Michigan State's Howard Jumps to NHL

Reigning Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Isaac Howard won't be returning to Michigan State University for his final collegiate season. 

Howard, 21, who led the Spartans to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles the last two years, has signed with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers after his rights were traded to the two-time Western Conference champions by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had drafted him 31st overall in 2022.

A native of Hudson, Wisc., Howard led MSU in scoring as a junior last season with 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 37 games, and then claimed the Hobey Baker Award. A 5-foot-11, 190-pound left wing, he had earlier been named as the 2024-25 Big Ten Player of the Year, and went on to help Team USA to its first gold medal at the IIHF Men's World Championship since 1933. 

A product of the U.S. National Development Team Program, Howard collected 34-54—88 points in 73 career games over two years with MSU, helping the Green and White to two NCAA tournaments, after transferring from Minnesota-Duluth. He is the third Spartan to ever win the Hobey Baker Award, following center Kip Miller (1990) and goaltender Ryan Miller (2001).

2025 Hobey Baker and Other Award Winners Announced

Isaac Howard (Michigan State) is the winner of the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men's hockey. He is the third Spartan all-time to win the award, following Kip Miller (1990) and Ryan Miller (2001). 

A native of Hudson, Wisc., Howard, 21, led MSU in scoring as a junior this season with 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 37 games, while helping the Spartans to both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles for the second straight year. A 5-foot-11, 190-pound left wing, he had earlier been named as the 2024-25 Big Ten Player of the Year.

Other college hockey award winners announced on Friday at the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis:

Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award

Jacob Truscott, Gr., D (Michigan)

Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey

Dick Umile (New Hampshire)

Hockey Humanitarian Award

Sarah Thompson, Gr., D (St. Lawrence)

Mike Richter Award (Best Goaltender)

Jacob Fowler, So., G (Boston College)

Tim Taylor Award (Top Rookie)

Cole Hutson, Fr., D (Boston University)

In addition, the American Hockey Coaches association released its selections of the 2024-25 CCM/AHCA Hockey Division I All-Americans, with 24 players representing 16 different schools. 

USA Wins 2024 World Juniors

Exactly 20 years after winning its first-ever gold medal in the competition, the United States is again king of the IIHF World Junior Championship.

Issac Howard (Michigan State) scored two goals, and Gabe Perreault (Boston College) notched a goal and two assists as the U.S. broke open a two-all game with four answered scores Friday in a 6-2 win over host Sweden in the gold medal game of this year's event. Trey Augustine (Michigan State) made 24 saves in net to help the Team USA win its sixth WJC gold medal ever, and first since 2021 when it defeated host Canada.

The Americans, who finished with a perfect 7-0-0 record in this year's tournament, advanced to the title game following a 3-2 victory over Finland in the semifinal round on Thursday. Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) tallied the decisive power-play goal late in regulation after Team USA fought back from a 2-0 first-period deficit, while Augustine made 21 stops. Gauthier tied for the tournament scoring lead with 12 points, on two goals and 10 assists, while Howard led all WJC goal scorers this year with seven goals in all.

Sweden made it to the final after downing Czechia, 5-2, in the semifinals. Czechia then won the bronze medal after defeating Finland, 8-5, earlier Friday. Next year's WJC is scheduled to be held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for the first time since 2009.

USA Rolling with Two More Wins at WJC

The United States improved to 3-0-0 at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden with today's 4-3 shootout victory over Czechia. 

Isaac Howard (Michigan State) scored a goal in regulation, and then added the decisive goal in the extra session to lift Team USA to the victory. Ryan Chesley (Minnesota) and Will Smith (Boston College) also tallied in regulation for the U.S., while Jacob Fowler (Boston College) picked up the win in goal after making 20 saves.

The day before, the U.S. posted a 11-3 rout of Switzerland, powered by a first-period hat trick from Jimmy Snuggerud (Minnesota). Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) and Frank Nazar (Michigan) recorded four assists apiece, while Gavin Brindley (Michigan) scored two goals and set up another, and Fowler had 21 stops.

Team USA will complete group play in this year's WJC on Sunday against Slovakia.

U.S. Tops Norway in 2024 WJC Opener

The United States got off to a solid start at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden on Tuesday, with a 4-1 victory over Norway in the opener for both teams.

The U.S. got two goals from Gavin Brindley (Michigan) and 22 saves from Trey Augustine (Michigan State) in the win. Isaac Howard (Michigan State) and Jimmy Snuggerud (Minnesota) also scored for the Americans.

Team USA returns to WJC pool play on Thursday against Switzerland.

Gaudreau Powers U.S. to Win Over Sweden

Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) of the NHL's Calgary Flames scored two goals and was named the American player of the game as the U.S. Men's National Team edged Sweden, 4-3, before a crowd of 18,398 in a preliminary-round contest at the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Cologne, Germany.

J.T. Compher (Michigan) of the Colorado Avalanche tallied the game-winning goal in the third period for the U.S., which outshot Sweden by a 39-23 margin and rebounded from three one-goal deficits. Jack Eichel (Boston University) of the Buffalo Sabres registered two assists while Clayton Keller (Boston University) scored the other U.S. goal, and Jimmy Howard (Maine) of the Detroit Red Wings made 20 saves for the Americans.

The win improved Team USA's record in the annual tournament to 2-1-0, including an earlier 2-1 loss to Germany followed by a 7-2 win over Denmark. The U.S. will next face Italy on Wednesday at Lanxess Arena.