The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY win on opening night. The 5-9, 190-pounder plays in all three zones and is a member of both the power-play and penalty-kill units. He's always been a heady player that can be trusted in late-game situations, but it's time for him to become a bigger part of the offense. Must-See Series — Nov. 20-21 at Boston University: Michigan will re- turn to Yost for a three-game home stand Oct. 30-31 (Robert Morris) and Nov. 13 (Niagara), but the Colonials and Purple Eagles don't generate much ex- citement. However, when Michigan makes a re- turn trip to Boston, looking to avenge last year's 3-2 loss to the Terriers at Ag- ganis Arena, the game will feature two of college hockey's most talented and storied programs — the two feature 22 NHL Draft picks, including 12 on the Wolverines' roster. With Michigan starting the year No. 11 in the USCHO.com top 20 and Boston U. listed at No. 6, this meeting will mark the fifth straight in which the two programs have been ranked, with BU holding a 3-1 edge in the previous four meetings. An alternate captain a year ago, junior forward J.T. Compher was chosen to wear the "C" by his teammates in the spring. The 5-11, 193-pounder recorded 23 goals and 32 assists in his first two seasons, and was hot at the end of his sophomore year, scoring eight goals in his final eight games. The Wolverine: What are your expectations for this Michigan team? Compher: "I think expectations are high. We have a very good team returning and some really good freshmen. We're going to have a lot of guys that will step up from what I've seen already; there was really good work put in this summer. "We have very high goals of winning the Big Ten, making the NCAA Tournament and accomplishing what we think this team is capable of." The Wolverine: U-M was voted preseason No. 1 in the Big Ten. How does the tal- ent on this year's roster compare to your first two seasons? Compher: "We had really good talent last year and just didn't play consistently enough from the beginning of the season until the end. We lost some really good players, but we brought in some highly skilled players, guys that were all drafted. "Obviously, we lost our top three scorers from last season and a lot of guys will have to step up, but everyone is excited for that opportunity. "When you come to Michigan, the personal goal is to be an impact player, and with our departures, there are a lot of guys in this locker room that will have the chance to be key players for us, and we're excited about that." Sitting Down With Junior Captain J.T. Compher