The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 15 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Getting To Know Ice Hockey Senior Nick Blankenburg One of the most valuable pieces on the Michigan squad, senior defenseman and team captain Nick Blankenburg is coming off a season in which he ranked third in the Big Ten and 19th nationally with a plus- minus rating of plus-19, while checking in sixth in the confer- ence in defenseman scoring with 13 points (five goals, eight as- sists). He's been named honorable mention All-Big Ten each of the last two seasons, and has racked up 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) to this point in his career. Here are some things about Blankenburg that you might not have known: Best Part About Being From Washington, Mich.: "A bunch of my buddies have boats, so just going out on the boat on Lake St. Clair and enjoying nice weather. There are a ton of lakes close to where I live." Nickname: "Everyone calls me 'Blanks.'" Favorite Restaurant In Ann Arbor: "Zingerman's [Delicatessen]." Best Meal He Can Cook By Himself: "I don't cook too often, but the best meal I can cook is a nice steak, with asparagus, some air-fried potatoes and a Caesar salad." Favorite Professional Athlete: "[St. Louis Blues defenseman] Torey Krug is someone I've always looked up to, playing hockey and growing up. Another big one that I've liked is [former NFL quarterback/tight end] Tim Tebow. He's a big one for me — how he has inspired people, and how he's a man of faith as well, which is important to me." Sports He Plays Besides Hockey: "Me and a lot of the guys on the team golf, and all my buddies from back home golf, too. That's another thing that I love to do." Why He Chose Michigan: "When I came here on my visit, this place just felt like home right away. It's hard to explain, but being a Michigan kid — from Michigan, only an hour away — it was a dream that I've had. … I'm very blessed and very happy that I made that decision." What He Hopes To Do After College: "I hope to continue to play hockey, but if hockey doesn't work out, I'd like to do something in venture capitalism or private equity. That's what my brother and dad do, so I'd like to follow along in those footsteps or do something entrepreneurship-based." Favorite Memory At Michigan: "My grandpa was a diehard Michigan fan, and we bought the handicap seats in the corner where we warm up, on the bench side. He would always sit in that corner, and then every time I would skate out — he'd always get to the games early — I'd always give him a knuckle touch against the glass. "He passed away late in my freshman year, so every time I go out to the ice be- fore games, I still go in the corner and give him a little knuckle tap. It's something that makes Yost feel more than just a hockey rink to me — it feels like home a little bit. I know how proud he would be, and how happy he is that I'm here." Overall Experience At Michigan: "A word that came right to my head was, 'family.' All the guys on this team, we all look out for each other, and we all want what's best for each other, especially going into this year. "We're so excited for the opportunity that we have." — Clayton Sayfie Since becoming eligible following his freshman year, Blankenburg has been named Academic All- Big Ten each of the last two seasons. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE HUTCHINSON, CHARLES WOODSON ENSHRINED INTO PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Former Michigan offensive lineman and five-time first-team All-Pro NFL star Steve Hutchinson, a member of the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, was finally enshrined into Can- ton Aug. 7 at a ceremony delayed one year due to COVID-19. "If you would have told me prior to my graduation from the Univer- sity of Michigan that I would be e x c i t e d a b o u t standing in the middle of Ohio in August, I'd have s a i d y o u w e r e craz y," Hutchin- son said during his speech. "But that is exactly the case." I n addition to showing gratitude to many of his for- mer college teammates, Hutchinson singled out his former head coach, Lloyd Carr, for helping him along his journey. "As I made my way from South Flor- ida to Ann Arbor, I realized I had a lot to learn," Hutchinson said. "Lloyd Carr was the perfect person to show me the way. Thank you, Coach. You showed us the importance of team- work, tradition, and how to win and lose with class. " Those of us that played for you truly had a mountaintop experience." The next night, it was former Michi- gan cornerback Charles Woodson's turn to be inducted along with the rest of the class of 2021. Woodson, the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner and key member on Michigan's '97 national champion-winning team, also praised his former head coach. "My coach, Lloyd Carr, told me a long time ago, 'There's no one big- ger than the team,'" he said, acknowl- edging the many who assisted him throughout his career. "Be unique, innovative. Learn disci- pline. You own undeniable respect. Love ever yone. Give ever ything. Never doubt. Build your legend. We're in the Hall of Fame, baby," Woodson said, concluding his speech. — Clayton Sayfie STEVE HUTCHINSON PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS