The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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������ inside michigan athletics Michigan Hockey Lands��� Highly Coveted Defenseman, Goalie When Jacob Trouba skated leave with everything you against the Wolverines Oct. have right there. 3, he was not just facing any ���Growing up that���s who other opponent on the U.S. we rooted for, but I never National Development Unhad a real strong allegiance der-18 Team���s schedule ��� he to any one school. That���s was competing against his what made it a harder defuture team, after pledging cision. But with everything to the Maize and Blue Sept. Michigan offers, it���s a great 26. school to be at. Goaltender Jared Rutledge ���The defensemen they���ve didn���t know it at the time, had in the past have always but he too was competing made it to the next level and against the program he will that���s where I want to be one day backstop for; Rutsomeday. It���s nothing against ledge made his decision Oct. Notre Dame and Coach [Jeff] 27 after a four-week whirlJackson. It���s a great school, wind courtship by the Woltoo, and great coaching, and verines. I wish them the best, but just ���I had no idea Michigan the way Michigan handles was interested, but after the their defensemen ��� they give game I shook Red Berenson���s them the freedom to jump up hand and he asked if I���d like Goalie Jared Rutledge of the U.S. National Development Under-18 into the play and be aggresto visit,��� the 5-11, 170-pound Team committed to Michigan on Oct. 27. sive. That���s how I play.��� Photo courtesy Tom Sorensen/USA Hockey Rutledge said. ���It was like, Trouba can put points on ���Anytime please.��� After that we kept the board ��� he had seven points in 100 percent committed to play colin contact, and I went over to Yost to 31 games last year ��� but he���s known lege hockey,��� Rutledge said. ���I joked have a face-to-face meeting, and talk more for his defense and his physiaround with Coach Berenson that I some things out. cality. He has earned some comparidon���t want to be his hat trick. ���I really had no hesitation after getsons to former U-M defensive brute ���I am 110 percent behind this deciting to know the coaches more. I had Jack Johnson, who accrued 88 penalsion. I will play at Michigan.��� talked to some other schools, but no ties and 236 penalty minutes in two A 6-2, 191-pound defenseman, from one showed me the interest Michigan seasons in Ann Arbor from 2006-07. Rochester, Mich., Trouba was considdid. They wanted me and I wanted ���That���s a big part of my game ��� ered a major coup. He is regarded them, equally.��� being physical. I like to hit people,��� among the top 10 defensemen in the In six games with the Under-18 Trouba said. ���I play big because it class of 2012 and could be a firstteam this year, Rutledge is 3-2-1 opens up space for me.��� round NHL Draft pick next June. with a 2.34 goals-against average Michigan has only one defenseman ���Jake is just a tremendous player, and a .918 save percentage. In 2011, like that on its current roster, senior offensively and defensively ��� he���s he went 16-12-0 with the Under-17 Greg Pateryn, and will need to fill the complete package,��� USA Unteam, posting a 2.52 goals-against that void. The expectation is Trouba der-18 head coach Danton Cole said. and a .911 save percentage. will step in from day one and pro���He���s a kid that plays with an edge. ���I consider myself a technical hyvide an intimidating presence. But He���s very coachable and he���ll have a brid goalie, and play a similar style he���s more than just a big frame that very good college career.��� to [Montreal Canadians] goalie Carey will cause body-rattling hits along Trouba and Rutledge are the fifth Price,��� Rutledge said. the boards; he���s a complete player and sixth members of a class that U-M has now landed the Under-18 and a leader. also includes USA teammate, and team goalie in three consecutive ���I really enjoy coaching Jacob,��� defenseman, Connor Carrick, and years, but the first two ��� Jack CampCole said. ���He���s been voted capforwards Boo Nieves, Justin Selman bell and John Gibson ��� both ultitain and that���s a pretty good sign of and Daniel Milne. mately decided to sign with an OHL the respect he has from teammates. Trouba, whose father, John, played team instead of continuing on the He���s not real vocal, but he���s mature basketball at the University of Michcollege track. Rutledge promises he enough to speak up when he needs igan-Dearborn, chose the Wolverines will honor his commitment, though, to. He���s a leader by example type, over Notre Dame. and will sign a letter of intent in Nolikes to practice, loves being at the ���Location was a big thing,��� he vember. rink and will attack every drill, worksaid. ���And there is nothing more you ���Even though I made my deciout, assignment that we give him. can ask for out of a school, a hockey sion in a short time frame, I���ve been ���He would have been a great fit team, than what you get at Michigan, thinking about college hockey versus anywhere, and he���s certainly exwith their coaching and their facilithe OHL for a long time and I am cited to be going to Michigan.��� ties. You���re never going to want to 14��� the wolverine��� ������ November 2011