Three Rising Sophomores Sign with NHL Clubs

Two All-America selections and one national champion have moved on from college hockey after just one season apiece, surrendering their remaining NCAA eligibility in doing so.

Macklin Celebrini (Boston University), who claimed the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and was also an AHCA First Team All-America choice as a 17-year-old, has signed with the San Jose Sharks, who chose him first overall at last month's NHL Draft in Las Vegas after he turned 18. A native of Vancouver, Celebrini tallied 32 goals and 30 assists for 62 points last season to lead BU in scoring, while also earning Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Hockey East Player of the Year accolades. The six-foot, 190-pound center also helped BU to the Beanpot Tournament title game, the Hockey East championship game, and the NCAA Frozen Four while personally earning Hockey East First Team All-Star, Hockey East All-Rookie Team, and national rookie of the year recognition, among other tributes.

Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State) also decided to sign with an NHL club following being drafted last month, when he went second overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. A 6-foot-2, 198-pound defenseman from Zhlobin, Belarus, Levshunov recorded 9-26—35 points in 38 outings last season in helping MSU to its first Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, along with the Spartans' first NCAA tournament victory since 2008. He also earned AHCA Second Team All-America status, along with All-Big Ten First Team, All-Big Ten Freshman Team, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

Leaving for the NHL after winning this year's national title was Miko Matikka (Denver), who signed with the Utah Hockey Club that drafted him 67th overall in 2022 when the organization was still based in Arizona. A native of Helsinki, Finland, he registered 20-13—33 points in 43 appearances in helping DU to a record 10th NCAA championship. A 6-foot-3, 201-pound right wing, Matikka, 20, was a unanimous selection to the NCHC All-Rookie Team, and was also a four-time NCHC Rookie of the Week.

All three players signed standard three-year entry-level contracts with their respective NHL clubs, and all three also participated recently in development camps with those organizations.

Three NCAA Skaters Go in NHL First Round

The first round of the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas is in the books, after three current NCAA skaters were selected among the top 12 choices on Friday evening. 

Chosen first overall, as expected, was center Macklin Celebrini (Boston University), this year's Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner, who went first overall to the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini is the first overall choice from a U.S. college since Owen Power (Michigan) in 2021, and just the fourth college player ever selected first in the history of the NHL draft. 

Right behind Celebrini in the number two slot was defenseman Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State), who was chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks after helping MSU win both the Big Ten regular-season and conference crowns. Coming in 12th overall was defenseman Zeev Buium (Denver), who was tabbed by the Minnesota Wild after being a part of DU's NCAA championship team this year. 

Seven future NCAA players were then chosen among the final 18 selections of the first round. The draft concludes on Saturday at the Sphere, beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET (NHL Network).

MSU Wins First-Ever Big Ten Title

Freshman goaltender Trey Augustine made 44 saves, and Reed Lebster notched the game-winning goal with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation, as Michigan State clinched its first-ever Big Ten conference regular-season title with a 5-2 victory last night at Wisconsin.

Lebster finished with a goal and two assists for the sixth-ranked Spartans (22-8-3 overall, 16-5-2 Big Ten), who also got a goal and an assist apiece from Tiernan Shoudy and Artyom Levshunov. Jeremy Davidson tallied twice for MSU, including one of two empty-netters in the final three minutes of play. David Silye set up two goals for the host Badgers (24-9-2, 15-7-1), who also got 21 stops in net from Kyle McClellan. No. 4 Wisconsin also outshot MSU, 46-26, and won 47 of 71 faceoffs on the night.

MSU claimed its first conference regular-season title since 2001 in the original CCHA, when the late, legendary Ron Mason was at the helm as head coach. The Spartans also advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four that season. With Friday's MSU victory, all seven current Big Ten schools (except Michigan) have won a regular-season championship since the conference began play in 2013.

The first-place Spartans and second-place Badgers meet again tonight at the Kohl Center in Madison to close out the series and the regular season. Wisconsin will host seventh-place Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals next weekend, while MSU will have a bye next week before hosting a semifinal the following week at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing.