up
Ncaa Team:Minnesota
Prevseason:2021–22
Nextseason:2023–24
Labelstyle:background:#eeeeee;

The 2022–23 Big Ten Conference ice hockey season was the 33rd season of play for the Big Ten Conference's men's ice hockey division and took place during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The season began on October 1, 2022, and concluded on April 8, 2023.[1]

Head coaches

Coaching changes

Michigan State

On April 12, 2022, former Michigan State head coach Danton Cole was fired.[2] On May 23, 2022, Adam Nightingale was named head coach for the Spartans.[3] [4]

Michigan

During the 2022 offseason, Michigan's head coach, Mel Pearson, was accused of mistreating both players and staff during his tenure with the Wolverines.[5] On August 5, 2022, Pearson was fired.[6] Because the vacancy happened so close to the start of the next season, the Wolverines were not able to perform a typical hiring search. On August 7, 2022, Michigan promoted assistant coach Brandon Naurato to interim head coach for the 2022–23 season.[7] [8]

Records

TeamHead coachSeason at schoolRecord at schoolBig Ten record
Michigan 10–0–00–0–0
Michigan State 10–0–00–0–0
Minnesota 584–50–11 54–30–10
Notre Dame 18376–231–66 66–43–9
Ohio State 10162–127–3679–76–19
Penn State 12159–138–2478–90–15
Wisconsin 792–106–1659–69–12

Non-Conference record

Of the sixteen teams that are selected to participate in the NCAA tournament, ten will be via at-large bids. Those 10 teams are determined based upon the PairWise rankings. The rankings take into account all games played but are heavily affected by intra-conference results. The result is that teams from leagues which perform better in non-conference are much more likely to receive at-large bids even if they possess inferior records overall.

The Big Ten performed tremendously well in non-conference games. All seven league members had winning records against other conferences and more than half were at or better than .700. On aggregate, only Hockey East had a winning record against the Big Ten but that was only by 1 game. The overwhelming win/loss totals enabled the Big Ten to have as many as 6 of its member teams ranked in the top 16 during the season.

Regular season record

TeamTotal
Michigan0–0–02–0–01–0–11–1–02–0–02–0–08–1–1
Michigan State0–0–01–3–00–0–01–1–02–0–02–0–06–4–0
Minnesota0–0–01–1–00–0–00–0–03–1–02–2–06–4–0
Notre Dame0–0–12–0–00–0–01–1–01–1–01–2–05–4–1
Ohio State4–0–02–0–00–0–00–1–11–1–00–0–07–2–1
Penn State6–0–02–0–00–0–00–0–02–0–00–0–010–0–0
Wisconsin0–0–01–0–00–1–00–0–04–0–02–2–07–3–0
Overall10–0–111–4–01–1–13–4–115–3–09–6–049–18–3

Statistics

Leading scorers

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes[9]

PlayerClassTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Freshman 24 14 22 36 30
Freshman 23 12 24 36 17
Sophomore 24 15 15 30 19
Freshman 19 11 19 30 45
Sophomore 22 7 21 28 14
Senior 22 7 17 24 11
Senior 24 5 18 23 7
Senior 24 13 9 22 6
Sophomore 22 9 13 22 4
Freshman 22 7 14 21 8

Leading goaltenders

Minimum 1/3 of team's minutes played in conference games.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average[10]

PlayerClassTeamGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
Senior 22 1300:07 17 4 1 42 5 .935 1.94
Senior 24 1443:18 10 10 4 55 2 .938 2.29
Sophomore 24 1432:45 11 11 2 61 2 .912 2.57
Junior 23 1259:07 9 12 1 60 2 .900 2.86
Graduate 24 1391:06 10 12 2 71 2 .913 3.06

Ranking

See main article: 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings.

