The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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ing the country in points with 71 and Downing received Berenson's bless‑ ing, according to the junior. How‑ ever, Motte was a surprise; the 5‑9, 193‑pound St. Clair, Mich., native was the typical "all‑in for Michigan" type that stays for four years. But Motte faced the same pressure from his NHL team that has robbed the U‑M program of eight potential seniors over the past 11 years — a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), ratified for the 2005‑06 NHL season, said NHL teams had until Aug. 15 following the conclusion of a college prospect's senior year to sign him or he becomes a free agent. "When that first came out, one of the NHL general mangers told me this is really going to hurt college hockey because he said they're go‑ ing to have to sign players before their senior year, whether they want to or not, so they don't lose them," Berenson said. "And that's what has happened." Over the past 11 years, since the new CBA, 15 drafted Wolverines left school early to sign with their NHL organization, while another four draft picks departed for other reasons. Michigan has sustained a level of success because 23 draft picks have stayed through their senior season, but if Compher joins Motte and Downing in leaving early then U‑M will return just two seniors next year that are NHL Draft picks — defense‑ man Nolan De Jong and goalie Zach Nagelvoort. The fault lies more with the rules of the collective bargaining agreement and less with players afraid of being left behind. "It's an amazing opportunity," said Compher, who had yet to make his decision as of April 11. "Everyone wants to play in the NHL at some point, and to support those guys is important." When Downing and Werenski made their plans known three days after the Wolverines' season ended, it stole the thunder from what should have been a celebration about Michi‑ gan's return to the NCAA Tourna‑ ment after a three‑year absence. BACK WHERE THEY BELONG Michigan went into the Big Ten Tournament March 17‑19 firmly en‑ trenched in the NCAA Tournament field, allowing the Wolverines the freedom to play loose and carefree in St. Paul, Minn. However, U‑M had business to at‑ tend to, intent on winning the confer‑ ence tournament title after losing the regular‑season championship by one point to Minnesota. Michigan vanquished Penn State 7‑2, earning its fifth win in five tries against the Nittany Lions this year, and then rallied from a 3‑2 deficit to beat the Golden Gophers 5‑3 and cap‑ ture their first Big Ten crown in the league's three‑year existence. A No. 2 seed in the Midwest Re‑ gional, U‑M was a hot pick among pundits to emerge from Cincinnati with two victories and a spot in the Frozen Four semifinals April 7. And with a 3‑2 overtime win against Notre Dame March 25, the Wolverines were poised to make some noise in this year's tournament.