will add much-needed team 
leadership during his final 
crusade. Senior Dexter Dancs 
and junior Brendan Warren 
also figure to be offensive 
catalysts after disappointing 
drop offs last season compared 
to previous years.

The answer to more shots 

on goal is likely tied to a 
group of highly ranked first-
year players. Five of the six 
are forwards, and the most 
anticipated arrival is freshman 
Josh Norris. Selected by the 
San Jose Sharks as the 19th 
overall pick in the first round 
of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, 
he played the past two seasons 
with the United States National 
Team Development Program 
and collected a team-high 51 
points in 52 games last year.

Freshmen 
Jack 
Becker, 

Michael Pastujov — brother 
of sophomore forward Nick 
Pastujov — and Dakota Raabe, 
and graduate transfer Alex 
Roos — who spent the last four 
seasons at Colorado College 
— round out the new crop of 
forwards. 
Pearson 
expects 

Norris, along with the other 
newcomers, 
to 
spark 
the 

previously 
underwhelming 

offense.

Defensemen

Though 
Michigan 
lost 

captain and defensive mainstay 
Nolan 
De 
Jong, 
who 
now 

plays for the ECHL’s Colorado 
Eagles, the Wolverines boast 
eight veterans controlling the 
blue line.

Seniors 
Cutler 
Martin 

and 
Sam 
Piazza 
lead 
the 

defensemen. After a junior 
season 
at 
forward, 
Martin 

returns to his comfort zone. As 
a freshman, his only full year as 
a defenseman, he recorded 15 
points and a plus-12 rating, best 
among Michigan blueliners and 
second among all defensemen 
in the Big Ten. Conversely, 
Piazza is coming off a career 
year with 14 points — six 
goals and eight assists — in 32 
games and a Big Ten Honorable 
Mention distinction.

Freshman Quinn Hughes is 

the lone defensive recruit, but 
the learning curve shouldn’t 
be too difficult for the likely 
2018 first-round NHL Entry 
Draft pick. The Orlando native 
played two seasons with the 
United States National Team 
Development 
Program 
— 

alongside Norris — and notched 

47 points, including 38 assists, 
in 56 games. Hughes has already 
shown his presence on the ice, 
scoring his first collegiate goal 
in his first collegiate game 
against St. Lawrence.

Junior Joseph Cecconi has 

also looked strong coming out 
of the gates, tallying three 
assists in the exhibition game 
and one against St. Lawrence. 
Sophomores 
Griffin 
Luce, 

Christian 
Meike 
and 
Luke 

Martin, and junior Nicholas 
Boka complete the rest of the 
defense.

With Martin’s confidence in 

returning to his true position, 
Piazza’s evolution last year 
and Hughes’ track record, the 
back line seems destined to 
offset the hole left by De Jong 
and stay strong against Big Ten 
offensive juggernauts.

Outlook

With a strong freshman class 

and experienced veterans, it’s 
just a matter of time the two 
groups mesh within Pearson’s 
new schemes. This weekend’s 
series against Vermont is the 
last opportunity to sync before 
Big Ten play commences at 
Penn State. If the players catch 
their strides at the right time 
and execute in the big spots, 
especially early in the season, 
lofty expectations will be met, 
something last year’s team 
didn’t accomplish.

Friday, October 20, 2017 // FACEOFF 2017
7B 

Big Ten Breakdown: Notre Dame 
shakes up conference landscape

Michigan opens up Big Ten 

play in State College against 
Penn State next weekend, while 
other teams have already had 
their conference debuts. The 
Big Ten is rife with storylines 
this season, as the Wolverines 
will look to redeem themselves 
after last season’s loss to the 
Nittany Lions in the first round 
of the Big Ten Tournament. 

Despite Penn State’s upset 

over No. 8 Minnesota in the 2017 
Big Ten Tournament semifinals 
last season, the Golden Gophers 
are looking keen to avenge that 
upset this year as coach Don 
Lucia boasts an eclectic mix of 
talented young phenoms and 
seasoned veterans.

Most notably for the Big Ten, 

Notre Dame joins conference 
play as the seventh affiliate. 
The Fighting Irish were a 
part of the WCHA and CCHA 
from 1971-1981 and 1992-2012, 

respectively, two conferences 
in which a collection of Big 
Ten programs also competed 
in. The Daily breaks down the 
2017 rendition of the Big Ten 
conference.

No. 6 Wisconsin

The Badgers (1-1 Big Ten, 

4-1 overall) are coming off a 
heartbreaking double-overtime 
loss to the Nittany Lions in the 
Big Ten Championship game 
last season.

However, Wisconsin clearly 

is not dwelling in the past, as its 
versatile offense is putting on 
a clinic, scoring first in all five 
of its games this year. Having 
their best start since 2004, 
the Badgers are challenging 
the 
preseason 
notion 
that 

Minnesota will be the dominant 
force in the conference.

Forward 
Seamus 
Malone 

notched his first two goals of 
the season this past weekend, 
but of the nine goals Wisconsin 

tallied in total, eight Badgers 
were 
responsible. 
Defender 

Wyatt Kalynuk also represents 
the shut-down defense as the 
best shot-blocker in the nation 
with 14 blocked shots.

No. 8 Minnesota

The 
touted 
frontrunners 

of the conference, the Golden 
Gophers (1-1, 2-2) already had a 
chance to seek revenge on Penn 
State this past weekend. But 
they split the contests, falling 
3-1 on Friday, and narrowly 
escaping the formidable Nittany 
Lion attack Saturday, 6-3.

Forward Brannon McManus 

stepped into the spotlight in 
Minnesota’s win Saturday with 
three goals in the third period, 
almost single-handedly saving 
the Golden Gophers from early 
humiliation.

At the onset of the season, 

Minnesota was ranked third in 
the nation according to USCHO 

RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily

The Michigan hockey team is set for its home opener Saturday night, hoping to defy the odds of winning a talented Big Ten.

See BIG TEN, Page 8B

BY THE NUMBERS

Michigan’s 2016 season

15

Goals scored by forward Tony 

Calderone — good for a team high.

21

Points recorded by forward Jake 
Slaker — good for a team high.

2.92

Goals allowed per game for 
goaltender Hayden Lavigne.

.203

Percentage of power plays 

converted.

The Wolverines are undoubtedly underdogs, as they 

find themselves surrounded by four teams in the Top 20

ROBERT HEFTER

Daily Sports Writer

