Former Penn State defenseman Cole Hults has been named Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Hults is the first player in the history of Penn State’s program, which opened NCAA play in 2012-13, to claim the honor. As a junior this season, Hults appeared in 34 games and recorded 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists).
A fifth-round draft pick (No. 134 overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in 2017, Hults signed a two-year entry-level contract with that team April 12.
Hults, 21, was also named to the Big Ten’s first team along with forward Nate Sucese.
The 23-year-old Sucese appeared in 34 games as a senior this season and led Penn State with 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists). Undrafted, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Arizona Coyotes on March 20.
Forward Evan Barratt, 21, was named to the Big Ten second team. In 34 games as a junior this season, Barratt scored 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists). A third-round pick (No. 90 overall) of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017, Barratt signed a three-year entry-level contract with that team April 2.
Goaltender Peyton Jones and forward Alex Limoges were named as honorable mentions.
As a senior, Jones, 24, played in 30 games and had an 18-9-3 record along with a 2.60 goals against average, .919 save percentage and one shutout. He signed a two-year American Hockey League contract with the Colorado Eagles on May 4.
Limoges, 22, played in 30 games as a junior and scored 32 points (11 goals, 22 assists).
