The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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ginning to end, providing the entire narrative that has been captured only in snippets thus far, but his sole focus right now is on the final chapter, rid- ing off into the proverbial sunset. "It's weird that Coach Berenson has been to the Frozen Four so many times [11] and we've only managed to get in the championship game three times," Hunwick said. "We came out on the wrong end last year. It was an honor to go, but it still stings that we lost, and that's not a feeling we want to have again this year." reer victories with 127, Marty Turco (1995-98) will forever be defined by the two national titles he backstopped U-M to during his sophomore and se- nior seasons. Steve Shields (1991-94), meanwhile, was in net when Michi- gan's active 21-year NCAA Tourna- ment streak originated in 1991. The NCAA record-holder in ca- PLAYOFF PERFORMER Head coach Red Berenson "Hunwick's winning percentage is right up there, his save percentage, his goals against — but he's still chasing, and we're all trying to win, the national championship. That would be something to brag about." 2010 the only way they could earn a berth — by winning six consecutive CCHA postseason contests. A 5-7 runt in a world of 6-2 behe- moths guides Michigan to the preci- pice of the national championship in 2011, only to see perfection denied by Minnesota-Duluth in overtime. A kid that may never have worn cess in the postseason. Making his second career start in a 2010 CCHA first-round matchup with Lake Supe- rior State, Hunwick stopped 21 of 23 shots to lead the Wolverines to a 5-2 victory. He went on to win his next five conference playoff games, and an NCAA regional semifinal, going 7-0 in his first seven postseason contests with a 1.43 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. Even in a 3-2 overtime loss to Mi- Hunwick's legacy is tied to his suc- ami (Ohio) in the NCAA Midwest Regional final, Hunwick turned aside 32 of 35 shots. In 2011, Hunwick went 6-2 in the right up there, his save percentage, his goals against — but he's still chas- ing, and we're all trying to win, the national championship. That would be something to brag about." Once left for dead in November, "Hunwick's winning percentage is the CCHA playoff games was do or die, and he didn't blink. It was incredible." Hunwick boasts the greatest post- season winning percentage in Michi- gan history, winning 81.3 percent of his 16 starts. He also ranks first in goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.936). "Look how far he got us last year," head coach Red Berenson said. "You can't get that far without a goalie. "I don't care how good our team might have been, you're not going to get to the championship game, you're not going to beat teams like North Dakota in the Frozen Four, in the venue like we played in last year, without a goalie that can hold it to- gether. And he did. "I've been really impressed with him. But you'd like to have this con- versation after this year. He's not done yet. He has one more postsea- son in him, and we need him to con- tinue to be a big part of our success. the winged helmet had his older brother not starred at U-M leads a ragtag Maize and Blue squad in 2012 to a potential No. 1 seed, the pos- sibility of a Frozen Four run and the elusive happy ending. That is Hunwick's story. Someday, the Sterling Heights, Mich., native will sit down and share it from be- postseason with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .940 save percent- age. He surrendered just three goals on 88 shots (.966) in earning three NCAA Tournament wins en route to a berth in the national title game, and stopped 35 of 38 shots in the 3-2 heartbreaker. "It doesn't seem like pressure has gotten to him at all," said Hunwick's older brother, Matt (2004-07). "He's really thrived in the big moments. "That first year, every single one of and the NCAA Tournament starts March 23-25. "You look at what this team has accomplished in the second half of the season, and what it's capable of doing in the postseason, and Shawn is a big part of that," Matt Hunwick said. "I know I'm a little biased, but there's probably no other goalie in the country that you'd be more con- fident with going into the playoffs than Shawn." MARCH 2012 THE WOLVERINE 97 after going 1-6-1, Michigan has en- tered the discussion for one of the NCAA Tournament's four No. 1 seeds thanks to a 7-2-1 mark since Jan. 1 that includes sweeps of Ohio State and Miami (Ohio). During that stretch through Feb. 14, Hunwick, who missed one game due to injury, posted a 1.22 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage. The CCHA playoffs begin March 2-4,