Beniers, Hughes and Power Earn All-American Honors
4/8/2022 6:00:00 PM | Ice Hockey
BOSTON -- Three University of Michigan hockey players have earned AHCA/CCM All-America honors from the American Hockey Coaches Association announced on Friday (April 8) during the Hobey Baker Ceremony at the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four.
Sophomore Matty Beniers captured first-team honors while sophomore Owen Power and freshman Luke Hughes earned second-team honors.
They are the 97th, 98th and 99th Wolverines in program history to earn All-America honors. This marks the first season since 2016 that Michigan has had more than one player selected.
A top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker, Beniers was named first-team All-Big Ten and was a finalist for the conference's Player of the Year honor. In his sophomore season, he scored 20 goals and 23 assists in 37 games, averaging 1.16 points per game. With 10 power-play goals, he ranks fourth in the nation, and with an on-ice rating of +29, he is 10th nationally. Additionally, he won 48.8 percent of his face-offs. Beniers had a point in 25 games and 15 multiple-point games. He missed collegiate competition for both the Olympics and the World Juniors and still led the league in points with 26 in 18 games, earning the B1G Scoring Champion crown. Beniers is the first-ever draft pick by the Seattle Kraken, chosen second overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.
A finalist for the Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year award, Hughes is also a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker. He leads the nation's defenseman in points with 39 in 41 games, scoring 17 goals and 22 assists. Not only does he lead all defensemen, but he leads all rookies in college hockey, regardless of position, in scoring. The B1G Co-Freshman of the year, Hughes was a second-team all-conference and an all-freshman team selection. He was named the College Hockey News Rookie of the Year last week. A +25, Hughes has points in 25 games of 39 games, holding the Michigan records for most goals and points scored by a freshman defenseman. A New Jersey Devils draft pick, Hughes was chosen fourth overall in 2021.
The No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, by the Buffalo Sabres, Power led the nation's defensemen in points per game prior to leaving for the World Juniors and the Olympics. A finalist for B1G Defensive Player of the Year, he was a first-team all-conference selection. Power totaled 32 points in 33 games with 29 assists and three goals. His 29 assists were the fifth most in the NCAA and the most by a defenseman in the nation. He led the team in blocked shots with 50 and finished +27.
