The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY Great Game Performances Defenseman Matt Hunwick Nets A Hat Trick In October Win Like current Michigan junior Jon Merrill, Matt Hunwick entered his third season in 2005-06 a proven offensive defenseman, with seven goals and 33 assists in 81 career contests, and he was, like Merrill, tasked with mentoring a first-round draft pick — in Hunwick's case, Jack Johnson, while Merrill is partnered up with Jacob Trouba. In the second game of the year, Hunwick demonstrated to his rookie teammate what a dynamic two-way threat was capable of, netting his second career hat trick en route to a five-point night in a 5-3 victory over Quinnipiac Oct. 8, 2005. Hunwick became the first U-M blue liner to record five points since Mike Van Ryn did so during the 1997-98 season. "Our veterans have to be difference-makers on our team," head coach Red Berenson said after the game. "Hunwick was obviously a big factor. Offensively, if you checked his stats, I'm sure he looked good, but it was the little things defensively that mattered as well. Hunwick opened the scoring for the Maize and Blue 7:48 into the game, cashing in on a power-play goal. With the score tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes, he sparked a three-goal second-period outburst with his marker at 5:59, and he would finish off Michigan's scoring with his final tally at 13:12 of the third period. "I don't think you focus on scoring that third goal, "If it happens, it happens. Luckily enough, I had a few opportunities and the last one went in." Perhaps taking his cues from Hunwick, Johnson would notch his first career goal in his second career game, and would add three assists. Michigan would finish the month of October 5-1-1. — Michael Spath " Hunwick said. has confidence. He knows he's a cap- tain and a leader on this team and he has to play well because the team needs him, maybe more than they did three weeks ago before Jonny went down." " Hunwick recorded his second career hat trick en route to a the zone," he said. "I didn't like my puck retrievals against RIT. I have to head-check more. There are still little things in the defensive zone I can improve. Bennett had a goal and an assist in U-M's first two games, and was the only defenseman to finish plus-two against the RIT Tigers. "We've seen glimpses of great puck touches and great skating and great rushes from Mac Bennett, and now you can see it's starting to come together — he has the whole pack- age," Berenson said. "He's bigger, he's stronger defensively. He's really involved. He's not just doing what he's good at but doing all the other things, too." It's those little things that Bennett is trying to perfect. freshman year there would be a few big things that would jump out at me immediately, but after being here for so long and becoming comfort- able, it's only the details that stick out — like stick on puck, moving my feet when I'm coming out of "If I watched a game from my five-point night in a 5-3 victory over Quinnipiac Oct. 8, 2005. PHOTO BY WOLVERINE PHOTO men we have on this team, we have the talent and the depth to still be really solid there and be a strength for our team." "I thought offensively I had some jump, which is good, and my neu- tral-zone play was pretty good, but I have to skate more coming out of my own zone. There were a few times where I'd break the puck out and my feet were stagnant and I was looking to make a pass. "I can be better. But it's good to see that when I look at video it's not, 'Oh my God, look at that.'" It's a long season, and there are usu- ally ups and downs for every player, but Bennett vows to fight through those because he understands his team needs him to be consistent. Yet, Bennett isn't putting the load entirely on his shoulders to replace Merrill. Showing a captain's motivational tac- tics, he is demanding the entire blue line must raise its game. "Jonny being who he is, he's a big part of the defensive corps, and los- ing him definitely hurts," Bennett said, "but between the other defense- ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT PRODUCTION Senior center Kevin Lynch wasn't worried about offense coming into the season. He noted that whenever players leave U-M, others find a way to step up, contributing more than they had in the past. Still, Lynch couldn't have predicted that almost everyone would raise their game so quickly; in five contests, 13 different Wolverines have scored, producing 24 total goals that ranks Michigan third nationally in scoring with 4.80 tallies per game through Oct. 30. "There is a lot of confidence that OFFENSIVE BALANCE everyone in the lineup feels like they have a chance to score," head coach Red Berenson said. "We recruit players because of their skill level, and most of them have been a good scorer at some time. "It won't surprise me if we had a lot of different scorers." NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 105