We are nearly two months into the NCAA hockey season. Big Ten Hockey has awarded 21 total weekly conference honors. A full third of those accolades belong to Ohio State players. This week’s Buckeye honorees are Matt Tomkins (Second Star) and Tanner Laczynski (Third Star).
| week | buckeye player | accolades |
|---|---|---|
| No. 3 | Nick Schilkey, Sr. F | Big Ten First Star of the Week |
| No. 4 | Matt Weis, Jr. F | Big Ten First Star of the Week |
| No. 4 | Tommy Parran, So. D | Big Ten Third Star of the Week |
| No. 6 | Nick Schilkey, Sr. F | Big Ten First Star of the Week |
| No. 6 | Dave Gust, Sr. F | Big Ten Second Star of the Week |
| No. 7 | Matt Tomkins, Sr. G | Big Ten Second Star of the Week |
| No. 7 | Tanner Laczynski, Fr. F | Big Ten Third Star of the Week |
Tomkins recorded 50 saves in two wins over Rensselaer. He surrendered only two goals. Both came while Ohio State was shorthanded. The senior netminder turned aside all 28 shots he saw on Friday to collect his third career shutout and his first blanking of the year.
This is the first weekly conference honor of the season for Tomkins. It is, I think, a well-deserved one. I thought he looked as composed and sharp during RPI series as at any other time I’ve seen him during his collegiate career.
Laczynksi continued the steady production of points against the Engineers that has made him one of the top freshman point-getters in the country. The Illinois native netted a goal and an assist in each of the Buckeyes’ wins last week. The four point outing brings his season stat line to a team-best 5-13--18. He is tied for second nationally in overall points by a rookie.
The only freshman ahead of Laczynski on those charts, Penn State’s Denis Smirnov (9-13--22), is the Big Ten’s First Star of the Week. He racked up four goals and an assist in PSU’s sweep of Arizona State, an output that included a hat trick and both game winning tallies.
The No. 13 Buckeyes are off this week, prepping for their Big Ten opener. The conference schedule gets underway next week with a trip to Minnesota. The game on Friday, December 2 is scheduled to air live on BTN at 9pm ET.
