Fighting Irish junior defenseman Spencer Stastney was named a Preseason Second Team All-Big Ten selection, the conference announced on Monday (Nov. 9). The Irish begin their 2020-21 campaign this weekend versus Wisconsin at home with 7 p.m. starts on Friday and Saturday.
Senior defenseman Matt Hellickson earned Honorable Mention honors while Notre Dame was selected to tie for third – all of which was determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
2020-21 Big Ten Preseason Poll
1 — Minnesota
2 — Michigan
3t — Notre Dame
3t — Ohio State
5 — Wisconsin
6 — Michigan State
7 — Penn State
A fifth round (131st overall) selection by Nashville in the 2018 NHL Draft, Stastney has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in each of his first two seasons.
Hellickson, who will serve as an alternate captain this season, was named an honorable mention selection after also being named a 2019 honorable mention All-Big Ten selection at the conclusion of his junior season. His 117 games played represent a consecutive games played streak, as he has not missed a game in his Irish career. He also was 2018-19 and 2019-20 Academic All-Big Ten selection, and was selected in the seventh round, 214th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Each Big Ten team will play a 24-game conference schedule, plus an additional four games per school against Arizona State University hosted at Big Ten venues.
Senior defenseman Matt Hellickson earned Honorable Mention honors while Notre Dame was selected to tie for third – all of which was determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
2020-21 Big Ten Preseason Poll
1 — Minnesota
2 — Michigan
3t — Notre Dame
3t — Ohio State
5 — Wisconsin
6 — Michigan State
7 — Penn State
A fifth round (131st overall) selection by Nashville in the 2018 NHL Draft, Stastney has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in each of his first two seasons.
Hellickson, who will serve as an alternate captain this season, was named an honorable mention selection after also being named a 2019 honorable mention All-Big Ten selection at the conclusion of his junior season. His 117 games played represent a consecutive games played streak, as he has not missed a game in his Irish career. He also was 2018-19 and 2019-20 Academic All-Big Ten selection, and was selected in the seventh round, 214th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Each Big Ten team will play a 24-game conference schedule, plus an additional four games per school against Arizona State University hosted at Big Ten venues.
- After hosting the Badgers and then completing final exams, Notre Dame will hit the road for a two-game series at Michigan (Nov. 27-28).
- The Irish will then play host to Arizona State (Dec. 3-4), Ohio State (Dec 12-13) and Michigan State (Dec. 19-20) before the winter break.
- Additional start times, broadcast coverage, attendance policies and the remainder of the schedule will be announced at a later date.
