NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Just over a week away from the start of the 2025-26 season, a pair of Irish icers have been tabbed to the Preseason All-Big Ten teams, as announced by the conference Thursday afternoon. Cole Knuble highlights the All-Big Ten First Team for Notre Dame following a breakout sophomore season while classmate Paul Fischer is a Second Team nod at the blueline.
Knuble was the program’s lone all-conference honoree a season ago, finishing his second campaign with the Blue and Gold as the team’s leading scorer with 39 points (12-27-39). Appearing in 34 games as a sophomore, the Grand Rapids, Michigan, native averaged 1.15 points per game which ranked sixth-best all-time. In addition to his postseason honors, Knuble was a 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee and earned Big Ten First Star of the Week honors in mid-October 2024.
River Forest, Illinois, native Fischer set a career-best 21 points last season including a team-high 19 assists in his 36 games played. His 21 points also led all Irish defensemen and finished sixth among all Big Ten blueliners in both points and assists.
The Preseason All-Big Ten honors are a first for both Irish skaters as they prepare for their third season with the Irish and will serve as alternate captains this year.