ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Three Stars of the Week for ice hockey games played January 2-4, 2026.
First Star
Jarod Crespo, Penn State
Sr. – D – Seven Lakes, N.C. — Green Bay (USHL)
- Scored three goals, including the game-winner, in the third period of Penn State’s 7-3 win over RIT on Sunday
- Recorded just the second hat trick ever by a Penn State defenseman
- Notched his 11th career goal, moving into a tie for seventh place all-time on PSU’s defensemen list
- The Big Ten Distinguished Scholar earns his first Big Ten weekly award
- Last Nittany Lion named First Star: Matt DiMarsico (Oct. 21, 2025)
Second Star
Charlie Cerrato, Penn State
So. – F – Fallston, Md. – Youngstown (USHL)
- Recorded his team-high, seventh multiple-point game of the season as No. 8/9 Penn State defeated RIT, 7-3, at Pegula Ice Arena
- Provided the primary assist on the game-winning goal and won 65 percent of faceoffs taken (13-for-20)
- Completed the weekend with five shots on goal and two blocked shots
- Leads the Nittany Lions in scoring with 24 points in 18 games
- The Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection becomes a Star recipient for the second time this season after being named First Star on Oct. 7, 2025
Third Star
Aiden Fink, Penn State
Jr. – F – Calgary, Alberta – Brooks (AJHL)
2023 NHL Draft: 7th Rd, 218th overall, Nashville Predators
- Seeing his first NCAA action since October, Fink compiled a goal and assist as Penn State split a home-and-home series against RIT on Jan. 3-4
- Tallied the opening goal and assisted on an empty-net goal in Sunday’s 7-3 win
- Compiled a 33.3 shooting percentage and averaged 19:34 of ice time during the series
- Capped a busy week that saw him finish as the leading scorer at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland playing for the U.S. Collegiate Selects
- The Second Team All-American earns his sixth career Star Award (2-Second Stars, 4-Third Stars)
Team rankings: USCHO.com/USA Hockey polls
CCHA Players of the Week: Jan. 2-4
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The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for January 2-4 and four student-athletes from four different programs have been recognized. Tyler Hotson (Bowling Green) picked up Forward of the Week honors, while Jack Anderson (Michigan Tech) was the Defenseman of the Week. Rorke Applebee (Lake Superior State) garnered Goaltender of the Week and Hayes Hundley (St. Thomas) claimed his first Rookie of the Week award.
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CCHA Forward of the Week: Tyler Hotson, Jr., Bowling Green (Stratford, Ont.)
Hotson led CCHA skaters with five points last week, scoring two goals with three assists to lead Bowling Green to its first win and series win over in-state rival Ohio State since 2018-19. Second in the conference in plus-minus (+4), he had one power-play goal, six shots and two blocks defensively, while playing 17:06 minutes per game. On Friday, he had one assist in a 2-2 tie in Columbus, before notching a career-high four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in a 5-3 victory over the Buckeyes on Saturday.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_Q2NJWh_E0?si=nYUJl41lMDs-oiBX
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Jack Anderson, Sr., Michigan Tech (St. Louis, Mo.)
Anderson paced conference blueliners in goals (3), points (4), plus-minus (+4) and game-winning goals (1) last week, helping Michigan Tech to a 1-1 record at the Desert Hockey Classic. On Friday, he had one assist in an 8-2 loss to Air Force, before netting a hat trick in the Huskies’ 5-0 shutout of Alaska Anchorage. For the week, he totaled six shots on goal and three blocks across 21:31 of average ice time.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/mrua-tKiWAA?si=w2n085RjnPiw1hoa
CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Rorke Applebee, So., Lake Superior State (Chateauguay, Que.)
Applebee went 2-0 last week in Capp Cup action for Lake Superior State, posting league-bests in goals-against average (0.98) and save percentage (.973). He stopped a league-high 72 shots across 122:36 minutes. On Saturday, he made 29 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory over Northern Michigan. He then stopped 43-of-44 shots in a 2-1 victory on Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/bleDb5D3G6Q?si=ZX2jBVgAJnnAtmL2
CCHA Rookie of the Week: Hayes Hundley, Fr., St. Thomas (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
Hundley helped St. Thomas to a weekend sweep of Ferris State, scoring two goals and assisting on another for three points. He was a +3 with one game-winning goal, six shots and three blocks over 21:52 of average time on ice. On Friday night, he had one goal in a 5-3 victory over the Bulldogs. He then recorded a goal and an assist in an 8-4 win on Saturday.
