Michigan hockey coach Brandon Naurato at Frozen Four on roster changes
Michigan hockey coach Brandon Naurato discussed how U-M has found success with 15 new players and big contributions from standout freshmen.
Michigan hockey senior forward T.J. Hughes is one of the best-known college players in the country, finishing second in the NCAA this season with 56 points and currently a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player in college hockey.
And with his Michigan ties and popular last name, Hughes is often connected to one of the most recognizable families in hockey, with three Hughes brothers with Michigan ties currently playing in the NHL.
But T.J. Hughes is not related to Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, or New Jersey Devils players Jack Hughes or Luke Hughes. He is not a Hughes brother – at least not among the three Hughes brothers you may already know.
Considering that both Quinn Hughes and Luke Hughes played their college hockey at Michigan, and considering that T.J. Hughes is the same age as Jack Hughes, it’s understandable that many believe T.J. is a Hughes brother. T.J. has previously said that he was confused for a Hughes brother “all the time” as a freshman at Michigan, especially since both T.J. and Luke were both on the Michigan roster for the 2022-23 season.
One big difference between T.J. and the three Hughes brothers is nationality. T.J. was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, while the Hughes brothers were all born in the United States (Quinn and Jack in Florida, Luke in New Hampshire before moving to Michigan). So while there is a Michigan connection, you won’t see these four Hughes’ representing the same national team at the Olympics.
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You can reach Christian at [email protected].
