The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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with 48 in 78 appearances, which is both a tribute to what he has achieved in such a short time span, but also serves as a reminder that his sample size is far smaller than Turco (165 games played), Blackburn (151), Shields (149), and even three-year starter Al Montoya (123 from 2003-05). "It's hard to make comparisons He ranks eighth in career victories when the data is different — Hun- wick hasn't played two full seasons, 80 games, so it's a different career than Turco and Shields, but when you look at the importance of the games he's started, and how our team has fared with him in net, I would say he's been as good as any- body," Berenson said. "I would rank him shockingly high During U-M's 7-2-1 stretch from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14, Hunwick posted a 1.22 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage while playing in nine contests. average, while Hunwick was 2-3-4 with a 2.67 goals-against average, Ho- gan actually earned the prestigious start in U-M's outdoor game, The Big Chill, but a groin injury in pregame warm-ups sidelined him, and Hun- wick assumed the post. With 34 saves in a 5-0 shutout of Michigan State — and with Hogan out indefinitely — Hunwick carried the job through the remainder of the regular season and Michigan's long playoff run. This year presented a new challenge. in Michigan's 2010 postseason run, Hunwick was not guaranteed the starting job in his junior campaign. He and incumbent starter Bryan Hogan, whose injury created the void Hun- wick was tasked to fill, alternated starts in 2011. Going 7-2-0 with a 2.11 goals-against Even though he proved sensational NEW CHALLENGES Hunwick had never before been the everyday starter from the season's onset, and with crippling graduation losses, U-M needed its netminder to consistently prove the night's biggest difference-maker. "If you look at the last few years, we're giving up way more shots than we used to, than when I was playing and Turco, so we've been asking our goalie to stand on his head a little more than this program has needed from its goalies before," said goalie coach and former netminder Josh Blackburn (1999-2002). "If he has an off night, we 98 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2012 lose. So you need Shawn to play at a consistently high level game after game, and for the most part, he's done that." With a 18-9-3 record in 28 games PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL through Feb. 14, Hunwick ranks sev- enth nationally in save percentage (.931), 10th in goals-against average (2.08) and 11th in winning percent- age (.650). Michigan has climbed to third place in the CCHA standings and fourth in the Pairwise Rankings. "Shields and Turco were as good as I've ever seen, but I don't know if any team in the Red Berenson era has re- lied on its goalie more than this team relies on Hunwick," said John Bacon, author of Blue Ice: The Story of Michigan Hockey. "His numbers over his career are outstanding, but the thing impos- sible to measure unless you see him play is his competitiveness and will. "I don't know that anyone is as good in the big moments — killing penal- ties back to back, in the middle of an onslaught, the first five minutes of a must-win period — than he is. He ex- cels in those situations where his team- mates need him to be great." in the Berenson era, which com- menced in 1985, to lead Michigan to a national championship game, joining Turco. Among the all-time annals, he ranks first in career goals-against aver- age (2.11) and save percentage (.927). RANKING AMONG THE BEST Hunwick is only the second goalie among Red's best and even opine that Shawn Hunwick hasn't gotten the credit he deserves," said Bacon, who co-hosts the Red Berenson radio show. "Is he better than Turco, Shields and Montoya? His best seasons cer- tainly match their best seasons, and no other goalie has traveled the dis- tance he has." Hunwick admits he takes a peek once in awhile at the record books to see how he stacks up. He never would have envisioned a goalie with his U-M roots would be in the posi- tion he is today. "Ten years from now, nobody will hear my name and think NHL, but when they hear my name or come by my picture, I hope they think, 'He was a great goalie,' and think about the runs we made as a team," he said. "I look at where I rank in the categories. It means a lot to me. "My first two and a half years, just being the practice goalie, I had a blast, but I am so grateful for the past two and a half years, the chances I've had, and the memories I've experienced. "There are some great goalies that have come through Michigan, and when you're a freshman and sopho- more walk-on, you never think one day people will include you in that discussion." Hunwick's brother may be more bi- ased than others, but in his judgment only one goaltender at U-M stands above. "At Michigan, where winning the national title is the goal every year, Turco will always deserve to be at the top because he won two," Matt said. "But under any criteria you consider,