The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY Alex Kile to be selected in the third or fourth rounds, while 2012 forward signee Justin Selman and 2012 goaltender signee Jared Rutledge might be late-round picks, but poten- tially will become free agents. "Jared is 5-10, and if you start looking at NHL goalten- ders you may see one or two — Tim Thomas [of the Bos- ton Bruins] being one of the exceptions — but that posi- Five Questions With Sophomore Goaltender Adam Janecyk After entering in the third period of Michigan's contest against Lake Superior State Jan. 7, following an injury to starter Shawn Hunwick, sophomore Adam Janecyk earned the starting nod the following night, becoming the seventh Wolverine since 2000 to start in net for U-M. His predeces- sors went 4-2 in their debuts. In his starting debut, the Ada, Mich., native recorded 34 saves on 36 shots in regulation and overtime, a .944 save percentage. Unfortunately, his performance wasn't enough to lift Michigan, which tied 2-2 and then fell in a shootout. However, Janecyk won over his coaches and proved some- thing important to himself. What was it like to start your first career game at Michi- gan? "It was different than the five games I've played in be- fore. I think it's better to know you're going to start because you get to focus better, prepare way more, as opposed to being thrown into the storm. "It's hard to have the right mindset when you know you're going 20 games in a row without playing. But when I prac- tice in the morning, I prepare like anything can happen. If you don't prepare and something happens and you blow the game, you might never get that chance again." Did you make sure family and friends were in atten- dance? "Right when I got to the rink on Saturday I found out I was going to start and I told my dad. He was supposed to be scouting [for the Ottawa Senators] and he changed his plans. All summer he'd tell me to stay focused. He was a goalie himself and has been through some crazy stuff. He kept a positive attitude. For him to see me playing out there was pretty special." How would you evaluate the way you played in your first start? "I thought I played good. In the beginning, I gave up some bad rebounds and was caught out of position once or twice, but after that first period I settled down. "I really know now how much it takes, how well you have to play, to win a game. Just one mistake — a bad goal — could cost the team a win. The more experience you get, the more comfortable you get, and the more confident you are to play again." Do you feel you proved something to teammates, coaches, fans and even yourself? "I've played against all the kids in the CCHA my whole life in juniors. But In a way I definitely feel like I proved myself. 76 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2012 Janecyk recorded 34 saves on 36 shots for a save percentage of .944 in his U-M starting debut against Lake Superior State Jan. 8, which ended in a 2-2 tie and a shootout loss. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL It was good. I know a lot of people doubted Shawn, and people don't understand we took the same process to get here. Even though we're walk-ons we still played junior hockey and played against all the guys in this league. In a way, it's like, 'I can do it, just like anyone else.'" How did it feel to hear the students chanting your name late in the game? "I thought that was pretty nice. After overtime, when I was waiting for the shootout, just looking around Yost, I couldn't believe I was out there. It was surreal. "But I just wanted to win so bad. I wasn't satisfied with the tie. I was happy with the way I played, but it's not the same feeling as winning the game." — Michael Spath NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings Skater Status D Jacob Trouba F Phil Di Giuseppe F Boo Nieves F Alex Kile D Connor Carrick F Justin Selman Goalie G Jared Rutledge 2012 signee Freshman 2012 signee 2013 recruit 2012 signee 2012 signee Status 2012 signee Rank No. 9 No. 28 No. 31 No. 82 No. 157 No. 175 Rank No. 36 tion now belongs to guys 6-0 or over," Powers said. "He'll have to work exceptionally hard in the second half of the season to be drafted because he's overcoming something he doesn't control. "We're keeping an eye on what he's doing … he just went into Boston U. and had 45 saves on 48 shots — those are the things we care about." ❏