The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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where are they now? same." netting three goals and five assists as Lebler will be one of three former he fought for a bigger role, and his Wolverines to participate in this year's teammates remember him fondly, notWinter Games, joining American Max ing he was a catalyst to their success Pacioretty and Swede Carl Hagelin, during his career. who will also be enjoying their first "Brian was always a player that Olympic experience. cared about the team," said centerInterestingly, the three played to- man Matt Rust (2008-11). "Although gether on the 2008 Michigan team he never wore a captain's letter at — Pacioretty and U-M, his physical Hagelin were freshpresence both in the men and Lebler was locker room and on a sophomore. the ice helped lead, That team went especially his junior 33-6-4, winning the and senior years. He CCHA regular-seaworked hard, was a son and tournament selfless player, and titles, and two games was a good friend of at the NCAA East mine." Regional to advance "He was always a to the program's first real good kid," BeFrozen Four since Lebler — pictured here with his renson added. "He daughter, Blakely — played in 145 really had to work 2003. The tournament's career contests with the Wolverines, hard to get through overall No. 1 seed, scoring 33 goals and adding 26 school here, and he Michigan was the assists for 59 points. did that. He made Photo courtesy Brian Lebler favorite to win it all, the second effort off but suffered a 5-4 overtime loss to the ice, and he was a fun kid, a good Notre Dame in the semifinals. teammate. He was a kid that you en"Making the run to the Frozen Four joyed seeing at the rink every day. was a memorable one," Lebler said. "I wish he would have been more of "We had such good players like Kevin an impact player when he first arrived Porter, Chad Kolarik and Max Pacio- here, but it's a process, and because retty. These guys were fun to play with he worked at it, by the time he left he every night. was playing on our top line and really "It was a tough pill to swallow los- playing well." ing to Notre Dame in that close of Lebler, in turn, feels he owes a great a game. I do think we should have deal to Berenson and his alma mater won, but [the unpredictability] is what for shaping him into a bona-fide ofmakes sports so amazing, and heart- fensive threat, and for teaching him breaking." valuable lessons off the ice that have Lebler played in 29 games in 2008, been instrumental to the career path he