Michigan hockey faces a tall order to top last season’s strong second-half performance which led to a Frozen Four berth in head coach Mel Pearson’s first campaign at the helm of the program.

Don’t tell that to Pearson or his charges, though, as they launch their 2018-19 season this weekend against Vermont with lofty expectations to do just that.

Ranked fourth nationally in USCHO’s preseason poll, the Wolverines returned a surprising number of veterans who had the chance to sign professional contracts in the offseason. Chief among them were NHL first-round pick sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes, and senior defenseman and team captain Joe Cecconi.

“Obviously, we gained a lot of respect from last year,” Cecconi told MGoBlue.com regarding his offseason decision-making. “I didn’t want to give up on my teammates, my classmates here.”

Hughes cited the family atmosphere around the Michigan program and the opportunity to seek the championship that eluded the team last season as major factors in his return.

Along with Cecconi and Hughes, junior blue-liners Luke Martin and Griffin Luce as well as senior Nick Boka return to anchor Michigan’s experienced defensive corps this season.

The loss of three of the team’s 2017-18 leading scorers will put pressure on the top returning forwards. Of those three, Cooper Marody signed a pro contract with the Edmonton Oilers while both Tony Calderone and Dexter Dancs graduated.

Sophomore Josh Norris and junior Will Lockwood, returning from a lost half-season due to injury, will be expected to help replace the lost offense. Junior Jake Slaker, and sophomores Jack Becker and Michael Pastujov gave indications last season that they were ready to be major contributors on offense. Slaker’s 15 goals was third best on the team. After sitting out a year due to transfer from Lake Superior State, redshirt sophomore Luke Morgan is another offensive hopeful at the forward position.

In goal, junior Hayden Lavigne returns after securing the No. 1 netminder position with his strong performance in the second half of last season. Freshman Strauss Mann will provide backup to Lavigne and maybe even a push for more playing time after his outstanding performance in the 2017-18 USHL playoffs.

The Wolverines are not shying away from expectations.

“We all know that polls are just polls,” Pearson told MGoBlue.com. “It’s flattering when you’re picked. We welcome the expectations.”

Michigan kicks off the season this Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Yost Ice Arena against Vermont. After the opener, the Wolverines return to the ice late Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Yost in an exhibition contest against University of Waterloo (Ontario).

Hughes' ability to control play with his skating and puck-handling abilities stimulates Michigan’s offense and solidifies the Wolverines’ defensive zone breakouts.

After losing top scorer Ross Colton’s 16 goals and seven assists to an early pro contract signing, the Catamounts only remaining double-digit goal scorer from last year is Esposito, who tallied 10 markers. He will have to increase that total for Vermont’s offense to flourish.

Saturday

No. 13 Minnesota at No. 1 Minnesota Duluth

Brock (Ontario) at No. 16 Penn State (exhibition)

Sunday

No. 1 Minnesota Duluth at No. 13 Minnesota

Victoria (British Columbia) at Wisconsin (exhibition)

US NTDP U18 at No. 2 Notre Dame (exhibition)

Windsor (Ontario) at Michigan State (exhibition)