O'Connell Named B1G First Star
11/7/2023 11:32:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State forward Gavin O'Connell (Plymouth, Minn.) has been named the Big Ten First Star of the Week, as announced by the Conference office.
O'Connell, one of two freshmen to play every game for MSU this season, had a pair of two-goal games in Michigan State's series at No. 13 Ohio State last weekend to open Big Ten play. Seven of MSU's 12 goals against the Buckeyes came from freshmen, led by O'Connell's four. Owen Baker, Tommi Männistö and defenseman Patrick Geary had their first career goals and multiple-point games over the weekend as well.
With a 6-3-9 scoring line, O'Connell currently shares the team lead in goals with sophomore Karsen Dorwart, which ranks third in the Big Ten and is tied for 11th nationally. He is MSU's top-scoring freshman, tied with first-year blueliner Artyom Levshunov 3-6-9). Levshunov and O'Connell are also tied for second among the Big Ten freshmen in scoring.
The freshman is the third Spartan Three Stars honoree in the first five weeks of the season. He joins Nicolas Müller (Oct. 10) and Joey Larson (Oct. 17).
MSU opens a four-game Big Ten homestand this weekend when it hosts No. 17/16 Penn State in a two-game set that begins on Friday at 7 pm.
O'Connell, one of two freshmen to play every game for MSU this season, had a pair of two-goal games in Michigan State's series at No. 13 Ohio State last weekend to open Big Ten play. Seven of MSU's 12 goals against the Buckeyes came from freshmen, led by O'Connell's four. Owen Baker, Tommi Männistö and defenseman Patrick Geary had their first career goals and multiple-point games over the weekend as well.
With a 6-3-9 scoring line, O'Connell currently shares the team lead in goals with sophomore Karsen Dorwart, which ranks third in the Big Ten and is tied for 11th nationally. He is MSU's top-scoring freshman, tied with first-year blueliner Artyom Levshunov 3-6-9). Levshunov and O'Connell are also tied for second among the Big Ten freshmen in scoring.
The freshman is the third Spartan Three Stars honoree in the first five weeks of the season. He joins Nicolas Müller (Oct. 10) and Joey Larson (Oct. 17).
MSU opens a four-game Big Ten homestand this weekend when it hosts No. 17/16 Penn State in a two-game set that begins on Friday at 7 pm.
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