P-O-W for 1.2.25 below News
Photos courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics / Michigan State Athletics
By Big Ten Media
• The second half of the 2024-25 season begins this weekend with all seven conference teams in action. No. 3/3 Minnesota will host a nonconference series against Mercyhurst in addition to three Big Ten conference series, highlighted by outdoor games at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill. The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series will include No. 1/1 Michigan State, No. 9/9 Michigan, No. 13/13 Ohio State, rv/rv Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Penn State. The two-day event also features a Western Collegiate Hockey Association women’s game between No. 1/1 Wisconsin and No. 2/2 Ohio State that is expected to challenge the all-time NCAA single-game women’s attendance record (15,359). The Frozen Confines schedule:
Friday, January 3
No. 13/13 Ohio State vs. No. 9/9 Michigan — 4:00 p.m. CT — Big Ten Network
Penn State vs. Notre Dame — 7:30 p.m. CT — Big Ten Network
Saturday, January 4
#2/2 Ohio State vs. #1/1 Wisconsin (WCHA) — 4:30 p.m. CT — Big Ten Network
rv/rv Wisconsin vs. #1/1 Michigan State — 8:00 p.m. CT — Big Ten Network
In addition to the games at Wrigley Field, Michigan State will host Wisconsin on Thursday in East Lansing while on Sunday Ohio State meets Michigan in Ann Arbor and Penn State encounters Notre Dame in South Bend. The Spartans, Wolverines and Fighting Irish are the designated home teams for the neutral site games in Chicago.
• Big Ten teams are returning outdoors for the first time since February 18, 2023 when Michigan clashed with Ohio State at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. All told, there have been 15 outdoor games involving Big Ten schools (see list on page 5), including three played in the Windy City at Soldier Field. Wisconsin is undefeated outdoors with a 3-0-0 mark.
• Wisconsin and Michigan State came away with holiday tournament titles this past week as the Big Ten improved to 45-15-4 (.734) against nonconference competition on the season. The Badgers defeated Ferris State and Connecticut to defend their Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off title, winning for the third time in the tournament’s four-year existence. Quinn Finley was named the tournament’s most outstanding forward, Zach Schulz chosen as most outstanding defenseman and Tommy Scarfone cited as most outstanding goaltender. Michigan State won its first Great Lakes Invitational title since 2009 with wins over Northern Michigan and No. 4/4 Western Michigan. It was the 13th GLI championship for the Spartans, who were making their 50th GLI appearance. MSU goaltender Luca Di Pasquo was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and joined on the all-tournament team by Joey Larson and Isaac Howard. Di Pasquo, who stopped 45 of 46 shots during the GLI, was also named Big Ten First Star of the Week.
Big Ten POW
Michigan State and Wisconsin Receive Three Stars Accolades
Spartans’ Di Pasquo, Badgers’ Finley and Laskosky honored
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Three Stars of the Week for hockey games played Dec. 28-30.
First Star
Luca Di Pasquo, Michigan State
So. – G – Livonia, Mich. — Penticton (BCHL)
- Di Pasquo (pronounced dee-PASS-kwoh) backstopped No. 1/1 Michigan State to its first Great Lakes Invitational title since 2009
- Stopped 45 of 46 shots (.978 save percentage), extending his shutout streak to 165:37, before allowing his lone goal on the power play
- Was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after making 29 saves in a 3-1 over No. 4/4 Western Michigan in the championship game on Dec. 30 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
- The second-year netminder collects his first Big Ten Star honor
- Last Michigan State First Star: Isaac Howard (Dec. 17, 2024)
Second Star
Quinn Finley, Wisconsin
So. – F – Suamico, Wis. – Chicago (USHL)
- Compiled three goals and an assist to help Wisconsin defend its title at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off held Dec. 28-29 in Milwaukee, Wis.
- Scored twice, including the game-winning goal, in an 8-0 win over Ferris State and netted his NCAA-leading 15th goal of the season in a 4-3 victory over UConn in the championship game
- Garnered the tournament’s Most Outstanding Forward Award
- The third-round draft pick of the New York Islanders receives his second Star Award of the season and his career
- Last Wisconsin Star recipient: Tommy Scarfone (Third Star, Dec. 17, 2024)
Third Star
Cody Laskosky, Wisconsin
Gr. – F – Camrose, Alberta — RIT (NCAA)
- Amassed four points (three goals, assist) as Wisconsin captured its third Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off title in four years
- Scored two goals in a span of 4 minutes, 16 seconds and added an assist in a win over Ferris State on Dec. 28
- Credited with the game-winning goal with 1:24 left in regulation after being pulled down attempting to score on an empty net in a 4-3 win against UConn in the championship game on Sunday
- The RIT transfer earns his first Big Ten Weekly award
- Last Wisconsin Star honoree: Tommy Scarfone (Third Star, Dec. 17, 2024)
