The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY Everyone has to grow up eventually, but I wish I could go back and enjoy my‑ self and be a Wolverine forever. "Everything about that hockey program and school made me the player I am today, so I can't say thanks enough to Michigan." The Wolverine: With your younger sister set to graduate this spring from U‑M, how often do you make it back? Pacioretty: "I have a couple times. Not during the winter with our hockey schedule. But my family is huge Michigan fans. "It started with me, and then my sister fell in love and my family. We'll forever bleed blue." The Wolverine: You've had a solid career so far, have you fulfilled your expec‑ tations in the NHL? Pacioretty: "I'm just trying to get better every year. I take pride in trying to learn and improve my game. "Everything has happened to me over a short amount of time, but going back to my one year at Michigan, from the beginning of the year to the end and how much I improved, I approach my NHL career the same way, trying to get better within each season and every season." — Michael Spath GOALIE TURNSTILE • After going back and forth be ‑ tween his two goalies most of the year, Red Berenson appeared to make a decision when he started rookie Zach Nagelvoort in eight straight games from Jan. 10 to Feb. 8. For the first seven games, Nagelvoort went 4‑2‑1, with a 2.29 goals‑against aver‑ age and a .928 save percentage. Then disaster struck — the freshman sur‑ rendered three goals on nine shots in a 4‑0 loss to Penn State Feb. 8. Nagelvoort's poor play opened the door for sophomore Steve Racine, and the second‑year netminder seized it, starting both games of the Wolver‑ ines' trip to Minnesota Feb. 14‑15. "It really goes game to game — we never know who's playing," said Racine, who allowed nine goals on 61 shots for a .852 save percentage against the Gophers. "It's not our deci‑ sion. I just have to be ready whenever I get my chance." Though R acine's final stat line against Minnesota was ugly, his per‑ formance was not as bad as the num‑ bers indicate. He played well in the opening game of the series, stopping 32 of 37 shots in a 5‑3 loss. "I thought Steve played really well," HOCKEY NOTEBOOK