The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/614487
MICHIGAN HOCKEY Sitting Down With Sitting Down With Goalie Coach Steve Shields Second all time at Michigan in career wins with 111 from 1991-94, and seventh in career goals-against average (2.73), Steve Shields returned to his alma mater this fall to serve as U-M's full-time goalie coach. The 10-year NHL veteran spoke to The Wolverine about his early impressions. The Wolverine: What do you like about being back at Michigan? Shields: "I like the energy. I like what the University of Michigan is about. I like being back in a place where you're working towards helping guys achieve something they've always wanted to achieve on the ice and in the classroom, somewhere I can offer a little bit of help here and there. "I grew up playing hockey and came to Michigan, and this is where I have a lot of great memories playing and going to school, and it's a place I've always called home, so it was a great opportunity to come back. It's been fun." The Wolverine: What is like to work with Red Berenson as a former player that was coached by him? Shields: "He gives you the rope to do the job you need to do. Everyone in the organization has the opportunity to make what you want to make out of the opportunity to work here. "As the goalie coach, I can create the program, implement it, and be the point man for the position. And Red really encourages you to be involved in student- athletes' lives and do what you can do to help Michigan hockey be successful. "How I see Michigan hockey is the same way that Coach sees it — the way we want the players to act, to play, to go to school, to represent themselves in the community, so it's been great to be able to coach with Red. "It's funny too because I remember those Mondays when you took some heat for the soft goals and now as the goalie coach I would just assume he never wants to talk about the goalies, but it's not the case because you're part of the team, and he asks about everything. It's good because every coach and every player is accountable to the team." The Wolverine: Is being the goalie coach a step towards becoming a head coach someday? Shields: "Michigan hockey, to me, is a great place to work. You have such an effect on so many people. When you're a small part of a bigger team it's great, but at the same time everybody wants to put their stamp on it and have more say. SHIELDS