The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2024 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan hockey coach Brandon Naurato led the Wolverines to the NCAA Frozen Four in each of his first two seasons, with the first one coming as an interim coach. This year's Michigan squad figures to be another good one, a blend of veterans and newcomers that will prob- ably jell into another contender and play its best hockey late, if all goes as planned. "What I've learned is that a business, a hockey team, a family — it's all about having the right people," Naurato told The Hockey News recently. "Like-minded people with a growth mindset that are trying to be the best versions of them- selves. That's where we put the most pride or value in. "… Where I feel NCAA athletics is go- ing is that the head coach needs to pivot to more of a CEO role. Through that, you need to identify what's your identity — 'What do we want to be great at on and off the ice?' — then you surround yourself with the right type of people or kids to play inside of this identity." Here are details on the 12 Michigan newcomers he hopes will help shape the team's identity this year, five transfers and seven freshmen. • G ra d u a te t ra n s fe r fo rwa rd Thomas Daskas (6-2, 200): A trans- fer from Miami (Ohio) … Has played in 107 collegiate games and has 26 points on 12 goals and 14 assists … Played in all 36 games as a senior, notching 7 points. • Graduate transfer defenseman Tim Lovell (5-10, 165): An Arizona State transfer who has played in 119 NCAA games and has 79 points on 12 goals and 67 assists … Led all ASU defensemen in points in 2023-24 (37 in 36 games) and ranked sixth nationally among defense- men in scoring. • Graduate transfer goalie Logan Stein (6-2, 210): Comes to U-M from Ferris State, where he spent four seasons and appeared in 71 games with a 15-47-5 record, an .892 save percentage, and a 3.47 goals-against average. • Sophomore transfer forward Evan Werner (5-8, 175): Spent his freshman season at Colorado College un- der former Michigan assistant Kris Mayo- tte and registered 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) in 37 games. • Sophomore transfer forward Freshman forward Christian Humphreys is one of two U-M freshmen who were selected in the 2024 NHL Draft. The seventh-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche spent the past two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. PHOTO COURTESY USA HOCKEY ❱ MICHIGAN HOCKEY Newcomers Should Help Contribute To Another Winner