The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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michigan hockey fenseman and a finalist for Rookie of the Year honors, Trouba notched 12 goals and 17 assists this past year. His 12 goals are the second-best effort by a U-M freshman blue liner and his 29 points rank third all time. He was, in the words of junior defensive partner Mac Bennett, Michigan's best player all season. The No. 9 overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, Trouba considered returning for his sophomore campaign, and he was even thought to be leaning that way, but changed his mind in becoming the 22nd Wolverine (Merrill was No. 21) to leave since 2000 before exhausting his eligibility. "He gave me the impression that he really liked it here," Berenson said. "He was comfortable, in his element, around good people, having fun, liked what he was doing in school and hockey, but he also knew there was an opportunity out there and at some point he would have to deal with it. "I think right after our season he was learning toward staying here, but over the last week — whether it was a combination of Winnipeg or family, scouts, agents, you name it — the wheel turned and he made the decision to sign." Though he is disappointed, Berenson knows that the 6-2, 195-pound Trouba is also ready. "I can't second-guess the kid. I told Winnipeg he's the real deal and he won't be out of place," Berenson said. "If he stayed at Michigan, it would have been another good year of growth for him, and he would have remained a top prospect a year from now. I told him that, but it was his decision." Wolverines Prepare To Embrace Big Ten After years of posturing and announcements, the Big Ten hockey conference is slated to begin play in 2013-14. The Wolverines will be joined by CCHA foes Michigan State and Ohio State, WCHA programs Minnesota and Wisconsin, and independent Penn State to form a sixteam league. U-M will play each rival four times, twice at home and twice on the road, and all six teams will qualify for the Big Ten Tournament to be played in St. Paul, Minn., next year. "I played at Minnesota my freshman year, and being in that building, where Minnesota is crazy about hockey, and that arena, was so cool," junior defenseman Mac Bennett said. "Being able to play at Minnesota, at a place like Wisconsin — they're crazy about hockey, too. Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State. It's going to be wild. "I think our league will be, arguably, the best in the country and it will be a grand stage for college hockey." Michigan is committed to 20 Big Ten games — and with the influence of the Big Ten Network, expect some midweek games and doubleheaders on weekends, head coach Red Berenson said — and two Great Lakes Invitational contests (outdoor at Co-