Levshunov Named B1G Second Star of the Week

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov (Zhlobin, Belarus) has been named the Big Ten's Second Star of the Week, as announced by the league office on Tuesday.

The freshman standout has made a case to be the Big Ten's Rookie of the Year. He helped the Spartans to a road sweep at Penn State last weekend, posting five points – including a goal and three assists in the Saturday victory. He is one of just two players with a four-point game in Big Ten play this season.

Levshunov averages more than a point per game (6-18-24) and is tied for sixth in the Big Ten in points. He is second nationally in scoring among freshmen defenseman, behind only Zeev Buium from Denver (5-22-27). Levshunov has points in 16 of 22 Spartan games (and six of the last seven), and has posted six multiple-point efforts this year, which is tied for the third-highest total among B1G players. He is a team-best +22, the best of any player in the country through Jan. 14.

Levshunov is the youngest player in the Big Ten and the third-youngest player in college hockey this year, with an October '05 birth date. Eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft in June, the Belarusian was ranked second in the NHL Midterm Central Scouting ratings released last week, behind only BU's Macklin Celebrini on the North American Skaters list.

Levshunov is MSU's top-scoring freshman defenseman since current Red Wings bluelinerJeff Petry had a 3-21-24 scoring line in the 2009-10 season. MSU's record for points by a freshman defenseman is 37, shared by Jason Wooley (1988-89) and Pat Betterly (1974-75).

The Spartans, ranked 7^th and 5^th in the two national polls this week, entertain archrival Michigan in a home-and-home this weekend. The teams will play Friday at Munn Ice Arena at 7 pm, and then on Saturday in Ann Arbor at 7 pm.

Players Mentioned

Artyom Levshunov

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