The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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.920 percent of the shots he faced, but the team's performance in front of him — the Maize and Blue averaged 4.38 goals and weren't shut out even once — made the call for Berenson easy; Michigan was 7-1-0 with Ho- gan starting in net. 2011: When Hogan went down with an injury late in his junior year, Michigan figured to exit the postsea- son quickly, but Hunwick went 6-0-0 in the CCHA playoffs and 1-1 in the NCAA Tournament, recording a .932 save percentage, and earning him the right to compete for the starting job in 2011. Again Berenson split early-season starts. Hogan actually outperformed Hunwick and was named the starter for The Big Chill 19 games into the season and was in line to be Michi- gan's No. 1 goaltender the rest of the year, but a pregame injury sidelined him, and Hunwick capitalized on his opportunity for the second con- secutive season, leading U-M to the NCAA finals. "The one thing I learned — it de- pends on the goalies — but there was no question with Billy Sauer that once he got competition, he really stepped his game up," Berenson said. "When we recruited Bryan Hogan, Billy Sauer took off. I also learned with Shawn Hunwick that when his Freshman Jared Rutledge's U-M career got off to a rough beginning when he allowed nine goals time came, he had earned it, he com- peted and he battled, but when he got to be the starting goalie he really ran with it too." Racine could be the same type of Rochester Institute of Technology Oct. 11 after surrendering five markers on just 26 shots. But that loss is in the past and should not impact Rutledge or U-M going forward. "Can we learn from it? Yes, but we'll move forward and you forget about it because no matter how much you want to make a better first impression you can't go back and stop those shots and play that game, Michigan Goalie Starting Debuts Since 1999 Freshman Jared Rutledge had an awful first game, losing 5-4 in overtime to Blackburn, who won his debut in 1999. "The question is what are you going to do in your next game because it's every game he plays the rest of the season that matters now. " said goalie coach Josh " 1999 Josh Blackburn* Lake Superior St. 0 (14 saves) W, 2-0 1999 Kevin O'Malley* Niagara 2000 L.J. Scarpace 2003 Al Montoya* 2004 Noah Ruden 2006 Billy Sauer* Year Goalie Opponent Lake Superior St. Niagara 2007 Steve Jakiel* Western Michigan 2008 Bryan Hogan* Boston College Quinnipiac 2010 Shawn Hunwick Notre Dame 2012 Adam Janecyk Ohio State * Freshman year; ^ Opponent scored an empty-net goal 2013 Jared Rutledge* RIT 2013 Steve Racine* Lake Superior St. RIT GAA 2 (15) 3 (17) 2 (21) W, 7-2 L, 5-3 T, 2-2 L, 5-4 0 (29) W, 3-0 4 (34) 1 (25) W, 3-1 5 (24) W, 6-5 2 (26) W, 4-2 5 (20) 2 (34) 5 (21) L, 4-2^ L, 4-1 Result L, 2-1 in his first two starts, both losses, but the Michigan coaches expect him to bounce back. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL netminder, already showing that with an opportunity he was more than ready to start for Michigan. "I've been working my whole life for this chance," he said. "I can't say I've earned anything yet, but it's defi- nitely an honor to even be here and be playing. I didn't have a number of games goal. I was going to work as hard as I can and battle for as much as I can." Though he usurped his classmate in October, Racine knows the tables could turn quickly on him, but he's ready to fight for his opportunity. "You're always competing," he said. "Even in the NHL, a backup is trying to force his way into the lineup. You can't get complacent. "You have to be your best every day, because there is always a guy trying to take your job. Two years ago I was fighting for playing time, and the year before that as well, and I so I've been in positions where things haven't gone my way and I know how it feels sometimes. "I just want the best for Jared and for myself. I want to see him play the best he can, and I want to play the best I can, and we hopefully create a really good tandem. That would be good for the team." u NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 103