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The Daily Cardinal Est. 1892
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Cameron Hughes netted a game-winner in overtime on one of the biggest stages in sports.

Cameron Hughes netted a game-winner in overtime on one of the biggest stages in sports.

Hughes takes charge of face-offs as Badgers take on Colorado College, No. 2 Denver

The Badgers lost a lot when budding freshman star Trent Frederic was injured: A goal-scoring threat, an excellent passer and a lightning-fast skater, he’s currently second on the team in points with four goals and six assists.

He’s also dominated in the face-off circle as the center for the team’s second line.

When Frederic went down last Thursday before a series with Merrimack, head coach Tony Granato was forced to scramble to switch up his lines.

Junior Cameron Hughes moved to the second line, centering junior Jason Ford and sophomore Will Johnson. He took 45 draws over the two days, going 13-for-14 Friday night, but followed that up with a 14-for-4 performance Saturday night.

For Hughes, the switch to the team’s main face-off man was a welcome change.

“[Luke Kunin and I] switched up a little bit, but to get into taking all of them was kinda nice,” Hughes said. “Starting your shift off with a one-on-one battle determines your shift, so I like that, I like to compete.”

Hughes has mostly been on the first line with Kunin, the team captain, and senior Grant Besse, playing one of the wings while Kunin centers and takes most of the face-offs. Hughes had been taking a lot of the draws on the top power play line, but saw a significant jump last weekend, which he was more than ready for.

“I’ve played center all my life, through the last two years with Wisconsin and all the way growing up,” Hughes said. “For me, the more you take (face-offs), the better you get.”

Nonetheless, the Frederic loss hurts. Granato called him “Mr. Do-Everything-For-You” after the Friday game against Merrimack. He was forced to make some tough decisions regarding face-offs and said that Frederic’s loss puts more pressure on the other centers. 

“It’s better for Luke and Seamus and Cameron that they don’t have to take as many draws [when Frederic is out there],” Granato said.

As a result, the coach turned to Hughes and sophomore Seamus Malone to take more face-offs, especially in the defensive end.

“You want the guys that can win the draw but you also want the guy that knows what to do when they lose the draw if you get stuck in your own end,” Granato said. “I don’t want Luke getting stuck in his own end losing energy.”

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Until Frederic returns, Hughes and Malone will have to continue to pick up the slack on draws and prepare to play some extra minutes.

Friday night, the Badgers take on Colorado College on a bigger Olympic-sized hockey rink. Hughes doesn’t think that change will make too much of a difference, though.

“I played there my freshman year. It is noticeably bigger, but it’s the same game of hockey,” he said.

Granato didn’t have his team prepare much differently for the game, as they are used to playing in a big rink with the Kohl Center. But he did say that Wisconsin would use shorter shifts to reduce fatigue from skating in a wider area.

“Play might be slowed down, more deliberate in the neutral zone, but it’s still the same game. You’re still playing the same way,” Granato said.

The Badgers face off with Colorado College at 8:30 p.m. Friday and then face No. 2 Denver, on an NHL-sized rink, at 8 p.m. Saturday.

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