Baggot’s 4Check: Hughes leads by example
November 27, 2017 | Men's Hockey, Andy Baggot
Four takeaways from Wisconsin’s series vs. Mercyhurst
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Here are four takeaways from the Wisconsin men's hockey team following its non-conference series with Mercyhurst:
1. If you want an instructional video on how to be a lead-by-example captain, que up the way senior center Cameron Hughes went about his business during a series split with the Lakers — a 3-2 loss on Saturday and 4-2 victory on Sunday — at the Kohl Center. He was with the only line that played well in both games. The threesome of Hughes, junior left winger Seamus Malone and junior right winger Will Johnson had a combined 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) with 19 shots and a plus-9 rating. Hughes assisted on a go-ahead goal in the third period of the opener and the game-winning conversion in the third period of the second game. One night after leading the Badgers with six shots on goal, Hughes didn't have any in the win, but his impact was felt in other ways. He didn't miss a shift despite hobbling off the ice after blocking a shot on the penalty kill with his left knee. He also effectively screened the goaltender on the clinching goal in the victory.
"They had a team that didn't quit and they kept coming and Jack made some real big saves when the game was on the line, that's for sure."
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 26, 2017
2. We are getting a deep dive into the mental make-up of sophomore center Trent Frederic. He's regarded as one of the best players in the country — he was a first-round NHL draft pick of Boston in 2016 — which makes for a double-edged sword. Because he's so good, opponents focus a lot on him when he's on the ice. Because he's so gifted, much is expected of him regardless of how much teams pay attention to him. Frederic started the season strong with five goals in the first eight games, helping the Badgers to a 6-2 record out of the gate. But he has one goal in the last nine outings, which helps explain Wisconsin's current 3-4-2 stretch. UW coach Tony Granato said Frederic is one of the hardest workers he's ever been around and believes that approach will guide Frederic out of his funk. An upcoming Big Ten Conference series at Minnesota might help. Frederic showed 3-1-4 in four outings vs. the Gophers last season.
Here's @TonyGranato video from the Monday news conference today.
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 27, 2017
3. The victory over Mercyhurst carried some extra psychological meaning for the Badgers. It marked the first time in eight games this season where they won after trailing at some point during the match.
4. Wisconsin has faced its share of high-grade penalty-killing units this season and struggled. To wit, it's a combined 3-for-24 (.125) vs. Ohio State, North Dakota, Northern Michigan and Boston College, which rank first, seventh, 17th and 21st nationally, respectively. But the Badgers have prospered against the rest of the field (12-for-37, .324) and face a Minnesota outfit that ranks 30th.
