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The Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team doesn’t have to play in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday because they are the top seed. You have to believe me because they have the trophy now to prove it!
Look what came!
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 12, 2021
We got some hardware today pic.twitter.com/Syb0O9cUmN
With the rest of the conference doing battle on Sunday, the Badgers are content to wait until Monday to play the winner of Notre Dame vs. Penn State. Since we have some time to kill let’s discuss the finalists for various Big Ten conference awards since those were announced at the end of the week. The winners, along with All-Big Ten teams, will be announced on Tuesday, March 16 before the Big Ten title game.
(These are listed in the order I think they’ll finish)
Big Ten Player of the Year
- Cole Caufield, F, Wisconsin
- Cam York, D, Michigan
- Jack LaFontaine, G, Minnesota
The assists leader among defensemen, a Mike Richter Award finalist and a 25-goal scorer make up this season's #B1GHockey Player of the Year finalists:
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) March 11, 2021
Cam York, @umichhockey
Jack LaFontaine, @GopherHockey
Cole Caufield, @BadgerMHockey
➡️ https://t.co/Ge4UWInIm5 pic.twitter.com/9XqLeoHi0r
Per UWBadgers: Last season’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Caufield is a four-time Big Ten First Star of the Week — and his 24 goals and 43 points in league play put him 10 goals and points ahead of the next closest scorer. His 25 goals in all games are nine better than the closest play, while his 46 points are also best in the nation.
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
- Cam York, D, Michigan
- Ty Emberson, D, Wisconsin
- Brock Faber, D, Minnesota
A gold-medal winner, a freshman standout and a Badger captain make up the group of #B1GHockey Defensive Player of the Year finalists:
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) March 11, 2021
Cam York, @umichhockey
Brock Faber, @GopherHockey
Ty Emberson, @BadgerMHockey
➡️ https://t.co/Ge4UWInIm5 pic.twitter.com/bhImwPTCS4
Emberson racked up three goals and seven assists for 10 points this season to help lead his team to a Big Ten title. His plus-14 is tops on the Badgers and rank in the top-10 among Big Ten skaters. Emberson anchored a UW defense that ranked second in the conference by allowing just 2.17 goals per game in league action.
Big Ten Coach of the Year
- Tony Granato, Wisconsin
- Bob Motzko, Minnesota
- Mel Pearson, Michigan
#B1GHockey News ⤵️
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) March 11, 2021
This season’s Coach of the Year finalists combine to boast nearly 600 career victories:
Mel Pearson, @umichhockey
Bob Motzko, @GopherHockey
Tony Granato, @BadgerMHockey
➡️ https://t.co/Ge4UWInIm5 pic.twitter.com/ONdeVJrC5R
The Badgers finished last season in last place in the Big Ten and were picked to finish fifth this year in the preseason poll. Needless to say they have outperformed all expectations so far and Granato has been pushing all of the right buttons. Granato won this award in 2017, his first season behind the bench in Madison.
Wisconsin plays at 3:30 p.m. CT on Monday, March 15. The entire Big Ten tournament will air on Big Ten Network starting on Sunday, March 14 at 11 a.m. CT.