Artyom Levshunov

Artyom Levshunov (Belarusian: Арцём Леўшуноў, born October 28, 2005) is a Belarusian ice hockey defenseman who was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL.[1][2] Levshunov was selected second overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL entry draft.[3]

Artyom Levshunov
Levshunov playing with Michigan State at the Kohl Center (March 2024)
Born (2005-10-28) October 28, 2005
Zhlobin, Belarus
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team Chicago Blackhawks
NHL draft 2nd overall, 2024
Chicago Blackhawks

Playing career

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
Medal record
Representing  Belarus
Men's ice hockey
IIHF World Junior Championship
2022 DenmarkDivision 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

Regular season and playoffs
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2020–21 Team Belarus U17 BLR.2 4610162628 72350
2021–22 Team Belarus U18 BLR.2 4625386328 13710172
2022–23 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 6213294238 30110
2023–24 Michigan State University B1G 389263544 —————
NCAA totals 389263544 —————

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 Belarus WJC (Div IA) 50224
Junior totals 50224

Awards and honours
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
  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. 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. "2022-23 All-USHL Teams Announced". ushl.com. May 1, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  8. "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. Archived from the original on 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.
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