The Wolverine

February 2013

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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appeared in 109 career contests while he has dressed for only 66 in three seasons, but he's simply happy to be wearing the Michigan sweater again. "It's good to get back, exciting," he said. "Anytime you get hurt, it's difficult. I had to stay focused, stay mentally tough and know that I was going to come back at some point. "I tried to stay involved with the team as much as possible. I sat in on all of the power-play meetings, the penalty-kill meetings. If I saw something, I made a comment. I stayed really involved in the dressing room and away from the rink." A second-round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2010, Merrill is a long shot to return for his senior season, but it's possible. For now, he's locked in on returning to being the player he knows he can be. "I always want to be the best I can be," he said. "I'm never satisfied, but I feel like I'm getting things going in the right direction." Avoiding The World Junior Hangover Named the top defenseman at the World Junior Championships Jan.  5 after leading Team USA to only its third gold medal in 37 years of tournament play, Trouba barely slept before taking to the ice for Michigan's midweek meeting with Bowling Green Jan. 8. He insisted on playing despite an exhausting return trip from Russia because the Wolverines were down two defensemen and needed him. "I thought I could help the team," he said. "I wanted to play. "Why not? You're here." Trouba, a freshman, was named the top defenseman at the World Junior Championships Jan. 5 after leading Team USA to only its third gold medal in 37 years of tournament play. photo by lon horwedel For Trouba, the international experience confirmed what many NHL scouts already knew about him — he's a stud. The 2012 first-round draft pick contributed four goals and five assists in seven games, but his selfless team attitude was, perhaps, most impressive. "It's always cool to represent your country," he began. "I've been lucky enough to do that a few times now. Going over there, no one gave us a shot. We were the fourth-best team at most. But we believed in each other and felt like we could do it. We had the pieces and maybe didn't have superstars, but we were the best team there, and that's what those tournaments come down to." In five games playing alongside

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