USCHO

Michigan 6 - 7 6 5 4 1 3 3 5 5 6 7 - 7 6 8 7 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 2 - 3
Michigan State NR - NR NR NR NR NR NR 17 16 13 12 11 - 14 17 15 15 17 15 17 18 20 18 19 18 - 19
Minnesota 2 - 2 2 1 1 3 1 2 2 4 3 3 - 3 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 - 2
Notre Dame 9 - 11 14 13 12 12 18 20 19 20 19 19 - 20 NR NR NR 20 NR 19 20 19 NR NR NR - NR
Ohio State 16 - 14 11 16 11 9 10 12 12 17 15 14 - 12 8 7 8 7 7 10 8 9 9 8 8 - 7
Penn State NR - NR 20 18 16 13 8 6 7 6 5 5 - 5 5 6 6 9 8 7 9 9 10 10 10 - 8
Wisconsin NR - NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR - NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR - NR
USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1 and 13.[11]

USA Today

Michigan 6 6 6 6 5 4 1 3 3 5 6 7 8 8 7 6 7 7 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 3
Michigan State NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 18 16 11 13 11 11 13 16 15 15 19 15 14 18 20 17 17 18 17 17
Minnesota 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Notre Dame 8 8 9 13 12 12 12 18 20 19 20 19 18 17 18 NR NR 20 17 NR 18 19 17 20 20 20 19 19
Ohio State 18 18 14 11 16 11 9 11 13 12 17 14 14 14 12 8 8 8 7 7 9 7 9 9 8 8 6 7
Penn State NR NR NR NR 18 15 10 7 6 7 5 5 6 5 5 5 6 6 9 8 7 10 10 11 10 10 8 8
Wisconsin NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
[12]

Pairwise

Michigan 22 28 2 3 6 11 3 12 10 11 10 8 8 8 7 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 bgcolor=gold3
Michigan State 22 12 26 12 21 16 10 11 7 9 8 13 13 12 13 16 14 14 18 19 16 16 16
Minnesota 3 7 1 15 17 9 12 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 bgcolor=gold1
Notre Dame 22 30 36 16 19 24 20 20 19 16 16 14 15 18 15 14 17 15 14 13 18 17 17
Ohio State 3 2 10 7 9 10 17 16 18 13 12 9 6 6 7 8 8 9 8 9 10 8 bgcolor=gold8
Penn State 22 39 4 4 3 4 4 5 1 5 5 4 4 3 3 6 5 6 7 8 8 8 bgcolor=gold8
Wisconsin 22 36 49 34 43 45 37 33 30 29 37 33 32 34 32 33 39 36 32 32 35 37 37
Note: teams ranked in the top-10 automatically qualify for the NCAA tournament. Teams ranked 11-16 can qualify based upon conference tournament results.[13]

Conference tournament

See main article: 2023 Big Ten men's ice hockey tournament.

Awards

NCAA

Award Recipient
Adam Fantilli, Michigan
Bob Motzko, Minnesota
Adam Fantilli, Michigan
[14]
Player Position Team
Brock Faberalign=center DMinnesota
Luke Hughesalign=center DMichigan
Logan Cooleyalign=center FMinnesota
Adam Fantillialign=center FMichigan
Matthew Kniesalign=center FMinnesota
Ryan Bischelalign=center GNotre Dame

NCAA tournament

[15]
Player Pos Team
Minnesota
Minnesota

Big Ten

Award Recipient [16]
Matthew Knies, Minnesota
Brock Faber, Minnesota
Ryan Bischel, Notre Dame
Adam Fantilli, Michigan
Logan Cooley, Minnesota
Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota
Bob Motzko, Minnesota
Adam Fantilli, Michigan
  Position   Second Team
Ryan Bischel, Notre Damealign=center GJusten Close, Minnesota
Brock Faber, Minnesotaalign=center DJackson LaCombe, Minnesota
Luke Hughes, Michiganalign=center DMason Lohrei, Ohio State
Logan Cooley, Minnesotaalign=center FMackie Samoskevich, Michigan
Adam Fantilli, Michiganalign=center FJimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota
Matthew Knies, Minnesotaalign=center FJake Wise, Ohio State
  Position  
Seamus Casey, Michiganalign=center D
Luke Mittelstadt, Minnesotaalign=center D
Logan Cooley, Minnesotaalign=center F
Adam Fantilli, Michiganalign=center F
Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesotaalign=center F

