New York Rangers defenseman prospect Sean Barnhill is enjoying the view from the top of the NCAA men's hockey mountain these days with Michigan State.
On Monday afternoon, when the polls were released, Michigan State was the unanimous choice for the No. 1 ranking in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey polls, after they earned a sweep over Big Ten rival Penn State.
Barnhill played a key role defensively for the Spartans, limiting Gavin McKenna and Penn State's high caliber offense to a total of 25 shots on goal during a 2-1 overtime victory Friday. The freshman played a shutdown role on the third pairing, and had an even rating with two shots on goal.
The stout defense continued Saturday, when Michigan State shut out Penn State 5-0. Barnhill contributed offensively with an assist in the third period on the Spartans fourth goal. It was his second assist of the season in eight games. New York's third-round pick in 2025 (70th overall), had two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating for the game. Michigan State improved to 7-1-0 overall and heads to South Bend, Indiana for a pair of games against Notre Dame this weekend.
Ranked second in the polls, the Michigan Wolverines split a weekend series with Wisconsin. In their 7-4 win Friday, freshman forward Malcolm Spence
took advantage of a turnover by the Badgers goaltender in the second period and buried it to tie the game 2-2.
Spence was called for hooking early in the third period, and was sent to the penalty box for roughing toward the end of the game. He was nearly tossed out by the referees after a verbal spat in the penalty box directed at Wisconsin's Oliver Tulk.
The 18-year-old had one goal on three shots, one face-off win and an even rating. Wisconsin gained a measure of revenge Saturday, with a 6-1 victory. Spence had two shots on goal, one blocked shot, and one face-off win, with a minus-1 rating. The Wolverines are 10-2-0 overall and continue conference play against Penn State November this weekend.
Peter Carr/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
North Dakota gained two spots in the polls following a pair of wins over Omaha by scores of 7-2 and 4-1. The Fighting Hawks are at the top of the NCHC standings with a 3-1-0 conference record (7-3-0 overall).
Defenseman EJ Emery had two shots on goal Friday for North Dakota and took a minor penalty for holding. The sophomore blueliner contributed offensively Saturday, picking up his first assist of the season, a primary helper coming at 3:42 of the first period to open the scoring. Emery had one blocked shot, and was plus-2. Earlier this season, Emery scored his first two NCAA goals.
North Dakota hosts Arizona State on Friday and Saturday at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Defending national champions Western Michigan dropped to ninth in the USCHO.com poll and eighth in the USA Hockey poll after losing a pair of games to Denver. Sophomore forward Ty Henricks recorded four shots on goal for the Broncos in a 3-1 loss Friday, and had a minor penalty for hooking. On Saturday, with Western Michigan trailing in the second period, Henricks deflected a shot into the net for a power-play goal, his third marker this season.
Henricks had four shots on goal and a minus-1 rating, though Western Michigan lost 6-3. They dropped to 5-5-0 overall and look to rebound at home this weekend when they host Miami University at Lawson Arena.
Boston College stayed at 18th in the USCHO.com poll, and gained one spot in the USA Hockey poll, as the Eagles came in at 16th following a sweep of Vermont in Hockey East play. Defenseman Drew Fortescue
had one shot on goal and a plus-1 rating Friday night during a 2-1 win. The junior blueliner picked up his third assist of the season in the first period of a 5-0 win Saturday on the Eagles second goal of the game. Fortescue had two shots on goal and a plus-1 rating.
Through nine games, he has two goals and three assists. His five points are the most among Eagles defensemen. Boston College improved to 4-4-1 overall, and continue Hockey East play against UMass this Friday and Saturday.
Captain Brody Lamb
scored in back-to-back games for the University of Minnesota, when the Golden Gophers defeated Notre Dame by scores of 3-1 and 4-1 this past weekend. The senior forward had five shots on goal Friday, and put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal to seal the win. Lamb scored again Saturday, finding open ice in front of the Fighting Irish net, and finishing a feed off a turnover to open the scoring.
Lamb also picked up the primary assist on Minnesota's second goal. For his effort, Lamb earned the First Star of the game, with one goal and one assist on four shots with a plus-2 rating. He won one of two face-offs taken, and was assessed a minor penalty for roughing in the third period. Lamb leads Minnesota in goals (6) and points (10) through 12 games. Minnesota improved to 4-7-1 overall, and hosts Long Island in non-conference play on Friday and Saturday.
Swedish defenseman Rasmus Larsson
was in the lineup for Robert Morris on Friday against Long Island. The sophomore transfer had one shot on goal in a 6-3 loss for the Colonials. He was scratched for a 2-0 defeat Saturday. Robert Morris is 2-5-1 and faces RIT in AHA action this weekend.
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