The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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hockey player that can do a lot of important things." Warren should evolve into a key piece defensively for the Maize and Blue, and defense is an area the Wol- verines needed to address after a lackluster campaign in which Michi- gan ranked 38th nationally in goals against (2.89 per game). When U-M signed defensemen Nick Boka and Joseph Cecconi last fall, it expected both to impact in 2015-16, but as the year evolved, and the Wolverines' defense struggled to establish a presence in its own zone, the two physical specimens became even more critical to next season's ambitions. "We were OK last year, but we need to make it more uncomfortable for our opponents," associate head coach Billy Powers said. "We need to take away all that open space, and we need to let teams know if they go to the front of the net and they go into the corners, they're going to pay for that." In rising junior Michael Downing, Michigan had a 6-2, 200-pound de- fenseman that loved the open-ice hit, but wasn't as physical on the puck. Rising sophomore Zach Werenski dictated play with his stick, position- ing and skating, with only brief mo- ments when he would unleash his 6-2, 214-pound frame. Rising sophomore Cutler Martin was, arguably, the most physical of the blue liners, throwing his 6-0, 208-pound build around whenever he could, though it took him a few months to understand when physi- cal play worked to his advantage and when it could lead to a costly turnover. Still, opposing forwards probably didn't fear any of the three. The 6-1, 197-pound Boka, though, relishes rough play. "The physicality piece of the game is natural for him," Powers said. "Our fans can recall some of those step-ups that Jacob Trouba [2013] made in the neutral zone where he could shatter you if you had your head down. "Nick isn't opposed to the middle- ice hits. He squares you up and he's looking to punish you if you don't see him coming." Boka has spent the past two sea- sons with the U.S. National Develop- ment Program, and had five goals and six assists in 51 games in 2014-15. Forward Brendan Warren helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Under- 18 World Championship in April. PHOTO BY TOM SORENSEN/NTDP