Conference tournament

Michigan
Player Pos Team
Minnesota
Michigan
Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan
Michigan

2023 NHL Entry Draft

See main article: 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

1 3 Michigan Columbus Blue Jackets
1 19 Oliver Moore Minnesota Chicago Blackhawks
1 21 Wisconsin Minnesota Wild
2 34 Michigan Columbus Blue Jackets
2 41 Trey Augustine Michigan State Detroit Red Wings
2 45 Maxim Strbak Michigan State Buffalo Sabres
2 47 Brady Cleveland Wisconsin Detroit Red Wings
2 49 Danny Nelson Notre Dame New York Islanders
3 66 William Whitelaw Wisconsin Columbus Blue Jackets
4 103 Cole Knuble Notre Dame Philadelphia Flyers
5 137 Jack Phelan Wisconsin Detroit Red Wings
5 138 Paul Fischer Notre Dame St. Louis Blues
6 177 Zach Schulz Wisconsin New York Islanders
7 197 Minnesota Montreal Canadiens
7 213 James Clark Minnesota Minnesota Wild
7 218 Aiden Fink Penn State Nashville Predators
† incoming freshman[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022-23 Big Ten Hockey Schedule Announced . https://web.archive.org/web/20220822142704/https://bigten.org/news/2022/8/22/mens-ice-hockey-2022-23-big-ten-hockey-schedule-announced.aspx . dead . August 22, 2022 . BigTen.org . August 22, 2022 . August 23, 2022.
  2. Web site: NCAA drought at 10 years, Michigan State fires hockey coach Danton Cole . . Tony . Paul . April 12, 2022 . August 23, 2022.
  3. Web site: Adam Nightingale hired as the next Michigan State hockey coach . . Nathaniel . Bott . May 3, 2022 . August 23, 2022.
  4. Web site: Adam Nightingale looks to restore 'great tradition' of MSU hockey . . Matt . Charboneau . May 9, 2022 . August 23, 2022.
  5. Web site: Michigan mum on investigation, Mel Pearson remains hockey coach despite no contract . . June 17, 2022 . August 23, 2022.
  6. Web site: CBS Sports . Michigan ice hockey coach Mel Pearson ousted following investigation into alleged misconduct . August 5, 2022 . August 23, 2022.
  7. Web site: Brandon Naurato promoted to interim coach of Michigan Wolverines men's hockey program . . August 7, 2022 . August 23, 2022.
  8. Web site: Brandon Naurato Named Interim Head Coach of Ice Hockey . Kurt . Svoboda . . MGoBlue.com . August 7, 2022 . August 23, 2022.
  9. News: 2022-2023 Men's Ice Hockey Conference Statistics . Big Ten . March 7, 2023.
  10. News: 2022-2023 Men's Ice Hockey Conference Goaltending Statistics . Big Ten Conference . March 7, 2023.
  11. Web site: USCHO Division I Men's Poll . USCHO.com . November 26, 2019.
  12. Web site: USA Today Men's Poll . USCHO.com . November 26, 2019.
  13. Web site: Men's Division I PairWise Rankings . USCHO.com . November 26, 2019.
  14. News: Two Northeastern players repeat as first-team All-Americans . USCHO.com . April 7, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  15. Web site: Quinnipiac crowned . collegehockeyinc.com . April 9, 2023 . April 9, 2023.
  16. Web site: Big Ten Hockey Postseason Honors Announced . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314163707/https://bigten.org/news/2023/3/14/mens-ice-hockey-big-ten-hockey-postseason-honors-announced.aspx . dead . March 14, 2023 . BigTen.org . . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023.
  17. News: NCAA player rankings, selections in 2023 NHL Draft . USCHO.com . July 9, 2022.