News in the Big Ten: July 2019
Back to the basics
After a long spring poring over video footage looking to get my draft rankings solidified, I finally am back writing about one of the main topics for this space: Big Ten hockey. Since it’s the offseason, I'll struggle to keep it on that topic for a few months, but this post will be Big Ten-centric. Here are the relevant notes/links/stories/etc that I’ve come across since my last update, which was more general. There aren’t any new Big Ten recruits in here, I’ll get to those later.
By Me
Big Ten players in the World Junior Summer Showcase
Four Big Ten recruits make Hlinka-Gretzky Roster
Looking at the Big Ten Schedule
By Other People
Lansing State Journal: Michigan State OKs 18.8 million Munn Ice Arena Renovation
“MSU trustees approved an $18.8 million arena expansion project Friday. It includes a 35,000 square foot addition, a new entrance, better training facilities, renovated office space and more.”
News-Gazette: Illinois still on track to add Hockey, but…
"There have been a few things that have popped up at the 11th hour ... where I felt it best to hit the pause button and push things back…There have been a few key partnerships that we haven't been able to finalize quite yet." Whitman said he couldn't comment on those specific partnerships. Nor was he ready to set in stone a date when the Illini could officially launch a D-I men's program, instead saying the desired construction of the squad's multipurpose home could be finished by fall 2022. "Our goal would be to be in the building in time for our first year as a full, competing member of the Big Ten," Whitman said. "Whether there would be a kind of intermediate step before that ... remains to be seen."
STrib: Gophers sign 11 players - six forwards, three defensemen and two goalies
Motzko clearly isn’t afraid to go young and wants to get his guys in ASAP. For what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s rushing too many guys.
Major Junior Signings
Now-former Michigan commit Austen Swankler followed former Michigan State recruit Egor Afanasyev in signing with the OHL. Swankler signed just a few days after going undrafted, while Afanasyev had defected months before. Afanasyev went in the 2nd round to the Nashville Predators.
Also, this isn’t a signing, but incoming Badgers 5-star forward recruit Dylan Holloway’s rights in the WHL were traded to the Winnipeg Ice, where star prospect Matt Savoie has recently signed. Holloway has told reporters that this changes nothing with regard to his plans to matriculate in Madison. Holloway will be heavily scouted this winter in the Big Ten as a likely first-rounder in the 2020 draft.
Speaking of the draft, here are the official Big Ten-tied NHL Draftees for 2019
Wisconsin (4)
Alex Turcotte - 5th overall, Los Angeles Kings
Cole Caufield - 15th overall, Montreal Canadiens
Ryder Donovan - 110th overall, Vegas Golden Knights
Owen Lindmark - 137th overall, Florida Panthers
Michigan (4)
Cam York - 14th overall, Philadelphia Flyers
John Beecher - 30th overall, Boston Bruins
Erik Portillo - 67th overall, Buffalo Sabres
Eric Ciccolini - 205th overall, New York Rangers
Minnesota (7)
Ryan Johnson - 31st overall, Buffalo Sabres
Jackson LaCombe - 39th overall, Anaheim Ducks
Aaron Huglen - 102nd overall, Buffalo Sabres
Rhett Pitlick - 131st overall, Montreal Canadiens
Mike Koster - 146th overall, Toronto Maple Leafs
Ben Brinkman - 173rd overall, Dallas Stars
Bryce Brodzinski - 196th overall, Philadelphia Flyers
Ohio State (1)
Layton Ahac - 86th overall, Vegas Golden Knights
Notre Dame (1)
Trevor Janicke - 132nd overall, Anaheim Ducks
Michigan State (1)
Josh Nodler - 150th overall, Calgary Flames
Penn State (1)
Kevin Wall - 181st overall, Carolina Hurricanes
NHL Development Camps
Some of the sports information departments for their respective Big Ten teams have put out lists of their players invited to NHL Development Camps this summer. Here are those lists:
Prospect Currents
Arizona State got a commitment from the son of Shane Doan, Josh
Hockey fans should keep an eye on the Mount St. Charles program out of Rhode Island. They’re making moves and it is likely a lot of players are going to come out of there in the years to come. Mount was a Rhode Island HS hockey powerhouse back in the day.
Murray was a force in the USHL this season and could help any Big Ten program who has room for him. Michigan State only lost Afanasyev this spring, so I think they could make a push for Murray. He has two years of eligibility left.
Loved this look at former Notre Dame captain Jake Evans, who is trying to crack the Habs line-up.
Daryl Watts, the only freshman to win the Patty Kazmaier award, was in the transfer portal heading out of Boston College. She’s landed with Wisconsin. That’s a big get.
Speaking of women’s hockey, The Ice Garden’s Mike Murphy highlighted some of the top freshmen from the Big Ten-tied women’s programs, including Sophie Shirley (Wisconsin), Sophie Jaques (Ohio State) and Taylor Heise (Minnesota).
That’s all this time, thanks for reading.