NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Big Ten Conference announced its 2022-23 regular season awards Tuesday, with a trio of Irish icers highlighting the honors. The conference leader in saves, save percentage (min. three games played), and minutes played, Ryan Bischel was named to the All-B1G First Team and was voted Goaltender of the Year by head coaches across the league. Graduate student and team captain Nick Leivermann also picked up All-Big Ten honors as honorable mention while junior Landon Slaggert was awarded the Sportsmanship Award.
The Bischel Breakdown
In 24 conference games played, Bischel led all netminders in saves, stopping 831 shots en route to a 10-10-4 record in Big Ten games. He also recorded a league-best .938 save percentage while leading the conference in minutes played, spending 1,443:18 between the pipes against Big Ten foes.
The senior from Medina, Minnesota, started all 37 games for the Irish in 2022-23, boasting a 16-16-5 while finishing with an overall save percentage of .931, ranked second nationally. His 1,183 saves led all collegiate netminders while his .934 save percentage to close out the regular season was a nation’s best among DI goaltenders.
Bischel wrote his name into the all-time program records book in 2022-23, finishing second in Irish history in season saves, behind Lance Madson (1988-89) with 1,288. The senior’s final save percentage of .931 was second-best in program history, behind Cale Morris and Dylan St. Cyr, both of whom he split time with in the crease during his first two seasons with the Irish.
In addition to his Goaltender of the Year and First Team honors, Bischel was named star of the game on 15 occasions this season, while adding four weekly conference honors to his resume. A Hobey Baker Memorial Award candidate, and Mike Richter Award semifinalist, Bischel becomes the first Irish netminder to earn conference Goaltender of the Year honors since Morris in 2017-18, and first All-Big Ten First Team honoree since Bobby Nardella in 2018-19.
The Leivermann File
The Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native concluded his five-year Irish career as an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention following a strong season at the blueline. The graduate senior appeared in 29 games for the Blue and Gold in 2022-23, leading all defensemen with 20 points off six goals and 14 assists. His 14 helpers were tied for second-best on the team, and first among defensemen while his 20 points tied for third among all Irish skaters.
In five years with the Irish, Leivermann tallied 78 points in 147 games played. Over his tenure at Notre Dame he lit the lamp 23 times while adding 55 assists to his tally and recorded his second-best point total in his final season.
The Slaggert Stats
Slaggert was named a recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for his contributions both on and off the ice this season. An assistant captain in 2022-23, his performance on the ice this season included 35 games played registering seven goals and six assists for 13 total points.
Outside of the rink, Slaggert is heavily involved in his hometown community of South Bend, helping with the Irish Youth Hockey League and participating in many events at the local elementary schools. In addition to his time with the area youth, Slaggert is a member of the Leadership Council at Notre Dame and serves as the team representative on the Student-Athlete Steering Committee with Notre Dame Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick.
Previous Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winners include Graham Slaggert (2022), Matt Hellickson (2021), Cal Burke (2019 & 2020), and Andrew Oglevie (2018).