The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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BY MICHAEL SPATH M ichigan's coaches paced, unsure if forward Zach Hyman would be able to play in the Wolverines' first-ever Big Ten Tournament game (in 2013-14). U-M needed Hyman, a testament to how far the now-senior winger had come during his career. A f t e r 2 6 g a m e s t h i s s e a s o n , through Feb. 16, Hyman led the Maize and Blue in scoring with 16 markers and 21 assists for 37 points, and he was first among all Wolver- ines with a plus/minus of plus-18. Hyman also ranked fourth nation- ally in points per game (1.42). "I don't want to take all the credit because my linemates have been phenomenal," Hyman said, "but right now I feel like I'm playing the best hockey of my career." The 6-1, 205-pounder is a case study in perseverance. He was once the Canadian Junior A Player of the Year, recording 42 goals and 60 assists in 43 games during the 2010-11 season. A year earlier, he had 35 goals and 40 assists play- ing for the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and impressed the Florida Panthers enough that they selected him with their fifth-round pick in 2010. But as it can so often occur, Hy- man was not an instant success at Michigan. He played in 41 games, but mostly on the third or fourth lines, scoring just two goals with seven assists in his rookie year. He wasn't much more productive as a sophomore either, with four goals and four helpers in 38 contests. Still, he wasn't deterred. "I was frustrated and really disap- pointed in how things were going my freshman and sophomore year," he said, "but I always remember what my dad told me — 'It's not a sprint, it's a marathon' — and that stuck in the back of my head. 'Hard work pays off, be a team player, sup- port the team no matter.' "Those are things I thought about ZACH ATTACK Senior Forward Zach Hyman Is A Strong Contender To Win The Hobey Baker Award