Hirose Named Big Ten Second Star of the Week

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State junior forward Taro Hirose has been named the Big Ten's Second Star of the Week, it was announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Hirose had four points last weekend in a series split at Minnesota, which included his fourth three-point game of the season in the Spartans' 4-2 win.

Hirose helped engineer the Spartans' come-from-behind victory on Saturday by scoring the first MSU goal and then setting up each of the next two. He got MSU on the board late in the second period with his sixth goal of the season, and then drew the primary assist on Patrick Khodorenko's tying goal 1:11 later.

The native of Calgary, Alberta, set up Brody Stevens perfectly for the eventual game-winning goal in the third period.

With 19 points, Hirose ranks third in the country and the Big Ten, while he leads the conference and is tied for second in the nation in assists with 13.

It's the second time this season Hirose has earned a weekly conference honor as he was named the first star on Oct. 30.

Hirose brings a three-game point streak into this weekend's home-and-home series vs. Michigan, which begins Friday at Munn at 7 p.m.

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