As the postseason is in effect for Big Ten, the conference announced finalists for their Big Ten Hockey awards. Two underclassmen on the Wolverines’ squad were nominated as finalists for three awards.
Luke Hughes:
Sophomore defenseman Luke Hughes has been nominated for two more Big Ten Hockey awards after his outstanding second year with the Michigan Hockey team.
The 19-year-old, a first-round pick to the New Jersey Devils in 2021, was nominated for Big Ten Player of the Year. Not only that, but he is also a finalist as Big Ten Defensive Player of the year. Following in his older brothers’ footsteps, Luke Hughes will be moving on to the NHL after the end of the season. He will be playing alongside his brother Jack Hughes in New Jersey.
The standout sophomore has forty points this season (9 G, 31 A). Four goals came in one game against Penn State just a few weeks ago.
For Player of the Year, Hughes will be going up against two huge names in the Big Ten. Minnesota’s Matthew Knies and Notre Dame goaltender Ryan Bischel are also nominated as finalists. As for Defensive Player of the Year, the other finalists alongside Luke Hughes are Brock Faber from Minnesota and Mason Lohrei from Ohio State.
Adam Fantilli:
Freshman Adam Fantilli is projected to go top three in the upcoming NHL entry draft. So it is no surprise that he was nominated as a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
The 18-year-old from Canada is having the season for the ages with 56 points (25 G, 31 A). With five goals alone last weekend, Fantilli is playing his best hockey at the perfect time. In last weekend’s quarterfinal series, Adam Fantilli nearly had a hat trick in both games; however, one goal was removed. Fantilli goes up against fellow Freshmen Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud, both from Minnesota.
While his future with the Wolverines going into next season is undetermined, he sure has a bright future ahead of him. Whether with Michigan for one more year or in the NHL, he will be a star wherever he comes next season. The Big Ten Hockey award winners and All-Big Ten teams are being announced on March 14th. You can catch Luke Hughes and Adam Fantilli in the Big Ten Semifinals when they take on Ohio State.
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