The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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"You get the sense of something bigger than just hockey and you can kind of find the time to relax and you can find time to enjoy things that are different than just being on the ice." Larkin's comments about his con- centration points on the ice belie the early offensive prowess he's added to the Wolverines' attack. "You have to get used to the pace of the game, having strength in the cor- ners, staying on your feet and winning battles," Larkin said. "How you play without the puck is important. Every- one coming into college can play with the puck, it's how you play without it that makes the biggest difference." Playing at Michigan in anticipa- tion of eventually playing in front of Detroit Red Wings fans, Michigan native Larkin couldn't have had a better draft day experience. "I could talk all day about that, but it was awesome," Larkin said of last June's NHL Entry Draft. "Leading up to the event, you're pretty nervous. It's a long process and you have all your thoughts from the past year. You think about it a lot. "And then, when you get there, it's cool to be there and experience the whole production. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life." Like the other three, Werenski had little doubt about where he wanted to play his college hockey. "I chose Michigan because of the tradition and Coach Berenson," he said. "You come here and see Yost [Arena], how passionate the fans are, all the players before me, the block M. Why not? "It's the best place to be in college hockey to develop as hockey player." Of accelerating his high school graduation, Werenski said "it was pretty tough. It was a long summer. It was worth it though, so I'm happy about it." On the ice, Werenski has displayed the offensive skills on the blue line that separate him from others in tal- ent level. "You're playing against older guys, especially being a freshman," said Werenski of the college game. "Play- ers are stronger and faster. As you get older in hockey, that's what happens. It's good to be exposed to that early. The big crowds are fun as well. It's a pro style of game." Werenski's path is not the easiest, but has been the right choice for him. "You have to do whatever is right for you," he said. "I think you have to do what's in your heart. If college isn't your thing, it's not your thing. I love it personally and can only say good things about it. "Ultimately, it has to be your deci- sion and you should do what you want to do." Michigan assistant coach Brian Wiseman knows full well the pres- sures that a college hockey player faces in trying to advance his career in professional hockey. Of the developmental process, Wiseman said: "Overall, we can talk about the practice to game ratio, the time in the gym which is second to none as far as the developmen- tal experience, for the next level of hockey, pro hockey. I think, more importantly, any of that depends on the maturity process that happens