The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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think I've yet played 60 minutes of the kind of hockey I need to play," Nagelvoort said of this season's slow start. "That's where I'm work‑ ing to get. We just haven't had a lot of bounces so far. We've faced a lot of adversity, and I think honestly if there's ever a time you want to face adversity, it's early on so you have time to work out the kinks. I think we just haven't played the best that our team, as a whole, can play for 60 minutes." A 6‑3, 190‑pound, native of Wil‑ liamsville, N.Y., Racine heads into his third season at Michigan hoping to get back to the form that saw him voted onto the CCHA all‑tournament team in his freshman year. In the season‑ending tourney closing out 2012‑13, Racine posted wins against Northern Michigan and Western Michigan before falling to Notre Dame in the tournament final. "Our record is something we're not too happy with right now, but it's still early in the year," Racine offered, regarding the start of the 2014‑15 sea‑ son. "I think everybody's still pretty excited about this team, the group of guys we have. We're really talented up front. I think it's going to all come together." While the pair of netminders agree about the goals and the methods to accomplish those goals, the two have different playing styles. "I'm not the biggest guy, obviously being just shy of 6‑2," Nagelvoort said. "Most guys that are big these days try to fill the net and block shots. I would call myself more of a reactive goalie. I think I have ele‑ ments of that blocking style and I play my angles well. I like to incor‑ porate a lot of aggressive, reactive movement. The big thing that is im‑ portant playing at this level or any level higher is that every time a puck hits you, you've got to hold onto it. That's something I'm working on, just eating everything up." In comparing his and his team‑ mate's styles, Nagelvoort found some differences. "Steve is a little bit more of a block‑ ing goalie than I am," Nagelvoort said. "He has a good glove hand. He's more of a reserved goalie than I am. I'm more out and aggressive. His style is more basic." Racine's assessment of their play‑ ing styles differed slightly. "I'd say my goaltending style is more of relying on my instincts and athleticism," Racine said. "I try to use my instincts and be quick. We're always looking to fine‑tune certain things, being a little bit more aggressive." Of Nagelvoort, Racine analyzed that "he's very confident and he's always in great position. He's got re‑ ally good hands. I think his best asset is probably his glove hand." One thing that both Nagelvoort and Racine agreed on was the sup‑ port and friendly competition the other provided. "Zach and I have a great relation‑ ship." Racine said with a smile. "I don't think we've ever had any dif‑ ferences. Obviously, we both want to play, but the coaches are going to make the decision about what's best for the team."