The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY The Wolverine: Defense has been this team's Achilles heel the past few years, but the squad now returns five veteran blue liners and two upperclassmen goal- ies. How confident do you feel in your defense this season? Compher: "Our defensive corps is very experienced. We've learned from mistakes. That's our main focus this year — to be really good defensively. That's going to win us hockey games, win a championship. "We have good offensive skill, whether it's our defensemen or forwards, and we're going to score goals, but we've given up too many goals the past few years, and there are no more excuses. We have the veteran players, we under- stand team defense and we have proven goalies." The Wolverine: You finished last sea- son on a good note personally, how do you pick up from where you left off? Compher: "I had a good offseason, worked on some stuff I wanted to work on. I am very confident going into the year that I can make a difference. "We have a very accomplished junior and senior leadership corps, and guys are itching to make a difference, whether it's [senior] Boo Nieves, who hasn't had the chance to be the first-line center … he wants to be an impact player. And [se- nior forward] Justin Selman wants to be a big player. "And I include myself in the group of guys that really has a strong desire to be a difference-maker this year." The Wolverine: What is like to wear the "C" this year? Compher: "It's an honor. I'm very thrilled to have this responsibility and I know it is a big responsibility. I join an elite class of guys to wear this letter on this jersey, so I'm really excited. "It doesn't change a lot of what I do because I'm making sure I'm working hard and continuing to do what I did to be voted captain." — Michael Spath Compher was named the team captain after serving as an alternate captain last season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL