Friday, October 20, 2017 // FACEOFF 2017
8B 

polls. With four members of 
the Golden Gopher squad on 
the Big Ten Preseason Watch 
List, 
Minnesota’s 
team 
is 

undoubtedly talented.

Forward Tyler Sheehy returns 

this season as a captain after a 
ground-shattering performance 
last season. Sheehy was named 
a First Team All-American and 
won the Big Ten Player of the 
Year award. With his experience, 
paired with McManus’ high-
energy start to the season, the 
Gophers have a well-rounded 
squad eager to make a statement 
on the national scale.

Ohio State

The 
Buckeyes 
(1-1, 
1-1-2) 

wasted no time in starting Big 
Ten play, facing off against 

Wisconsin and adding a win and 
a loss to their record.

Despite falling early in the 

NCAA Tournament last season 
– a tournament it had not made 
since 2009 – Ohio State returns 
15 upperclassmen, bolstering its 
proficient offense and effective 
power play.

Last season, the Buckeyes’ 

31.6 
percent 
power-play 

conversion rate ranked highest 
in the NCAA, and their 3.92 
goals per game ranked third.

All-American and First Team 

All-Big 
Ten 
forward 
Mason 

Jobst and forward Matthew 
Weiss headline the Ohio State 
offense.

No. 11 Penn State

The 
reigning 
Big 
Ten 

Tournament champion Nittany 
Lions (1-1, 2-2) entered the 
season ranked 10th, and were 
picked to finish fourth in the 

conference. Most notably, they 
were also tapped to finish fourth 
last season and ended up beating 
out the rest of the pool for a Big 
Ten Tournament title.

Goaltender Peyton Jones and 

forward Denis Smirnov, both 
named to the Big Ten Preseason 
Watch List, lead Penn State. 
Jones already flaunts 95 saves 
this season and Smirnov leads 
the team with three goals.

With most of the Nittany 

Lion squad returning from its 
tournament championship run 
last season, it is looking to bring 
a new hard-nosed mentality to 
the ice to redeem itself after 
an NCAA Tournament loss to 
eventual 
national 
champion 

Denver.

No. 5 Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish (2-1) are 

stepping onto the Big Ten stage, 
ready to upset the ebbs and 

flows that make up a regular Big 
Ten season. Already predicted to 
finish second in the conference, 
Notre Dame is looking to put its 
team depth to work to make a 
statement for the future.

With seven seniors returning, 

including Big Ten Preseason 
Watch List defenseman Jordan 
Gross, the Fighting Irish are 
taking a top-down approach that 
will involve all members of an 
assorted and dangerous squad.

Forwards Jake Evans and 

Andrew Oglevie join Gross on 
the same list, whose prowess 
was put on display in Notre 
Dame’s 
opening 
two 
wins 

over Alabama-Huntsville. The 
Fighting Irish debut in the Big 
Ten on Nov. 3rd.

Michigan State

Much like the triumphant 

return of Michigan coach Mel 
Pearson, the Spartans’ prodigal 

son 
in 
coach 
Danton 
Cole 

returns for his first season as the 
Michigan State head coach. Cole 
won a national championship 
with the Spartans in 1986 while 
a player on the team.

Under 
new 
management, 

Michigan State has a lot to 
prove but has a chip on its 
shoulder. Predicted to finish 
last in the Big Ten and sporting 
19 underclassmen – the fourth 
youngest roster in the nation 
– the Spartans will most likely 
have trouble with some of the 
other more experienced teams 
in the conference.

Last season, Michigan State 

averaged 
3.83 
goals 
against 

and 2.40 goals for, which pale 
in comparison to those same 
statistics for other members of 
the Big Ten. In order to compete 
at a level worthy of a high 
ranking in the Big Ten, Cole will 
have to instill new values and 
reorganize the team’s structure.

SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily

Sophomore forward Will Lockwood finished the 2016 season as Michigan’s team MVP with 20 points, and he will be looked to again to drive Michigan’s offensive success in a conference loaded with talent.

BIG TEN
From Page 7B