The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY In total, U-M played just seven games during the first six weeks of the season, going 5-1-1. A year ago, Michigan played nine games in the first six weeks and had an additional exhibition. "It's been weird, and personally I don't love having so much time where we don't play games because it's harder to develop a rhythm," ju- nior goalie Zach Nagelvoort said. "We have tried to take advantage of the time we don't have games, so we've skated on some Saturdays where we usually wouldn't. " We ' v e d o n e a lot more skill work this year, which has helped some of the guys work on a few things. And for me personally, having [goalie coach] Steve Shields around has been good because there has been a lot of time with him for all three of us goalies." There was good and bad in Michi- gan's early-season scheduling. The good was that the Wolverines could enjoy a default training camp, practic- ing for almost two weeks with their coaches before their matchup with Mercyhurst. In the past, U-M has of- ten played its first game after just a short time of being allowed to practice with the coaching staff. "Last year, we played our first game after only a practice and a half with the coaches," senior forward Justin Selman said. The bad is that with so much time off, the Maize and Blue have not been able to build on their successes or quickly correct their mistakes. After U-M lost 4-0 to Robert Morris Oct. 31, it had to wait 13 days before playing again. "I wish we could have come back and played the next weekend, but we couldn't," head coach Red Berenson said. "We had to take it the way it's scheduled. "We used our time to improve in certain areas, it helps to have your team getting to- gether and having a little less pres- sure on them for a few days." With its trip to Boston University Nov. 20-21, Michi- gan begins a four-weekend stretch with eight games, including six at home: Nov. 27-28 versus Dartmouth, Dec. 4-5 against Wisconsin and Dec. 11-12 versus Minnesota. U-M will then compete in the Great Lakes Invitational Dec. 29-30 before returning to Big Ten play Jan. 8-9 with a home-and-home against Michigan State. In the second half of the year, the Maize and Blue will not have a single full-bye weekend, though Michigan will only have an exhibition game the Jan. 22 weekend and will play a lone game, against Ferris State, the Feb. 19 weekend. ❏ DIGITAL BONUS: CLICK THE ICON TO PLAY OR STOP THE PODCAST TheWolverine.com analyst Dave Huntzicker discusses Michigan's 5-1-1 start