Artyom Levshunov

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Artyom Levshunov
Born (2005-10-28) October 28, 2005 (age 18)
Zhlobin, Belarus
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NCAA team Michigan State University
NHL draft Eligible 2024

Artyom Levshunov (Belarusian: Арцём Леўшуноў, born October 28, 2005) is a Belarusian college ice hockey defenceman for the Michigan State Spartans of the NCAA.[1][2] Levshunov will be eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and is projected as a top 10 prospect in the draft.[3]

Playing career[edit]

Following the 2021–22 season, in which he scored 25 goals and 38 assists in 63 games for Team Belarus U18 in the second-tier Belarusian Vysshaya Liga, Levshunov was selected 111th overall by the Green Bay Gamblers in the 8th round of the 2022 United States Hockey League (USHL) Phase II Draft.[4]

Debuting with the Gamblers as a 16-year-old and speaking very little English, he quickly earned his first USHL Defencemen of the Week on November 9, 2022, for a week in which he score 2 goals and 5 points in 2 games.[4][5] On March 20, 2023, Levshunov earned his second USHL Defenceman of the Week with 1 goal and 4 points in 2 games.[6] Levshunov finished the 2022–23 season with 13 goals, ranking third among USHL defensemen.[7] After getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Levshunov was named to the USHL First All-Rookie Team and the Third All-USHL Team.[7][8]

Levshunov committed to play college ice hockey for Michigan State University in the summer of 2023.[9] On October 7, 2023, he made his debut for the Spartans in a game against Lake Superior State. The next day, he recorded his first NCAA goal and assist, also against Lake Superior State.[10]

International play[edit]

Medal record
Representing  Belarus
Men's ice hockey
IIHF World Junior Championship
Gold medal – first place 2022 Denmark Division I Group A

Levshunov debuted internationally with Team Belarus at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, in the Division I Group A tournament, the second tier of international junior competition. He helped the team to win a gold medal with 2 assists in 5 games.[11]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2020–21 Team Belarus U17 BLR.2 46 10 16 26 28 7 2 3 5 0
2021–22 Team Belarus U18 BLR.2 46 25 38 63 28 13 7 10 17 2
2022–23 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 62 13 29 42 38 3 0 1 1 0
2023–24 Michigan State University B1G 38 9 26 35 44
NCAA totals 38 9 26 35 44

International[edit]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 Belarus WJC (Div IA) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 2 2 4
Junior totals 5 0 2 2 4

Awards and honours[edit]

Award Year
USHL
All-USHL Third Team 2023 [7]
All-Rookie First Team 2023 [8]
College
All-Big Ten First Team 2024 [12]
All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2024
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year 2024
Big Ten Freshman of the Year 2024
AHCA West Second Team All-American 2024 [13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kennedy, Ryan (September 22, 2023). "2024 NHL Draft Rankings: The First Watch List". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "MSU hockey adds potential top 10 NHL draft pick from Belarus to freshmen class". The Detroit News. July 26, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  3. ^ Wheeler, Scott (August 14, 2023). "2024 NHL Draft ranking: Macklin Celebrini leads Scott Wheeler's preseason top 32". The Athletic. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Sikes, Ryan (October 8, 2023). "2024 NHL Draft Prospect Artyom Levshunov Adapting, Shining With Green Bay". flohockey.tv. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "USHL Players of the Week – Week 7". ushl.com. November 9, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "USHL Players of the Week – Week 7". ushl.com. March 20, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "2022-23 All-USHL Teams Announced". ushl.com. May 1, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "USHL All-Rookie Teams Announced". ushl.com. May 1, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  9. ^ Bott, Nathaniel (July 24, 2023). "Potential top 10 NHL draft pick Artyom Levshunov among new additions for MSU hockey". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "#5 Artyom Levshunov". msuspartans.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "Artyom Levshunov". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  12. ^ "Big Ten Conference Announces Hockey Postseason Awards". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "Top 25 men's college hockey players earn distinction as CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans for 2023-24 season". USCHO.com. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.

External links[edit]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Big Ten Freshman of the Year
2023–24
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
2023–24
Succeeded by
Incumbent