OCTOBER 2022
THE WOLVERINE 41
BY CHRIS BALAS
I
f anyone has ever been destined to
be a Michigan hockey coach, for-
mer U-M forward Brandon Nau-
rato might be the guy. It just didn't
happen the way he probably envisioned it.
Following months of speculation and an
investigation into former coach Mel Pear-
son's program, Naurato — one of Pear-
son's assistants a year ago — was given the
reins to the team on an interim basis when
Pearson's contract wasn't renewed.
Naurato's promotion helped stabilize
the program and kept most of an out-
A FRESH
START
Interim Coach Brandon Naurato's
First Michigan Hockey Team
Is Young, But Talented
Junior goaltender Erik Portillo, the 2022 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player and a conference goaltender of the year finalist, chose to
return to school and should be one of the nation's top netminders this season. Michigan is ranked No. 6 in the DCU/USCHO.com preseason poll.
PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL