The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/614487
MICHIGAN HOCKEY season, but so far so good for those three individuals." Wiseman attributes the strong starts to the effort the freshmen — which also include defensemen Nick Boka and Joseph Cecconi, and goalie Chad Catt — put in over the sum- mer. "I would take it back months be- fore when they were on campus in the summer working out, getting ac- climated to Michigan academically and Ann Arbor, the community it- self," Wiseman said. "They became very confident and comfortable with their surroundings, and I think their play is a direct result of them being around and them being committed to a really good summer." Boka and Cecconi have both played every single night, and while their individual totals cannot rival the forwards — Boka had four as- sists and was plus-4, and Cecconi had three assists and was plus-6 — the two have also impressed. "What I really like about them is they play their game and didn't try to change what made them good players before they got to Michi- gan," sophomore defenseman Zach Werenski said. "They play physical, move the puck up the ice without hesitation. They're trying to keep it HOCKEY NOTEBOOK • The Michigan hockey team announced a seven-man recruiting class for 2016: forwards Will Lockwood, Steven Merl, Nick Pastujov and James Sanchez, and defensemen Griffin Luce, Luke Martin and Christian Meike. "You're always recruiting based on your needs, and we feel strongly that we've added the right pieces and most importantly the right kind of kids," associate head coach Billy Powers said. "Our current freshman class has stepped in and had an impact on our team, and a big part of it is their character. "We feel like we've found a group to come in next year with similar qualities. You're going to see the right kind of kids, and that is going to help our program." Lockwood, Luce, Martin, Pastujov and Sanchez all skate for the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 team, while Meike (Sioux City) and Merl (Bloomington) play in the United States Hockey League. The Wolverine will have a full breakdown of Michigan's class in our July basket- ball/hockey recruiting issue. • Sophomore defenseman Zach Werenski has been named to the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster. The team will participate in the World Junior Championships Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Helsinki, Finland. Werenski is one of 29 players selected to participate in a training camp from Dec. 14-18 at Boston University, followed by an additional camp in Vierumaki, Finland, from Dec. 19-24. The final 23-man roster will be named by Dec. 24. A year ago, Werenski played in five games for Team USA, recording a goal and an assist, and was plus-3.