ANN ARBOR -- With Michigan's hockey team struggling midway through last season, head coach Mel Pearson paired freshman Quinn Hughes and junior Joseph Cecconi together to generate more offense from his defensemen.
The move did just that. Hughes, the seventh-overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks in June's NHL draft, had four goals and 15 assists in his final 21 games after registering one goal and nine assists in his first 18 games.
Cecconi, this year's team captain, had two goals and 13 assists in his last 18 games after just 12 points in his first 22 games.