Michael Hage awarded Big Ten Freshman of the Year

Michigan forward Michael Hage has been honored as the Big Ten hockey Freshman of the Year. This announcement was made on Tuesday. Hage scored a total of 34 points this season, with 13 goals and 21 assists. He was the top scorer among all Big Ten freshmen. The Wolverines finished fourth in the conference but were eliminated in the first round of the Big Ten playoffs by Penn State. Hage is also ranked fourth among NCAA rookies for points per game, averaging 1.03. He was a key player in Michigan's recruiting class. Before college, he excelled in the United States Hockey League, where he scored 33 goals and had 42 assists in 54 games. In addition to Hage, junior forward T.J. Hughes and senior defenseman Ethan Edwards were named to the all-Big Ten second team. Hughes leads the Wolverines in scoring with 38 points and had an impressive 15-game point streak. Edwards contributed significantly from the defense, leading his teammates with 21 points. Captain Jacob Truscott, a fifth-year defenseman, received an all-Big Ten honorable mention. He has 16 points and is known for his defensive skills, leading the team with 56 blocked shots. Michigan's chances for the NCAA Tournament are uncertain. The team currently ranks No. 14 in the Pairwise rankings, which help determine the 16 teams that will compete in the tournament. According to the Pairwise Probability Matrix, Michigan has a 27% chance of qualifying for the tournament. The team will learn its fate this Sunday.