The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY said. "We just have to keep our heads up and keep working hard." Michigan has lost three games this HOCKEY REWIND: NOV. 2-24 season by a mere goal, and in each defeat the Maize and Blue surren- dered at least four markers. Team defense has been a source of concern for Berenson; U-M ranks 52nd out of 59 teams in permitting 3.46 goals per game. "Our goals for [3.38 per game] are, in theory, a strength, but the goals against kill you," Berenson said. "As I'm talking to our team I'm telling them, 'We can't outscore our mis- takes. Simple as that.'" "We're one of the worst teams in Northern Michigan in which they tied and lost, the Maize and Blue were intent on putting their best skate forward when rival Michigan State arrived in Ann Arbor Nov. 9. Michigan took the play to MSU immediately, outshooting the Spartans 15-5 Overall Record: 5-7-1 (3-5-1 CCHA) Record Nov. 2-24: 2-5-1 National Ranking: No. 19 Pairwise Ranking: NR Best Win — 5-1 over Michigan State: Coming off a disappointing weekend at through one period and outscoring them 2-0, including the first career marker from freshman left wing Cristoval Nieves. U-M probably should have been ahead by even more — 5-1 sounds about right — but erred on a few golden opportunities. Those missed chances appeared the country defensively, and that's something we need to fix," senior center Kevin Lynch added. "We might go through some struggles of- fensively, but there is no excuse for playing bad defense. "We're just making mental errors and making mistakes. We're not play- ing a full 60 minutes." U-M hasn't been at full strength all season, with junior defenseman Jon Merrill suffering a crack to a vertebrae bone in an exhibition game Oct. 9. The Maize and Blue were counting on the third-year Wolverine to be an instru- mental member of their blue line. "He's one of, if not our top, defen- semen, so when he's out it's not like our No. 7 defenseman is out," Be- renson said. "Look at the difference he made last year when our team started to get going when he got back in the lineup [after sitting out due to suspension]." With Merrill in the lineup, Michi- gan was expected to feature one of the nation's top defensive corps, and he was to pair with freshman Jacob Trouba to create a formidable duo. In Merrill's absence, U-M's other defenders have been forced to raise their game, and few have. "I thought we were deep on de- fense and Trouba has come in and played better than most people ex- pected, but on the other hand we've had guys that haven't," Berenson said. "Your expectations for every player are getting lower now because of what they've done or haven't done at this juncture. "Hopefully by the end of the year we'll get everyone going, but there is no question that our performance individually and collectively on de- fense has been overrated or we over- capable of haunting the Wolver- ines when State scored the sec- ond period's only goal, creating a tense second intermission and a make-or-break third stanza. But the Maize and Blue scored quickly, 4:09 into the frame on junior Derek DeBois' tally, and finished off the Green and White with two more. "We wanted to come out fast in the third and not give them any- thing, get that early goal. We didn't look back after that. We kept the pedal to the metal. " DeBlois said. "It was huge to gan hockey team is languishing, needing more consistent offense, better goaltending and more stringent defense, but Bennett has raised his game while many of his teammates are struggling to do the same. During the past eight games, the junior defenseman has contributed three goals and three assists, his six total points during the month second only to senior center A.J. Treais' seven points. On The Rise — Justin Selman: The rookie center had been a healthy scratch MVP — Mac Bennett: The Michi- " PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Junior defenseman Mac Bennett tallied three goals and three assists during the Wolverines' first eight games in November. in three of Michigan's first nine games this season, but he has played in each of the past four contests and scored two goals — the first two of his career — to go along with four assists. The 6-0, 195-pound freshman was expected to contribute some this year, but largely play a role of a third- or fourth-line checking forward. He has played that role, but has also shown he has playmaking skills, and could emerge an unexpected offensive contributor over the next few months. Top Freshman — Jacob Trouba: The 6-2, 195-pound defenseman was the No. 9 overall selection in last summer's NHL Draft, and he's lived up to his hype so far, throwing his body around to lay out unsuspecting forwards, creating offense with his wicked slapshot, skating and puck skills, and playing smart in his own zone. Trouba has four goals and five assists overall this year, and in November had two markers and two assists. Series To Watch — Dec. 14-15 vs. Western Michigan: The final weekend series before a two-week hiatus during the holidays will be critical to getting Michigan on track before the start of the season's second half. The Wolverines pride themselves on defending their home ice, but are just 5-4-0 at Yost Ice Arena this year. With only eight more games in Ann Arbor, these two are crucial. — Michael Spath DECEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 75