The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2014 HOCKEY PREVIEW 2015 HOCKEY PREVIEW new guys coming in, it's very en‑ couraging for a coaching staff." Michigan led the Big Ten with 68 goals scored in the 2013‑14 season, but finished next to last with 59 goals allowed. Shoring up the team de‑ fense as well as getting improved performances from the netminders and the defensemen will be crucial to success in 2014‑15. YOUTH MOVEMENT ON DEFENSE Traditional hockey wisdom states that a team's defense always starts in goal. Sophomore goalie Zach Nagel‑ voort and junior netminder Steve Racine return to serve as Michigan's main goaltending tandem. "I like the improvement in both of our goalies," Berenson said. "I think Steve Racine, two years ago, went on a 10‑game winning streak at the end of the year and showed he could be better than he was the first half of his freshman year, and last year Zach Nagelvoort came in when Racine got hurt and he picked up the slack. "This year, I feel like we're going to be strong in that position. I can't tell you how many games either one will play, but I feel a lot more confident, and I think our team does as well, in our goalkeeping. It shouldn't be a question. You're always having ques‑ tion marks going into the season, and that shouldn't be one." Sophomores Michael Downing, Kevin Lohan and Nolan De Jong will head the returning corps of defense‑ men, backed up by seniors Brennan Serville and converted forward An‑ drew Sinelli. Highly touted freshman Werenski will add his skilled skating and of‑ fensive prowess to the Wolverines' defensive mix. "Michael Downing was probably our most improved defenseman last year, and he was a freshman," Be‑ renson said. "He made a real impact, and by the end of the year, he was as good as any of our defensemen and that included our captain, Mac Ben‑ nett. So, Downing is ready to have another strong season. He'll have a huge role on our team. "Kevin Lohan is a big kid who got hurt in the first half of the year, so he never really got going. Those big kids take longer, but I think he's going to be a real effective player this year. There are two sophomores that will be in our top four." Wiseman concurred in the help the Wolverines will be drawing on the defense. "Kevin and Nolan came in early and were effective as true freshmen," Wiseman added. "We need Serville and Sinelli, as seniors, to lead the way for the younger defensemen. The majority of our defensemen are going to be freshmen and sopho‑ mores. There's no question we have to be better, but it's an overall team defense mentality for us to be able to keep the puck out of our net." TOP TWO SCORERS RETURN Michigan's top two 2013‑14 scoring forwards, sophomore J.T. Compher and junior Andrew Copp, return to handle a large portion of the scoring load. However, the next three scoring leaders of that 2013‑14 team — Alex