The Wolverine

May 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/70129

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 64 of 83

MICHIGAN HOCKEY tract with the Montreal Canadiens March 28, though it does not com- mence until next season, allowing him to finish school and graduate with his classmates later this April. The 6-3, 216-pound defender was originally a Toronto Maple Leafs 2008 NHL Draft pick, but his rights were traded to the Canadiens. Michigan's starting goalie, Hun- Pateryn inked a two-year con- wick was tendered a contract by the Columbus Blue Jackets to serve as the team's backup March 28 after a morn- ing-skate injury to starter Steve Ma- son left the Blue Jackets scrambling for a No. 2 netminder in that night's game with Detroit. Hunwick raced from Ann Arbor four hours south to Columbus, wear- ing his Michigan equipment and mask as he stood on the bench during the Blue Jackets' 4-2 win over the Red Wings. A day later, Columbus signed Hun- Michigan Hockey Rewind: Year In Review Hunwick did this year (1,092) since Paul Fricker in 1980 (1,122). Hunwick faced an onslaught of 29.3 shots per game and yet still managed to post a 2.00 goals- against average (third all time) and a .932 save percentage (first) while going 24-12-3. Without the senior in net, putting up record numbers, the Wolverines don't finish second in the CCHA and probably don't bounce back from a 1-6-1 November that threatened to spiral the season out of control. Rookie of the Year — Alex Guptill: Guptill became Michigan's 12th CCHA Final Record: 24-13-4 (CCHA: 15-9-4). MVP — Shawn Hunwick: No U-M goalie was forced to make as many saves as wick to a one-year contract to stay on through the remainder of the 2012 regular season, and he played the fi- nal two and a half minutes of the Blue Jackets' final contest; he did not face a shot. "It was cool to go out there and skate in an NHL building," Hunwick shared in a feature story on the Blue Jackets' website. "You never know if you will be back, so enjoy the time here." An undrafted free agent, Hunwick will take his time deciding on a po- tential pro hockey future now that the NHL season has ended. "I wouldn't blame Hunwick if he 2010-11, Pateryn was still sitting out games a healthy scratch, but he found his rhythm eventually and then made an even greater jump during his senior campaign. The 6-3, 216-pound Pateryn played with a physicality not seen since Jack Johnson's final year in uniform in 2005, and a reliability defensively not seen since Mark Mitera was healthy as a junior in 2007. Capable offensively, Pateryn also chipped in with two goals and 13 assists while finishing with a plus/minus of plus-16. — Michael Spath Rookie of the Year in becoming the first freshman to lead U-M in scoring — he had a team-high 16 goals and added 17 assists for 33 points — since forward T.J. Hensick did so with 46 points in 2004. Classmate Phil Di Giuseppe (11 goals and 15 assists) had his moments throughout the season, but no first-year Wolverine played and produced with the consistency of Guptill, who scored at least two goals in every month of the regular season. Top Forward — A.J. Treais: On a team devoid of a full-time superstar offensive talent, Treais occupied that role for important stretches during the season, net- ting an eight-game point streak in February and a five-game point streak during five March playoff games. The junior, who arguably has the most natural skill of any Michigan forward, recorded career highs in goals (15), assists (17) and points (32), while his plus/minus of plus-24 was the Wolverines' best. Best Defenseman — Greg Pateryn: Midway through his junior season in never played again," head coach Red Berenson said. "What's he going to prove after now? And yet if he does play, he may show that he can play in the NHL. He wouldn't be out of place, that's for sure." Forward Luke Glendening, mean- while, signed an amateur tryout con- tract with the Providence Bruins of the AHL April 4, but did not appear in a game with the team before the season's conclusion. "Some coach, if he knows what he's doing, will say, 'This guy has something special,'" Berenson said. "And pretty soon Luke is going to be a pretty good player. And if it doesn't work out, he has a good head on his shoulders and he'll get out of the game. He won't be a career East Coast Hockey League player." ❑ Despite facing 29.3 shots per game, fifth-year senior goaltender Shawn Hunwick notched a 2.00 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage while going 24-12-3. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL MAY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 65

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolverine - May 2012