The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2018 THE WOLVERINE 59 HOCKEY PREVIEW Top Returning Players Sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes Hughes is the puck-carrying, play-controlling defenseman every team desires, but few have. His skills and willingness to boldly use them took offensive pressure off Michigan's other defenseman. The No. 7 overall selection by the Vancouver Canucks in last June's NHL draft, Hughes opted to stay an additional year at Michigan rather than sign a professional contract. "Quinn was one of college hockey's best players last year, and I look forward to his continued development both on and off the ice," head coach Mel Pearson said of the Orlando, Fla., native. Hughes' 29 points (five goals and 24 assists) and steady performance level helped him earn second-team All-Big Ten recognition, a spot on the league's All-Freshman team, College Hockey News' national All-Rookie honors and NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team laurels. Junior forward Will Lockwood Lockwood is somewhat of a forgotten man when predic- tions of Michigan's offensive goal scoring are assessed for the 2018-19 season After posting potent injury-limited freshman season totals of eight goals and 12 assists in 30 games, Lockwood continued his offensive prowess with four goals and seven assists in just 16 games last year before succumbing to a season-ending injury suffered in the IIHF World Junior Championships while with Team USA over the year-end holidays. The Bloomfield Hills, Mich., native's ability to avoid injury and sustain his offensive numbers will go a long way toward the Wolverines' ability to replace departed top goal scorers Tony Calderone (25) and Cooper Marody (16). Senior defenseman Joseph Cecconi The Youngstown, N.Y., native was voted the 99th team captain in Michigan hockey history after his breakout junior season in which he tallied five goals and 22 assists. More im- portantly, Cecconi provided leadership on and off the ice in addition to his newfound offense. Junior defenseman Luke Martin The St. Louis product supplied a steady defensive presence, tying for the lead among all defensemen in plus/minus with a plus-16 rating and blocking a team-high 67 shots. Sophomore forward Josh Norris Norris was that "glue" player that was used in all situations, in- cluding both special teams. The Oxford, Mich., native chipped in eight goals and 15 assists in addition to leading the team in faceoff win percentage (56.4 percent success rate). By The Numbers 1 Returning double-digit goal scorer in JAKE SLAKER, who scored 15 times and added 12 assists in 2017-18. 2 Canadians on the roster — forward Jimmy Lambert from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and goalie Hayden Lavigne from Brampton, Ontario. 4 Returning players posted double-digit plus/minus ratings last season — junior Luke Martin plus-16, senior Nicholas Boka plus-16, sophomore Quinn Hughes plus-14 and junior Griffin Luce plus-10; all are defensemen. 9 NHL draftees on the roster — Martin (52nd overall in 2017 by Carolina); Boka (171st in 2015 by Minnesota); Hughes (sev- enth in 2018 by Vancouver); Jack Becker (195th in 2015 by Boston); Will Lockwood (64th in 2016 by Vancouver); Brendan Warren (81st in 2015 by Arizona, since traded to Philadelphia); Josh Norris (19th in 2017 by San Jose, since traded to Ottawa); Joseph Cecconi (133rd in 2015 by Dallas); and Nick Pastujov (193rd in 2016 by New York Islanders). 10 State of Michigan natives on the roster — freshman defensemen Jack Summers (Livonia), Nicholas Blankenburg (Washington) and Jake Gingell (Dexter); freshman forward Jack Olmstead (Troy); freshman goalie Jack Leavy (Birmingham); sophomore forward Josh Norris (Oxford); redshirt sophomore forward Luke Morgan (Brighton); junior forward Will Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills); senior forward Brendan Warren (Carleton); and senior defenseman Nicholas Boka (Plymouth). 15 More third-period goals (53) were scored by U-M than opponents (38) in 2017-18. 505 NHL games played by the assistants on the Wolverines' coaching staff — Bill Muckalt, 256, with Vancouver, New York Islanders, Ot- tawa and Minnesota; Steve Shields, 246, with Buffalo, San Jose, Anaheim, Bos- ton, Florida and Atlanta; and Brian Wiseman, three, with Toronto. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL