The Wolverine

May 2016 Issue

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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  MICHIGAN HOCKEY NCAA Tournament loss to North Dakota March 26, knotting the score at 1‑1 and then 2‑2 at 8:39 of the third period, trying to do what captain's do — carry their teams to victories in the biggest games of the season. The team's emotional leader, Compher competed with an incredible high consis‑ tency this season, showing up with his best hockey every night. The center on U‑M's top line, he also put up gaudy statistics, recording 47 assists and 63 points with a team‑best plus/minus of plus‑35. His 47 helpers were the most by a Wolverine since Brendan Morrison had 57 in 1996‑97, and his plus/minus the best since at least 1999‑2000. Second nationally in points behind freshman teammate Kyle Connor, Compher garnered second‑team All‑America honors. Freshman Impact — Kyle Connor: A first‑team All‑American and the Tim Taylor Award winner as the nation's top first‑year player, Connor led the country in points (71) and goals (35), and finished his season on a school‑record 27‑game point streak. Connor's 71 points matched the most notched by a freshman nationally (with BU's Jack Eichel in 2014‑15) since Maine's Paul Kariya had 100 points in 1992‑93. It also represented the most by a Wolverine, regardless of class, since Morrison had 88 in 1996‑97 and the second most ever by a Michigan rookie. Most Improved Player — Tyler Motte: The junior right wing scored nine goals apiece in his freshman and sophomore seasons. He had that many by the 13th game of the 2015‑16 campaign and would hold the team lead in goal scoring for 30 games before being passed by his freshman teammate. Motte produced seven power‑play goals and four game‑winners en route to a career‑high 32‑goal season, one of just four players since 1999‑2000 to hit the 30‑goal mark, joining Kevin Porter (33) and Chad Kolrik (30), both in 2007‑08, and Connor this year. Motte finished with a 56‑point campaign in garnering first‑team All‑America honors. Best Defenseman — Zach Werenski: The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a first‑team All‑American, the sophomore blue liner led the league's defenders in points with 36 and was second nationally among defensemen. His 11 goals were the most by a Michigan defender since Jacob Trouba had 12 in 2012‑13, his 25 assists the most by a U‑M defender since Jeff Jillson had 26 in 1999‑2000, and his 36 points the most by a Wolverine blue liner since Jack Johnson had 39 in 2006‑07. On The Rise For 2016‑17 — Alex Kile: Depending on the decision Compher makes on his future, Kile could be the top returning forward for the Maize and Blue in 2016‑17. In his junior year, he tallied career highs across the board, recording 16 goals, 18 assists, 34 points and a plus/minus of plus‑8. Kile should anchor Michigan's top line next season. — Michael Spath

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