Michigan State University Athletics
Cesana and DeRidder Earn All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
3/16/2021 2:09:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING – Michigan State juniors Drew DeRidder and Dennis Cesana have earned All-Big Ten honorable mention, it was announced by the conference office today (March 16). The 2020-21 All-Big Ten honors were selected by the league's coaches and media.
It's the second straight All-Big Ten honor for Cesana, who was voted to the league's second team last season. Both DeRidder and Cesana were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2018-19.
Cesana finished the 2020-21 season as the Spartans' leader in assists with 10, which tied for fifth among the league's defensemen. He picked up a goal in the Big Ten Tournament to up his season point total to 12, which ranked second on the team. Cesana had a season long three-game point streak from Dec. 4-20, which was capped with an assist in the Spartans' 4-3 overtime win at Notre Dame. The native of Providence, Rhode Island had a season high two assists in MSU's 5-1 win over Penn State on Jan. 4. The following weekend he had a helper on Josh Nodler's game-winning goal with 37 seconds to play in a 3-2 victory over No. 9 Michigan.
DeRidder was one of the top goaltenders in the Big Ten all season. In starting 24 of 26 regular season games, DeRidder led the league in total saves with 723 and saves per game at 30.12. His 2.76 GAA and .923 save percentage were both career bests and ranked third among the league's goaltenders that played at least 20 games.
DeRidder earned the first shutouts of his career in 2020-21, doing so with a 30-save effort vs. Arizona State (2-0) on Nov. 20 and then again with 28 stops against Ohio State (2-0) on Jan. 24. He was twice named the Big Ten First Star of the Week. He first earned the honor on Dec. 23 after going 1-0-1 at Notre Dame (Dec. 19-20), making 47 and 42 stops, respectively. He also garnered the accolade on Jan. 6 after allowing just one goal in each game vs. Penn State (Jan. 3-4).
Senior Tommy Miller was named the Spartans' recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Each team selects a player to receive the Sportsmanship Award; the student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Miller never missed a game in his career and finished the season with a goal and three assists. He was one of the top shot-blockers in the country all season and finished the year with a team-high 71 blocks.
2020-21 All-Big Ten Hockey Team and Individual Awards
As selected by Big Ten Coaches and Media Voting Panel
FIRST TEAM
Sampo Ranta, F, Minnesota
COLE CAUFIELD, F, WISCONSIN
Dylan Holloway, F, Wisconsin
Cam York, D, Michigan
Jackson LaCombe, D, Minnesota
Jack LaFontaine, G, Minnesota
SECOND TEAM
Thomas Bordeleau, F, Michigan
Alex Steeves, F, Notre Dame
Linus Weissbach, F, Wisconsin
Owen Power, D, Michigan
Spencer Stastney, D, Notre Dame
Strauss Mann, G, Michigan
HONORABLE MENTION
Matty Beniers, F, Michigan
Kent Johnson, F, Michigan
Ben Myers, F, Minnesota
Scott Reedy, F, Minnesota
Sammy Walker, F, Minnesota
Alex Limoges, F, Penn State
Ty Pelton-Byce, F, Wisconsin
Nick Blankenberg, D, Michigan
Dennis Cesana, D, Michigan State
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota
Ryan Johnson, D, Minnesota
Ty Emberson, D, Wisconsin
Drew DeRidder, G, Michigan State
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Matty Beniers, F, Michigan
THOMAS BORDELEAU, F, MICHIGAN
Kent Johnson, F, Michigan
OWEN POWER, D, MICHIGAN
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota
Cameron Rowe, G, Wisconsin
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
COLE CAUFIELD, F, WISCONSIN
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Defenseman or Forward):
Cam York, D, Michigan
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR:
Jack LaFontaine, G, Minnesota
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
Thomas Bordeleau, F, Michigan
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Tony Granato, Wisconsin
SCORING CHAMPION:
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
UNANIMOUS SELECTION IN ALL CAPS
BIG TEN SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES:
Jack Becker, Michigan; Tommy Miller, Michigan State; Cullen Munson, Minnesota; Matt Hellickson, Notre Dame; Austin Pooley, Ohio State; Oskar Autio, Penn State; Brock Caufield, Wisconsin.
It's the second straight All-Big Ten honor for Cesana, who was voted to the league's second team last season. Both DeRidder and Cesana were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2018-19.
Cesana finished the 2020-21 season as the Spartans' leader in assists with 10, which tied for fifth among the league's defensemen. He picked up a goal in the Big Ten Tournament to up his season point total to 12, which ranked second on the team. Cesana had a season long three-game point streak from Dec. 4-20, which was capped with an assist in the Spartans' 4-3 overtime win at Notre Dame. The native of Providence, Rhode Island had a season high two assists in MSU's 5-1 win over Penn State on Jan. 4. The following weekend he had a helper on Josh Nodler's game-winning goal with 37 seconds to play in a 3-2 victory over No. 9 Michigan.
DeRidder was one of the top goaltenders in the Big Ten all season. In starting 24 of 26 regular season games, DeRidder led the league in total saves with 723 and saves per game at 30.12. His 2.76 GAA and .923 save percentage were both career bests and ranked third among the league's goaltenders that played at least 20 games.
DeRidder earned the first shutouts of his career in 2020-21, doing so with a 30-save effort vs. Arizona State (2-0) on Nov. 20 and then again with 28 stops against Ohio State (2-0) on Jan. 24. He was twice named the Big Ten First Star of the Week. He first earned the honor on Dec. 23 after going 1-0-1 at Notre Dame (Dec. 19-20), making 47 and 42 stops, respectively. He also garnered the accolade on Jan. 6 after allowing just one goal in each game vs. Penn State (Jan. 3-4).
Senior Tommy Miller was named the Spartans' recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Each team selects a player to receive the Sportsmanship Award; the student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Miller never missed a game in his career and finished the season with a goal and three assists. He was one of the top shot-blockers in the country all season and finished the year with a team-high 71 blocks.
2020-21 All-Big Ten Hockey Team and Individual Awards
As selected by Big Ten Coaches and Media Voting Panel
FIRST TEAM
Sampo Ranta, F, Minnesota
COLE CAUFIELD, F, WISCONSIN
Dylan Holloway, F, Wisconsin
Cam York, D, Michigan
Jackson LaCombe, D, Minnesota
Jack LaFontaine, G, Minnesota
SECOND TEAM
Thomas Bordeleau, F, Michigan
Alex Steeves, F, Notre Dame
Linus Weissbach, F, Wisconsin
Owen Power, D, Michigan
Spencer Stastney, D, Notre Dame
Strauss Mann, G, Michigan
HONORABLE MENTION
Matty Beniers, F, Michigan
Kent Johnson, F, Michigan
Ben Myers, F, Minnesota
Scott Reedy, F, Minnesota
Sammy Walker, F, Minnesota
Alex Limoges, F, Penn State
Ty Pelton-Byce, F, Wisconsin
Nick Blankenberg, D, Michigan
Dennis Cesana, D, Michigan State
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota
Ryan Johnson, D, Minnesota
Ty Emberson, D, Wisconsin
Drew DeRidder, G, Michigan State
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Matty Beniers, F, Michigan
THOMAS BORDELEAU, F, MICHIGAN
Kent Johnson, F, Michigan
OWEN POWER, D, MICHIGAN
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota
Cameron Rowe, G, Wisconsin
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
COLE CAUFIELD, F, WISCONSIN
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Defenseman or Forward):
Cam York, D, Michigan
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR:
Jack LaFontaine, G, Minnesota
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
Thomas Bordeleau, F, Michigan
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Tony Granato, Wisconsin
SCORING CHAMPION:
Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
UNANIMOUS SELECTION IN ALL CAPS
BIG TEN SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES:
Jack Becker, Michigan; Tommy Miller, Michigan State; Cullen Munson, Minnesota; Matt Hellickson, Notre Dame; Austin Pooley, Ohio State; Oskar Autio, Penn State; Brock Caufield, Wisconsin.
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, September 23
Thursday, March 26
Wednesday, March 25
Sunday, March 22