Michigan State University Athletics
Five Spartans Earn All-Big Ten Accolades
5/11/2020 11:09:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING – Five Spartans have been named to the All-Big Ten Hockey Team, the conference announced on Monday. Patrick Khodorenko was voted to the first team, while defensemen Dennis Cesana and Jerad Rosburg were named to the second team along with goaltender John Lethemon. Forward Mitchell Lewandowski earned honorable mention accolades.
The five selections are Michigan State's most ever to the first, second or honorable mention teams.
Khodorenko led the Spartans in scoring, putting up 33 points, including 16 goals. The center ended the regular season as the Big Ten leader in goals in conference games with 13, while he finished tied for fourth in the league scoring race with 22 points.
The native of Walnut Creek, California tied for the Big Ten lead with 11 multi-point games. In Big Ten play, he led the league with eight multi-point games.
Khodorenko finished his career with 120 points (54g, 66a), which is the eighth most by any Spartan since 2000 and the most since Bryan Lerg (128; 2004-08). Following the season, Khodorenko signed an entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.
The All-Big Ten honor is the second of Khodorenko's career as he was named to the second team as a junior last year.
For Lethemon, it is his first All-Big Ten team selection. The senior had the best season of his career as he ranked sixth nationally with the third-best single season save percentage in program history at .935. His 2.13 GAA was third best in the league and the eighth-best single-season mark in program history - the lowest since Jeff Lerg in 2005-06 (1.96).
Lethemon posted his best numbers in conference play as he led the league in GAA (1.99), save percentage (.942), shutouts (4) and saves (743). He posted 35 or more saves on 15 occasions, including a career-high 48 in one of his four Big Ten shutouts Nov. 6 at Penn State.
The All-Big Ten selection is also a first for the redshirt senior Rosburg. The national leader in blocked shots with 86 produced the best offensive season of his career with 17 points. He had four goals and a career high 13 assists. In Big Ten play, he recorded 12 points.
Following the season, Rosburg agreed to terms with the Dallas Stars.
A year after being named to the All-Freshman team, Rosburg's defensive partner, Cesana garnered all-conference second team accolades. Cesana ranked second on the team in points with 22, which was third most among all Big Ten defensemen. His 15 assists were second most on the team, while his career-high seven goals tied for second among the league's blueliners. The Providence, Rhode Island native tied for second on the team and first among B1G defensemen in power-play goals with three.
For Lewandowski, it's his third consecutive year garnering honorable mention honors. The junior forward recorded his third-consecutive season of at least 20 points, putting up 8 goals and 12 assists. He led MSU in power-play goals with four.
Captain Sam Saliba was the Spartans' recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Saliba never missed a game in his Spartan career and tied a career best with 10 goals in in 2019-20.
2019-20 All-Big Ten Hockey Team and Individual Awards
As selected by Big Ten coaches and Media Voting Panel
FIRST TEAM
Patrick Khodorenko, F, Michigan State
Nate Sucese, F, Penn State
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
Cole Hults, D, Penn State
Wyatt Kalynuk, D, Wisconsin
Strauss Mann, G, Michigan
SECOND TEAM
Jake Slaker, F, Michigan
Tanner Laczynski, F, Ohio State
Evan Barratt, F, Penn State
Dennis Cesana, D, Michigan State
Jerad Rosburg, D, Michigan State
John Lethemon, G, Michigan State
HONORABLE MENTION
Will Lockwood, F, Michigan
Mitchell Lewandowski, F, Michigan State
Brannon McManus, F, Minnesota
Sammy Walker, F, Minnesota
Alex Limoges, F, Penn State
Roman Ahcan, F, Wisconsin
Nick Blankenburg, D, Michigan
Cam York, D, Michigan
Matt Hellickson, D, Notre Dame
Wyatt Ege, D, Ohio State
Gordi Myer, D, Ohio State
K'Andre Miller, D, Wisconsin
Cale Morris, G, Notre Dame
Tommy Nappier, G, Ohio State
Peyton Jones, G, Penn State
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Johnny Beecher, F, Michigan
Ben Meyers, F, Minnesota
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
CAM YORK, D, MICHIGAN
Jackson LaCombe, D, Minnesota
JARED MOE, G, MINNESOTA
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Cole Hults, D, Penn State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Defenseman or Forward):
Cole Hults, D, Penn State
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR:
Strauss Mann, G, Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Bob Motzko, Minnesota
SCORING CHAMPION:
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
UNANIMOUS SELECTION IN ALL CAPS
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Luke Martin, Michigan; Sam Saliba, Michigan State; Tyler Nanne, Minnesota; Cal Burke, Notre Dame; Gordi Myer, Ohio State; Aarne Talvitie, Penn State; Wyatt Kalynuk, Wisconsin
The five selections are Michigan State's most ever to the first, second or honorable mention teams.
Khodorenko led the Spartans in scoring, putting up 33 points, including 16 goals. The center ended the regular season as the Big Ten leader in goals in conference games with 13, while he finished tied for fourth in the league scoring race with 22 points.
The native of Walnut Creek, California tied for the Big Ten lead with 11 multi-point games. In Big Ten play, he led the league with eight multi-point games.
Khodorenko finished his career with 120 points (54g, 66a), which is the eighth most by any Spartan since 2000 and the most since Bryan Lerg (128; 2004-08). Following the season, Khodorenko signed an entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.
The All-Big Ten honor is the second of Khodorenko's career as he was named to the second team as a junior last year.
For Lethemon, it is his first All-Big Ten team selection. The senior had the best season of his career as he ranked sixth nationally with the third-best single season save percentage in program history at .935. His 2.13 GAA was third best in the league and the eighth-best single-season mark in program history - the lowest since Jeff Lerg in 2005-06 (1.96).
Lethemon posted his best numbers in conference play as he led the league in GAA (1.99), save percentage (.942), shutouts (4) and saves (743). He posted 35 or more saves on 15 occasions, including a career-high 48 in one of his four Big Ten shutouts Nov. 6 at Penn State.
The All-Big Ten selection is also a first for the redshirt senior Rosburg. The national leader in blocked shots with 86 produced the best offensive season of his career with 17 points. He had four goals and a career high 13 assists. In Big Ten play, he recorded 12 points.
Following the season, Rosburg agreed to terms with the Dallas Stars.
A year after being named to the All-Freshman team, Rosburg's defensive partner, Cesana garnered all-conference second team accolades. Cesana ranked second on the team in points with 22, which was third most among all Big Ten defensemen. His 15 assists were second most on the team, while his career-high seven goals tied for second among the league's blueliners. The Providence, Rhode Island native tied for second on the team and first among B1G defensemen in power-play goals with three.
For Lewandowski, it's his third consecutive year garnering honorable mention honors. The junior forward recorded his third-consecutive season of at least 20 points, putting up 8 goals and 12 assists. He led MSU in power-play goals with four.
Captain Sam Saliba was the Spartans' recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Saliba never missed a game in his Spartan career and tied a career best with 10 goals in in 2019-20.
2019-20 All-Big Ten Hockey Team and Individual Awards
As selected by Big Ten coaches and Media Voting Panel
FIRST TEAM
Patrick Khodorenko, F, Michigan State
Nate Sucese, F, Penn State
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
Cole Hults, D, Penn State
Wyatt Kalynuk, D, Wisconsin
Strauss Mann, G, Michigan
SECOND TEAM
Jake Slaker, F, Michigan
Tanner Laczynski, F, Ohio State
Evan Barratt, F, Penn State
Dennis Cesana, D, Michigan State
Jerad Rosburg, D, Michigan State
John Lethemon, G, Michigan State
HONORABLE MENTION
Will Lockwood, F, Michigan
Mitchell Lewandowski, F, Michigan State
Brannon McManus, F, Minnesota
Sammy Walker, F, Minnesota
Alex Limoges, F, Penn State
Roman Ahcan, F, Wisconsin
Nick Blankenburg, D, Michigan
Cam York, D, Michigan
Matt Hellickson, D, Notre Dame
Wyatt Ege, D, Ohio State
Gordi Myer, D, Ohio State
K'Andre Miller, D, Wisconsin
Cale Morris, G, Notre Dame
Tommy Nappier, G, Ohio State
Peyton Jones, G, Penn State
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Johnny Beecher, F, Michigan
Ben Meyers, F, Minnesota
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
CAM YORK, D, MICHIGAN
Jackson LaCombe, D, Minnesota
JARED MOE, G, MINNESOTA
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Cole Hults, D, Penn State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Defenseman or Forward):
Cole Hults, D, Penn State
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR:
Strauss Mann, G, Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Bob Motzko, Minnesota
SCORING CHAMPION:
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
UNANIMOUS SELECTION IN ALL CAPS
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Luke Martin, Michigan; Sam Saliba, Michigan State; Tyler Nanne, Minnesota; Cal Burke, Notre Dame; Gordi Myer, Ohio State; Aarne Talvitie, Penn State; Wyatt Kalynuk, Wisconsin
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyFriday, October 02
Wednesday, September 23
Thursday, March 26
Wednesday, March 25