University of Michigan Athletics Hughes Captures B1G Hockey Player of the Year Honors ROSEMONT, Ill. -- University of Michigan ice hockey standout T.J. Hughes was named Big Ten Player of the Year, marking a significant achievement for the Wolverines as the conference announced its all-conference honorees live on the Big Ten Network. Hughes, a senior captain, was recognized with first-team All-Big Ten honors, while teammates Michael Hage, Tyler Duke, and Jack Ivankovic joined him on the second team. Ivankovic also earned All-Freshman Team accolades, and Josh Eernisse received the conference’s Sportsmanship Award. Hughes leads Michigan in scoring with 50 points in 36 games, averaging 1.39 points per contest. His 19 goals, including five power-play markers and three game-winners, and 31 assists make him a dominant force on the ice. With a +12 plus-minus rating, he has recorded points in 29 games, including a 10-game streak, and has 16 multi-point performances. As a four-time All-Big Ten selection, Hughes holds the conference’s all-time scoring record with 108 points in league play, including 64 assists and 44 goals. His performance against Big Ten opponents has been particularly impressive, with 25 points in 19 games against Penn State, 21 points each against Michigan State and Wisconsin, and 20 points against Notre Dame and Ohio State. Hughes has maintained an active 13-game point streak against Penn State, scored in five straight contests against Minnesota, and contributed in 15 of 18 career games against Michigan State. He becomes the third Michigan player to win Big Ten Player of the Year, joining Kyle Connor (2016) and Gavin Brindley (2024), and is the first senior to claim the honor.#notre_dame #big_ten #michigan_state #university_of_michigan #tj_hughes
Michigan Hockey Aims for First Big Ten Tournament Title at Home The University of Michigan Wolverines are seeking their fourth Big Ten tournament championship in the past 12 years as they face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. This matchup marks the first time the Wolverines will defend a conference title at home since 2021, adding extra pressure to the team as they look to secure a banner for the Yost Ice Arena. While Michigan is already virtually guaranteed a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the outcome of the game could influence their regional assignment, with potential destinations including Albany, New York; Loveland, Colorado; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Worcester, Massachusetts. The Frozen Four, set to take place in Las Vegas, remains the ultimate goal for both teams. For Ohio State, the stakes are higher. The Buckeyes, who finished the regular season with a sub-.500 record, have relied on a pair of upsets to reach the final. A win would secure their place in the NCAA Tournament, while a loss would leave them without a postseason berth. Michigan, on the other hand, has dominated the regular season series against Ohio State, sweeping the two matchups with a combined score of 22-9. However, the Wolverines’ 3-2 overtime thriller earlier this season, in which they blew a two-goal lead in the third period, serves as a reminder of the Buckeyes’ resilience. The game itself was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading goals in the first period. Michigan’s Garrett Schifsky scored the opening goal of the game, tying the score at 1-1 after a long shot from the blue line. Ohio State nearly took the lead late in the period, but a deflected shot by Josh Eernisse was ruled out after a review.#crisler_center #university_of_michigan #ohio_state_buckeyes #yost_ice_arena #wolverines
Historic Night at Yost: Michigan, Ohio State to Battle for Big Ten Crown The University of Michigan ice hockey team, ranked No. 1 and seeded No. 2, will face Ohio State in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament championship on Saturday, March 21, at Yost Ice Arena. The game, set for 8 p.m., will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Michigan, with a record of 28-7-1, aims to secure its fourth Big Ten title, having previously won in 2016, 2022, and 2023. Ohio State, ranked No. 19 and seeded No. 5, will make its first-ever championship appearance against the Wolverines. Michigan enters the matchup as the top team in the NCAA Percentage Index (NPI), a key metric for determining the NCAA Tournament field. The Wolverines have held the No. 1 ranking in national polls for three consecutive weeks after a streak of 11 weeks at the top earlier in the season. This Saturday marks the first time Yost Ice Arena will host the Big Ten Championship game. The venue previously hosted NCAA Regionals, including a 2002-03 tournament where Michigan, then a member of the CCHA, defeated Maine and Colorado College to advance to the Frozen Four. The Wolverines advanced to the title game with a 6-1 victory over Notre Dame in the quarterfinals and a 5-2 win against Penn State in the semifinals. Michael Hage led the team with five points in the two games, while T.J. Hughes, Jayden Perron, and Garrett Schifsky each contributed three points. Goalie Jack Ivankovic, who is 2-0 in tournament play, posted a .943 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average. Michigan’s path to the championship included a dominant regular-season record against Ohio State, with four straight wins. The Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes 5-2 and 8-1 at Yost in November, followed by 6-4 and 3-2 (overtime) victories in January.#big_ten_tournament #university_of_michigan #ohio_state #yost_ice_arena #tj_hughes
Fab Five Stars Jalen Rose and Chris Webber Reflect on Their Legacy and Michigan's Treatment of Basketball Jalen Rose and Chris Webber, two of the iconic Fab Five members, reunited for a dual interview on TNT Sports’ The Steam Room, marking their first conversation in over two decades. During the 40-minute discussion with hosts Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson, Rose expressed his belief that the Fab Five would have been treated differently at Michigan State, which he described as a “basketball school,” compared to the University of Michigan, which he called a “football school.” The conversation took an unexpected turn when Barkley recounted his experience at Auburn, where the basketball team was treated less favorably than the football team. He described how the basketball team was often told to leave the dining hall by 7 p.m. to make way for the football team, which enjoyed meals like steak and lobster while the basketball players ate hamburgers and hot dogs. Rose and Webber laughed at the anecdote, with Rose later echoing Barkley’s frustration. Rose emphasized that Michigan has never acknowledged the Fab Five’s contributions, pointing out that their banners are not displayed in the arena. “Michigan is 100% a football school,” he said, adding that if the Fab Five had attended Michigan State, they would have been treated differently. He noted the university’s focus on football, citing the massive crowds at games as evidence. The Fab Five, consisting of Rose, Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson, dominated college basketball in the 1990s, leading Michigan to consecutive NCAA championship game appearances in 1992 and 1993. However, their legacy was tarnished by the Ed Martin booster scandal.#michigan_state #university_of_michigan #jalen_rose #chris_webber #fab_five
Oregon State Hires Justin Joyner as New Head Coach Oregon State University has announced the hiring of Justin Joyner as its next head men’s basketball coach, according to sources cited by ESPN. Joyner, who previously served as an assistant under Dusty May at the University of Michigan, will take over the program following the departure of Wayne Tinkle. Joyner joined the Michigan coaching staff in 2022 after spending seven seasons at Saint Mary’s University, where he worked under head coach Randy Bennett. During his tenure in Moraga, California, the Gaels compiled a 171-60 record and made four appearances in the NCAA Tournament. At Michigan, Joyner contributed to the Wolverines’ transformation into a national championship contender. The team improved from an 8-24 record in the 2021-22 season to a 27-10 mark in 2022-23, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16. A native of California, Joyner played college basketball at UC Santa Barbara before entering coaching. His appointment marks the end of Tinkle’s 12-year tenure at Oregon State, during which the Beavers made two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2021. Tinkle’s departure follows a period of transition for the program, as Oregon State has competed in the West Coast Conference since the collapse of the old Pac-12. Looking ahead, Oregon State will return to a full Pac-12 schedule in 2024. The Beavers will join a restructured league that includes Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State, and Washington State. This shift signals a renewed focus on conference competition for the program.#dusty_may #oregon_state_university #justin_joyner #university_of_michigan #st_mary_s_university
