The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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michigan hockey assist, and is plus-3. Top Freshman — Jacob Trouba: Already one of the best offensive defensemen in school history, Trouba has had a monster postseason for the Wolverines, recording three goals and an assist in four CCHA playoff contests. He had both a power-play and the game-winning goal in a 4-3 quarterfinal win over Western Michigan March 15, and now sits second on the team with 12 goals this year. Trouba's 12 tallies are the most by a Michigan freshman defender since Dean Turner had 13 in 1977. Game To Watch — vs. Miami (Ohio), March 23: Michigan split its only two games with the RedHawks, beating Miami 4-2 Oct. 26 and losing 4-3 the following night. The foes will have not seen each other for 146 days when they match up in a CCHA semifinal at Joe Louis Arena. Both teams are playing well — U-M is 7-0-1 in its last eight while MU is 7‑3‑0 in its last 10. The RedHawks won the conference regular-season title and stand as the biggest obstacle between the Wolverines and another NCAA berth. In the postseason, these two have met only three times in the five previous years, with Michigan beating Miami in the CCHA final in 2008 and the semifinals in 2010, but losing to MU 3-2 in double overtime of the 2010 NCAA Midwest Regional final. — Michael Spath hockey Notebook Recognition • Freshman Jacob Trouba was named a first-team all-conference selection and was also named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. The 6‑2, 195-pound blue liner led the conference in defenseman scoring with 18 points (0.67 points per game) in 27 league contests. He also ranked first in goals with seven. Trouba is a finalist for CCHA Rookie of the Year and the league's Best Offensive Defenseman awards. The winners of the individual awards were to be announced at the CCHA Awards Show March 22. A Wolverine has picked up the freshman honor 12 times, most recently in 2012 when sophomore forward Alex Guptill was recognized as the Rookie of the Year. Only two former U-M skaters have been named Best Offensive Defenseman — Jeff Jillson in 2000 and Jack Johnson in 2007. Trouba's 12 overall goals and 27 points in 35 games rank as the second and third most, respectively, in school history among first-year defensemen. Johnson holds the record for points with 32 in 2006, while Dean Turner tallied 13 goals in 1977. Current freshman Boo Nieves, who