SOUTH BEND, Ind. – After a season full of ups and downs for the Irish hockey squad, four Irish icers including Landon Slaggert, Ryan Bischel, Ryan Siedem and Hunter Strand have been tabbed by the Big Ten Conference for its postseason awards. Amassing a team-best 31 points, including a career year of 20 goals, the captain Slaggert was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team while B1G Goaltender of the Year finalist Bischel was recognized as an honorable mention. One of the team’s unsung heroes of the year, Strand was honored as part of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award team.
In his senior season, Slaggert boasted a team-best 20 goals and had 31 total points, including six powerplay goals and two game-winners. The South Bend native concluded his career with the Irish appearing in all 36 games on the season and was a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee in 2024.
A staple in net the past two seasons, Bischel finished the year with the most saves in the country and one of the top save percentages. A 2024 Goaltender of the Year finalist by the conference, Bischel was also named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award and was a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee.
Siedem joined the Irish prior to the start of the 2023-24 season and made an immediate impact at the blueline. The graduate defenseman led the team with 17 assists and finished the year with 20 total points adding an additional three goals. He spent most of the year as a top defender at dump in puck retrievals and created numerous transitional offensive plays throughout the season.
Strand closed out his junior campaign with a career-best 19 points, recording four goals and finishing second on the team in assists (15).