The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/629217
MICHIGAN HOCKEY inside Joe Louis Arena considering how well he plays there. Over the last two seasons, while leading U‑M to a pair of Great Lakes Invitational titles, the Williamsville, N.Y., native went 4‑0‑0 with a 1.50 goals‑against average and a .955 save percentage at the home of the Detroit Red Wings. "If you look at my career as a whole, I have thrived in the bigger games," he said. "I've always liked playing in big games and big venues, and it's about bringing the consis‑ tency that I've struggled with in the past." Racine returned to the ice for the Wolverines Dec. 29 after missing a month with a lower‑body injury and played well, making 62 saves on 66 shots in wins over Northern Michi‑ gan and Michigan Tech to claim the Great Lakes Invitational. He then earned his third and fourth straight starts in a home‑and‑home series with Michigan State Jan. 8‑9, and made 48 saves on 53 shots (.906 save percentage) in a sweep of the Spartans. Racine surrendered 11 goals on 82 shots (.868 save percentage) in the Wolverines' 1‑0‑1 weekend against Ohio State Jan. 15‑17, but he was bet‑ ter than the stats suggest — espe‑ cially in U‑M's second game, an 8‑6 win, when he had 43 stops. "It could have been 10‑10," head coach Red Berenson said. "Both goal‑ ies played really well, particularly Racine in the second period. He kept us in the game." Berenson has not said he is com‑ mitting to Racine permanently for the second half, but considering the goalie was back in net for the series finale with OSU after surrendering five goals on 33 shots in a 5‑5 tie Jan. 15, it certainly appears like the senior goalie is being given the chance to run with it. Racine knows he has to make good on this opportunity. Racine led his team to a second straight crown at the 51st Annual Great Lake Invitational immediately after returning from injury and has earned the No. 1 goalie role. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL